cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hydrodynamic pressures and response of gravity dams to vertical earthquake component

Hydrodynamic pressures and structural response of concrete gravity dams, including dam-reservoir interaction, due to the vertical component of earthquake ground motions are investigated. The response of the dam is approximated by the deformations in the fundamental mode of vibration, and the effects of deformability of bed rock on hydrodynamic pressures are recognized in the analysis. Expressions for the complex frequency response functions for the dam displacement, dam acceleration and lateral hydrodynamic force are derived. These results along with the Fast Fourier Transform algorithm are utilized to compute the time-history of responses of dams of 100, 300 and 600 ft height, with full reservoir, for different values of elastic modulus of mass concrete: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 million psi, to the vertical component of El Centro, 1940, and Taft, 1952, ground motions. It is concluded that the hydrodynamic forces caused by vertical ground motion are affected substantially by damreservoir interaction and depend strongly on the modulus of elasticity of the dam. The dam response to the vertical component of ground motion is compared with that due to the horizontal component. It is concluded that because the vertical component of ground motion causes significant hydrodynamic forces in the horizontal direction on a vertical upstream face, responses to the vertical component of ground motion are of special importance in analysis of concrete gravity dams subjected to earthquakes.
Palmitoylation of the Rous Sarcoma Virus Transmembrane Glycoprotein Is Required for Protein Stability and Virus Infectivity

The Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) transmembrane (TM) glycoprotein is modified by the addition of palmitic acid. To identify whether conserved cysteines within the hydrophobic anchor region are the site(s) of palmitoylation, and to determine the role of acylation in glycoprotein function, cysteines at residues 164 and 167 of the TM protein were mutated to glycine (C164G, C167G, and C164G/C167G). In CV-1 cells, palmitate was added to env gene products containing single mutations but was absent in the double-mutant Env. Although mutant Pr95 Env precursors were synthesized with wild-type kinetics, the phenotypes of the mutants differed markedly. Env-C164G had properties similar to those of the wild type, while Env-C167G was degraded faster, and Env containing the double mutant C164G/C167G was very rapidly degraded. Degradation occurred after transient plasma membrane expression. The decrease in steady-state surface expression and increased rate of internalization into endosomes and lysosomes paralleled the decrease in palmitoylation observed for the mutants. The phenotypes of mutant viruses were assessed in avian cells in the context of the pATV8R proviral genome. Virus containing the C164G mutation replicated with wild-type kinetics but exhibited reduced peak reverse transcriptase levels. In contrast, viruses containing either the C167G or the C164G/C167G mutation were poorly infectious or noninfectious, respectively. These phenotypes correlated with different degrees of glycoprotein incorporation into virions. Infectious revertants of the double mutant demonstrated the importance of cysteine-167 for efficient plasma membrane expression and Env incorporation. The observation that both cysteines within the membrane-spanning domain are accessible for acylation has implications for the topology of this region, and a model is proposed.
Non-stoichiometric disorder in La2Ti2O7 at elevated temperatures

Abstract The defect structure of polycrystalline La2Ti2O7 was investigated by measuring the oxygen partial pressure (100− 10−21atm) dependence of equilibrium electrical conductivity in the temperature range 850–1050°C. The observed data were proportional to P O 2 −1 4 for PO2 P O 2 +1 4 for PO2 > 10−4atm. The region of linearity where the electrical conductivity varies as P O 2 −1 4 increased as the temperature was decreased. The observed data are consistent with the presence of accidental acceptor impurities in the sample. The average values of the activation enthalpies for electrical conduction are 106.40 kcal mol−1 (4.62 eV) and 42.42 kcal mol−1 (1.84 eV) respectively in the n-type and p-type regions of electrical conductivity.
The degree of saturation of fatty acids in dietary fats does not affect the metabolic response to ingested carbohydrate.

Background: We are interested in the metabolic response to ingested macronutrients, and the interaction between macronutrients in meals. Previously, we and others reported that the postprandial rise in serum glucose following ingestion of 50 g carbohydrate, consumed as potato, was markedly attenuated when butter was ingested with the carbohydrate, whereas the serum insulin response was little affected by the combination.Objective: To determine whether a similar response would be observed with three other dietary fats considerably different in fatty acid composition.Design: Nine healthy subjects received lard, twelve received olive oil and eleven received safflower oil as a test meal. The subjects ingested meals of 25 g fat (lard, olive oil or safflower oil), 50 g CHO (potato), 25 g fat with 50 g CHO or water only. Glucose, C peptide, insulin, triacylglycerols and nonesterified fatty acids were determined.Results: Ingestion of lard, olive oil or safflower oil with potato did not affect the quantitative glu...
The Tropospheric Ozone Production about the Spring Equinox (TOPSE) Experiment: Introduction

[1] The Tropospheric Ozone Production about the Spring Equinox (TOPSE) experiment was conducted during February–March, 2000 to study the evolution of tropospheric chemistry at mid to high latitudes over North America. The experiment used airborne in situ and remote sensing measurements of trace gases, radiation, and aerosols, combined with model simulations, to describe the major processes that control evolution of ozone and oxidants during the winter-spring transition. This paper introduces the major scientific questions of the TOPSE experiment, describes the conduct of the mission, and introduces the scientific results discussed in a series of companion papers in this special section. Among the significant findings of the experiment was that tropospheric ozone increases from winter to spring were dominated by in situ photochemical production in the troposphere, rather than by transport from the stratosphere. Also unique observations of widespread surface ozone depletion events, and of seasonal evolution of trace gases and aerosols as a function of latitude and altitude, were obtained over the course of the mission.
Effect of NKISK on tendon lengthening: An in vivo model for various clinically applicable dosing regimens

One proposed mechanism of tendon lengthening is the "sliding fibril" hypothesis, in which tendons lengthen through the sliding of discontinuous fibrils after release of decorin-fibronectin interfibrillar bonds. The pentapeptide NKISK has been reported to inhibit the binding of decorin, a proteoglycan on the surface of collagen fibrils, to fibronectin, a tissue adhesion molecule, which are thought to play a role in interfibrillar binding. Prior investigations have demonstrated that NKISK produces in vivo tendon lengthening. This study investigates the effect of potential clinically applicable NKISK injection regimens in an in vivo model. One hundred and thirteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 15 different treatment groups, each receiving percutaneous patellar tendon injections of NKISK, QKTSK (a "nonsense" pentapeptide), or PBS of varying volumes, concentrations, and injection schedules. Following sacrifice, the patellar tendon lengths were measured in all groups, and biomechanical testing was performed with comparisons made to the contralateral, untreated control limbs. Tendon lengthening was significantly greater (p < or = 0.05) in nearly all NKISK-treated tendons as compared to PBS- and QKTSK-treated tendons and was dose-dependent. Measured lengthening was less in rats whose sacrifice was delayed following the final injection of NKISK, which likely indicates recontraction of lengthened tendons, but they remained significantly longer than the controls. Biomechanical testing did not reveal significant differences in ultimate load, modulus, stiffness, or displacement. This study demonstrates that NKISK given in clinically plausible dosing regimens produces dose-dependent tendon lengthening in an in vivo setting with minimal effects on the mechanical properties of the treated tendons.
Court clerks, court administrators, and judges: Conflict in managing the courts

Abstract This article presents the results of a survey conducted in conjunction with the National Association for Court Administration (NACA), the National Association of Trial Court Administrators (NATCA), and the National Center for State Courts. A questionnaire designed to gauge role perceptions of court managers was sent to 410 NACA members and 321 NATCA members. One of the key elements of the survey is the issue of conflict — specifically, the types and sources of conflict encountered by court managers in the performance of their jobs. Over half (55.7 percent) of those surveyed responded, and most indicated one or more sources of conflict in managing their courts. Much has been written in the court administration literature about conflict, or the potential for conflict, in conducting court business. The results of this survey provide empirical evidence on the conflicts most frequently encountered in court management, including case-flow management problems, personnel matters, financial issues, policy and planning issues, and communication problems.
Effects of knowledge map characteristics on information processing

Abstract The majority of research on knowledge maps has focused on demonstrating their effectiveness in educational settings. However, very little work has attempted to xamine the parameters of map construction that mediate their impact on performance. The present set of experiments represents an attempt to remedy this situation by examining the impact of three parameters of map construction on knowledge acquisition. Experiment 1 investigated spatial configuration, Experiment 2 investigated map format, and Experiment 3 investigated link structure. Results of these examinations revealed that the way the maps were constructed influenced both the encoding and the retrieval of the information in the maps and that these effects were mediated by the users' spatial and verbal abilities.
Epithelioma of the tongue. Results of treatment in 217 cases.

A REVIEW of the Iiterature on carcinoma of the tongue reveaIs many conflicting opinions concerning the importance of the grade of mahgnancy, the significance of cervical metastasis, the vaIue of various methods of treatment and the roIe of prophylactic procedures. In the hope of resoking some of the confusion in our minds on this subject, we have anaIyzed a series of our own patients and have attempted to compare these tindings with data compiIed from the avaiIabIe worId Iiterature, which to date includes 10,454 cases of lingual cancer
Contract Management Capacity Breakdown? An Analysis of U.S. Local Governments

Research indicates that successful government contracting depends on sufficient internal management capacity. Numerous studies have examined the decision to contract out and its pitfalls, but few have tracked government contract management capacity. This study explores whether a change is observable in the capacity of U.S. local governments to engage in effective contracting from 1997 to 2007. The authors discuss whether this change represents a decline or degradation, and in which form and type of government it occurred. Using data from 537 local government units, the analysis reveals that some aspects of capacity have declined as local governments continue to contract out for highly complex services. The authors speculate on the reasons behind the findings and suggest capacity enhancement strategies.
The Justice of the Epicurean Wise Man

In this essay I discuss an important but neglected controversy in which the Stoics sought to discredit Epicurus' teaching on justice by showing that the Epicurean wise man, if immune from detection or punishment, will commit injustice whenever he may profit from it. Under the influence of this criticism, tradition has developed a view of Epicurus' position that makes it so weak and vulnerable that it is difficult to see how Epicureans could have defended it over the course of several centuries. There is decisive evidence, however, that Epicurus' critics seriously misrepresented his position, and that the tradition influenced by their polemic stands in need of fundamental revision.1 My purpose here is to prove that the Epicurean wise man will not commit injustice, secretly or openly, because it is in his self–interest to be just; to reconstruct Epicurus' arguments for this teaching; to show how he defends his position against natural right theorists; and to clarify the larger issues at stake in his controversy with the Stoics. I begin by sketching the Stoic criticisms and the Epicurean response (section I).
The Administration of the Privy Purse

IT is generally conceded by historians that internal factors had a good deal more to do than the external violence of the barbarians in bringing about the disintegration of the Roman Empire and the ignominious collapse of its western half in the fifth century. The possible role of the corruption of the bureaucracy in bringing about the collapse of its administrative machinery merits detailed attention.' One must proceed with caution, however, in evaluating the extent to which this factor may or may not have been operative. Corruption on a considerable scale, both of the public and the officials, the one supplementary to the other, there undoubtedly was, as the codes and literary sources abundantly indicate. But, on the other hand, there seems little room to doubt that an efficient bureaucracy was one of the main factors in the perennial strength of the fragment of the Empire that survived in the East after the collapse of the West and continued to be a major power in the Levant until the Fourth Crusade. Jones speaks of "the usual abuses of an overripe bureaucracy"2 flourishing in the Late Empire, further qualifying the Byzantine bureaucracy as "cumbersome and corrupt:"' on the other hand, he concludes that the bureaucracy was a source of strength as well as weakness, especially in the eastern half of the Empire, which survived, among other reasons, "due to the more effective administrative control exercised by the East, which enabled it to mobilize for the defence of the Empire a larger proportion of the wealth and manpower available. And the principal reason for this," he continues, "was that in the West the great offices of state were the perquisite of the wealthy landowning class who used their powers to protect their own interests, but in the East the powers of the State were, from the fifth century at any rate, wielded by bureaucrats, men like Marinus the Syrian and John the Cappadocian, who, it is true, lined their own pockets liberally, but did also fill the treasury."4
The visibility of various type faces

Abstract In the absence of an adequate scale for evaluating any contributions to visual efficiency and human welfare, this phase of the present investigation may be presented in general terms.Perhaps the importance of type face, as a variable in seeing, is summarized by the viewpoint that modern visual tasks are so severe and exacting that any contribution towards ease in seeing is definitely worthwhile. Upon this basis, it would seem that the present method of appraising the visibility of type faces might well be applied generally, and in particular, to the type faces used in school text-books. Where the type faces are unchangeable it is seen that illumination (footcandles) can be used to obtain the desired degree of visibility or ease of reading.
Biosynthesis of lipovitellin by the crustacean ovary.

The in vitro incorporation of 3H-amino acids into purified lipovitellin by cultured crustacean ovaries can be demonstrated using either density gradient centrifugation or preparative electrophoresis as a final purification step. In addition 3H-glycerol is incorporated into the phosphatidyl choline moiety of the lipovitellin. This evidence strongly suggests that the ovary is capable of synthesizing both the lipid and the protein components of the lipovitellin and therefore may not incorporate such moieties intact from the circulating hemolymph.
Malignant tumor of the breast with bone formation. Studies by light and electron microscopy.

A malignant tumor of the breast showing bone formation was studied by light and electron microscopy. The basic pattern consisted of undifferentiated cells separated by wide but poorly demarcated stromal bands. Giant cells were also present. Bony trabeculae, smaller osteoid masses and (rarely) cartilage were scattered through the tumor. The undifferentiated cells were pleomorphic by electron microscopy but showed desmosomes and evidence of an ability to produce collagen and ground substance. Many cells adjacent to osteoid and bony trabeculae resembled normal osteoblasts but others were similar to the undifferentiated cells. The stromal bands contained “normal-looking” and “primitive-looking” fibroblasts which shared features of the undifferentiated cells. The question of a mesenchymal versus epithelial origin of the tumor could not be settled but the authors believe that production of stroma and bone is not inconsistent with epithelial origin. The many shared features amongst the various cell types suggest that all, including bone and stroma-producing cells, had a common malignant origin.
Observations on the enzymatic synthesis of a β-1,4-glucan by a soluble preparation from mung bean (Phaseolus aureus)

Abstract An enzyme extract of mung bean roots and hypocotyls ( Phaseolus aureus ) that catalyzes the synthesis of a β-1,4-glucan from guanosine 5′-diphosphate- d -glucose was prepared by a modification of the method of T.-Y. Liu and W. Z. Hassid (1970, J. Biol. Chem. 245 , 1922–1925). Its activity was not increased by any of those factors that have contributed to the marked improvement in the performance of various cell-free polysaccharide-synthesizing systems from other organisms. Evidence is presented to suggest that in the mung bean system a stable precursor of the cell wall polysaccharide or intermediate in its synthesis is formed by incubation of the enzyme with guanosine 5′-diphosphate- d -mannose.
Architectures in an XML world

XML (Extensible Markup Language) developers have at their disposal a variety of tools for achieving schema reuse. An often-overlooked reuse method is the specification of architectures for creating and processing data. Experience with APEX (Architectural Processor Employing XSLT), an architecture processing tool implemented using XSLT (Extensible Style Language Transformations), demonstrates that architectures can fulfill a role not well served by alternative approaches to reuse.
Expression of leukotriene C4 synthase and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 gene promoter polymorphisms in sinusitis

BackgroundStudies have described polymorphisms in genes involved with both leukotriene synthesis and remodeling. Leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) is the critical terminal pathway enzyme involved in ...
Allocation of Sampling Effort to Optimize Efficiency of Watershed-Level Ichthyofaunal Inventories

Abstract Sampling protocols for ichthyofaunal inventories have received considerable study at the stream reach level; however, no studies have examined the optimal allocation of sampling effort for watershed-level inventories. To address this question, we used data from surveys of four Great Lakes watersheds to compare rates of species accumulation among several watershed-level scenarios of sampling effort allocation (sampling strategies). To allow for quantitative comparisons among strategies, we (1) divided each sampling site into smaller sampling units and separately recorded fish capture data at the smallest unit; (2) stratified the allocation of sampling effort throughout each watershed by stream order; and (3) recorded all sampling and travel costs (i.e., time spent on different tasks). We used a Monte Carlo simulation program to resample the data from each of the four watershed surveys and calculated rates of species accumulation. This technique allowed us to quantitatively compare sampling strateg...
Magnetic and elastic properties of zinc-chromite

Abstract Susceptibility measurements in Zn Cr2 O4 give a Curie-Weiss θ=-330°K. Exchange constants determined from this and other data, as well as the behaviour of the susceptibility for T
Trimeric structure of a C-type mannose-binding protein

Abstract Background: Mannose-binding proteins (MBPs) are C-type (Ca 2+ –dependent) animal lectins found in serum. They recognize cell-surface oligosaccharide structures characteristic of pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and trigger the neutralization of these organisms. Like most lectins, MBPs display weak intrinsic affinity for monovalent sugar ligands, but bind avidly to multivalent ligands. Results We report physical studies in solution and the crystal structure determined at 1.8 A Bragg spacings of a trimeric fragment of MBP-A, containing the carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) and the neck domain that links the carboxy-terminal CRD to the collagen-like portion of the intact molecule. The neck consists of a parallel triple-stranded coiled coil of α –helices linked by four residues to the CRD. The isolated neck peptide does not form stable helices in aqueous solution. The previously characterized carbohydrate-binding sites lie at the distal end of the trimer and are separated from each other by 53 A. Conclusion The carbohydrate-binding sites in MBP-A are too far apart for a single trimer to bind multivalently to a typical mammalian high-mannose oligosaccharide. Thus MBPs can recognize pathogens selectively by binding avidly only to the widely spaced, repetitive sugar arrays on pathogenic cell surfaces. Sequence alignments reveal that other C-type lectins are likely to have a similar oligomeric structure, but differences in their detailed organization will have an important role in determining their interactions with oligosaccharides.
Concurrent validity of the Woodcock‐Johnson tests of cognitive ability with the WISC‐R: EMR children

The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Ability (WJTCA) were administered in a counterbalanced order to 30 children referred for a three-year reevaluation. All children were currently placed in an educable mentally retarded (EMR) program. The children ranged in age from 8-0 to 12-5 years, with a mean of 10-6. The correlation coefficient between the WISC-R and WJTCA was observed to be .72. Significant mean differences were found between the WISC-R and WJTCA full scale standard scores. The implications of the findings are discussed relative to the placement of children in classes for the mentally retarded. Explanations for the mean differences between the WJTCA and WISC-R also are explored.
Effect of strychnine and of bicuculline on dopamine synthesis in retinas of dark-maintained rats

The intravitreal administration of strychnine produced a significant elevation of dopamine (DA) synthesis in the retinas of dark-adapted rats. Strychnine had no antagonistic effect on the ability of muscimol to suppress the normal increase in retinal DA synthesis observed after exposure of rats to light. This latter observation suggests that strychnine is not merely acting in a non-selective fashion to suppress the inhibitory GABAergic tone exerted on the DA neurons in darkness. These results suggest that there may be a direct or indirect strychnine-sensitive input to the retinal DA neurons in the dark. This input may not be glycinergic, however, as even high dosages of glycine did not suppress the light-mediated enhancement of DA synthesis in the retina.
Spatiotemporal signal processing using a discrete 3D multiresolution wavelet analysis

This paper presents a 3D multiresolution wavelet analysis that provides a tool for analyzing spatial details (e.g., horizontal and vertical edges) of moving objects contained in a sequence of images. Current multiresolution wavelet analysis theory is modified to create an orthonormal wavelet basis for L2(R3) by forming the tensor product of three non- identical multiresolution wavelet analyses on L2(R). An unconventional multiresolution decomposition and reconstruction algorithm is presented which provides a new tool for analyzing moving objects in a scene. Preliminary results demonstrate the new analysis technique''s potential for segmenting key characteristics of an object moving against stationary or moving backgrounds.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Gaucher Disease-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Display Decreased Erythroid Potential and Aberrant Myelopoiesis

Gaucher disease (GD) is the most common lysosomal storage disease resulting from mutations in the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GCase). The hematopoietic abnormalities in GD include the presence of characteristic Gaucher macrophages that infiltrate patient tissues and cytopenias. At present, it is not clear whether these cytopenias are secondary to the pathological activity of Gaucher cells or a direct effect of GCase deficiency on hematopoietic development. To address this question, we differentiated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from patients with types 1, 2, and 3 GD to CD34+/CD45+/CD43+/CD143+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) and examined their developmental potential. The formation of GD-HPCs was unaffected. However, these progenitors demonstrated a skewed lineage commitment, with increased myeloid differentiation and decreased erythroid differentiation and maturation. Interestingly, myeloid colony-formation assays revealed that GD-HPCs, but not control-HPCs, gave rise to adherent, macrophage-like cells, another indication of abnormal myelopoiesis. The extent of these hematologic abnormalities correlated with the severity of the GCase mutations. All the phenotypic abnormalities of GD-HPCs observed were reversed by incubation with recombinant GCase, indicating that these developmental defects were caused by the mutated GCase. Our results show that GCase deficiency directly impairs hematopoietic development. Additionally, our results suggest that aberrant myelopoiesis might contribute to the pathological properties of Gaucher macrophages, which are central to GD manifestations. The hematopoietic developmental defects we observed reflect hematologic abnormalities in patients with GD, demonstrating the utility of GD-iPSCs for modeling this disease.
Low-Power All-Optical Switch Based on Time-Reversed Microring Laser

An all-optical switch based on an absorbing microring resonator laterally coupled to two waveguides is described theoretically using the coupling of modes in time formalism and numerically using the finite-difference time-domain method. The operating principle of the device is based on the recently published time-reversed laser concept. The proposed switch relies on a combination of coherent interference and absorption in the microring and does not require nonlinear refractive index changes. It has a smaller footprint than other approaches, and it is capable of converting frequency- or phase-shift-keyed digital signals to amplitude-shift-keyed signals for direct detection.
A COL4A3 gene mutation and post-transplant anti-α3(IV) collagen alloantibodies in Alport syndrome

A COL4A3 gene mutation and post-transplant anti-α3(IV) collagen alloantibodies in Alport syndrome. The X-linked Alport syndrome is associated with mutations and deletions in COL4A5 gene, one of six genes which constitute the α-chains of type IV collagen in basement membranes. The autosomal recessive form of Alport syndrome is characterized by mutations and deletions in the COL4A3 and COL4A4 genes. A fraction of Alport patients who undergo renal transplantation develop anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) nephritis, which results in loss of the renal allograft function. Recently, the target for alloantibodies from an X-linked Alport patient with complete COL4A5 gene deletion was determined to be the α3 chain of type IV collagen. The present study characterized the post-transplant alloantibodies from an autosomal recessive Alport patient with anti-GBM glomerulonephritis and a COL4A3 gene mutation which predicted a loss of 85% of the α3(IV) NC1 domain. The specificity of these new antibodies were studied using glomerular basement membrane constituents and recombinant type IV collagen domains. The results establish the target for the alloantibodies from an autosomal recessive Alport patient with COL4A3 deletion as principally the α3(IV) collagen chain, similar to the post-transplant alloantibodies from X-linked Alport patients with COL4A5 gene deletions. The absence of α3 (IV) chain in the GBM of patients with both these forms of Alport syndrome, due either to a failure of synthesis or a failure of assembly, presumably leads to a loss of immunologic tolerance for the α3(IV) NC1 domain in transplanted allografts.
A Coupled Air–Sea Response Mechanism to Solar Forcing in the Pacific Region

The 11-yr solar cycle [decadal solar oscillation (DSO)] at its peaks strengthens the climatological precipitation maxima in the tropical Pacific during northern winter. Results from two global coupled climate model ensemble simulations of twentieth-century climate that include anthropogenic (greenhouse gases, ozone, and sulfate aerosols, as well as black carbon aerosols in one of the models) and natural (volcano and solar) forcings agree with observations in the Pacific region, though the amplitude of the response in the models is about half the magnitude of the observations. These models have poorly resolved stratospheres and no 11-yr ozone variations, so the mechanism depends almost entirely on the increased solar forcing at peaks in the DSO acting on the ocean surface in clear sky areas of the equatorial and subtropical Pacific. Mainly due to geometrical considerations and cloud feedbacks, this solar forcing can be nearly an order of magnitude greater in those regions than the globally averaged solar forcing. The mechanism involves the increased solar forcing at the surface being manifested by increased latent heat flux and evaporation. The resulting moisture is carried to the convergence zones by the trade winds, thereby strengthening the intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) and the South Pacific convergence zone (SPCZ). Once these precipitation regimes begin to intensify, an amplifying set of coupled feedbacks similar to that in cold events (or La Nina events) occurs. There is a strengthening of the trades and greater upwelling of colder water that extends the equatorial cold tongue farther west and reduces precipitation across the equatorial Pacific, while increasing precipitation even more in the ITCZ and SPCZ. Experiments with the atmosphere component from one of the coupled models are performed in which heating anomalies similar to those observed during DSO peaks are specified in the tropical Pacific. The result is an anomalous Rossby wave response in the atmosphere and consequent positive sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies in the North Pacific extending to western North America. These patterns match features that occur during DSO peak years in observations and the coupled models.
First trimester pregnancy loss associated with varicella zoster virus infection: Histological definition of a case

Pathological demonstration of varicella infection in first trimester aborted tissue is reported. A 24-year-old primigravida manifested chickenpox infection about 38 days after her last menstrual period or at 24 days age of the embryo. The conceptus survived another 4 to 5 weeks. The macerated embryo and placental tissue revealed nuclear changes consistent with varicella infection. Immunohistochemical stains and electron microscopy were confirmatory.
Identifying high-dimension subspace subcodes of Reed-Solomon codes

Subspace subcodes of Reed-Solomon (SSRS) codes were introduced by Hattori, McEliece, Solomo, and Lin in the mid-1990s. These authors found a complicated dimension formula and a simple, tight lower bound on the dimension of SSRS codes over F/sub 2//sup m/. We prove a conjecture of Hattori concerning how to identify subspaces that can be used to build SSRS codes whose dimension exceeds this lower bound.
Government Reform, Political Ideology, and Administrative Burden: The Case of Performance Management in the Bush Administration

This article examines how ideological differences between political officials and agencies may have affected the implementation of an ostensibly nonpartisan, government-wide administrative initiative: the George W. Bush administration's Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) review of federal programs. The analysis reveals that managers in agencies associated with liberal programs and employees (“liberal agencies”) agreed to a greater extent than those in agencies associated with conservative programs and employees (“conservative agencies”) that PART required significant agency time and effort and that it imposed a burden on management resources. Further analysis reveals that differences in reported agency effort can be explained partly by objective differences in the demands that PART placed on agencies—liberal agencies were required to evaluate more programs and implement more improvement plans relative to their organizational capacity—and partly by the ideological beliefs of employees—on average, liberal managers reported more agency effort, even after accounting for objective measures of administrative burden.
Bit-slice logic interleaving for spatial multi-bit soft-error tolerance

Semiconductor devices are becoming more susceptible to single event upsets (SEUs) as device dimensions, operating voltages and frequencies are scaled. The majority of architecture-, logic- and circuit-level techniques that have been developed to address SEUs in logic assume a single-point fault model. This will soon be insufficient as the occurrence of spatial multi-bit errors is becoming prevalent in highly scaled devices. In this paper, we explore this new fault model and evaluate the effectiveness of conventional fault tolerance techniques to mitigate such faults. We also extend the idea of bit interleaving in memory to logic bit slices and explore its utility as an approach to spatial multi-bit error mitigation in logic. We present a comparison of these techniques using a case study of a Brent-Kung adder at a 90-nm process.
Experimental verification of the effects of friction and residual stress on the analysis of interfacial debonding and toughness in single fiber composites

Single-fiber fragmentation tests were done on AS4 carbon fiber/epoxy and E-glass/epoxy specimens. Using a new interpretation of the photoelasticity fringes around fiber breaks we measured debonds that occurred instantaneously after each fiber break. The new techniques led to measured debond lengths that were longer than in prior studies. An energy balance analysis of the debond size when the breaks are far apart was used to investigate the interfacial fracture toughness. The best analysis was one that accounted for both residual stress effects and interfacial friction. It was not possible to determine all effects by debonding experiments alone and thus the most accurate results for interfacial toughness require supplemental experiments such as Raman spectroscopy or additional fragmentation observations. The best estimate for interfacial toughness was 220 J/m2 for carbon-fiber/epoxy and 120 J/m2 for glass-fiber/epoxy.
In vitro Assembly of Semi-artificial Molecular Machine and its Use for Detection of DNA Damage

Naturally occurring bio-molecular machines work in every living cell and display a variety of designs. Yet the development of artificial molecular machines centers on devices capable of directional motion, i.e. molecular motors, and on their scaled-down mechanical parts (wheels, axels, pendants etc). This imitates the macro-machines, even though the physical properties essential for these devices, such as inertia and momentum conservation, are not usable in the nanoworld environments. Alternative designs, which do not follow the mechanical macromachines schemes and use mechanisms developed in the evolution of biological molecules, can take advantage of the specific conditions of the nanoworld. Besides, adapting actual biological molecules for the purposes of nano-design reduces potential dangers the nanotechnology products may pose. Here we demonstrate the assembly and application of one such bio-enabled construct, a semi-artificial molecular device which combines a naturally-occurring molecular machine with artificial components. From the enzymology point of view, our construct is a designer fluorescent enzyme-substrate complex put together to perform a specific useful function. This assembly is by definition a molecular machine, as it contains one. Yet, its integration with the engineered part - fluorescent dual hairpin - re-directs it to a new task of labeling DNA damage. Our construct assembles out of a 32-mer DNA and an enzyme vaccinia topoisomerase I (VACC TOPO). The machine then uses its own material to fabricate two fluorescently labeled detector units (Figure 1). One of the units (green fluorescence) carries VACC TOPO covalently attached to its 3'end and another unit (red fluorescence) is a free hairpin with a terminal 3'OH. The units are short-lived and quickly reassemble back into the original construct, which subsequently recleaves. In the absence of DNA breaks these two units continuously separate and religate in a cyclic manner. In tissue sections with DNA damage, the topoisomerase-carrying detector unit selectively attaches to blunt-ended DNA breaks with 5'OH (DNase II-type breaks), fluorescently labeling them. The second, enzyme-free hairpin formed after oligonucleotide cleavage, will ligate to a 5'PO(4) blunt-ended break (DNase I-type breaks), if T4 DNA ligase is present in the solution. When T4 DNA ligase is added to a tissue section or a solution containing DNA with 5'PO(4) blunt-ended breaks, the ligase reacts with 5'PO(4) DNA ends, forming semi-stable enzyme-DNA complexes. The blunt ended hairpins will interact with these complexes releasing ligase and covalently linking hairpins to DNA, thus labeling 5'PO(4) blunt-ended DNA breaks. This development exemplifies a new practical approach to the design of molecular machines and provides a useful sensor for detection of apoptosis and DNA damage in fixed cells and tissues.
Logic Extraction and Factorization for Low Power

This paper describes algebraic procedures for node extraction and factorization that target low power consumption. New power cost functions are introduced for the sum-of-products and factored form representations of functions. These cost functions are then used to guide the power optimization procedures. It is also shown that using the proposed SOP power cost function, all extractions resulting in a power reduction will not result in an increase in the number of literals in the network. The procedures described in this paper were implemented and results show 16% average improvement in power at the cost of 7% average increase in area.
Michelson interferometer with separated inputs and outputs, double pass, and compensation.

A novel configuration is proposed for a Michelson interferometer spectrometer, which will be insensitive to tilts or displacements, and which employs separated inputs and outputs and double passing for higher resolution. The great advantage of such a compensated design is a relaxation of mechanical tolerances, which is especially beneficial for instruments in hostile environments. The Atmospheric Trace Molecule Spectroscopy project, which must work reliably after being subjected to the vibrations of a Space Shuttle launch, would benefit from the use of such an instrument.
Assessing the Conservation Significance of a State Park System, New York, USA

ABSTRACT: Bunnell et al. (2009) introduced the concept of Stewardship Responsibility (SR) rankings as a tool for conservation planning, using global rankings of rare species in British Columbia. I applied a version of their tool to assess biodiversity distributions in New York State Parks, using records collected by the N.Y. Natural Heritage Program. Comprehensive surveys were conducted among 150 parks over a decade, leading to a database of 1074 records for 312 rare species and 98 significant ecological communities. I applied SR ranks in a nested design — agency-wide — among regions within the agency and across the state (comparisons with other management entities). Subsets of parks and regions ranked more highly than others, but most parks contain at least one rare species and significant ecological community, indicating a broad distribution of important biological resources. Statewide, the agency maintains a very high SR rank profile in proportion to its land area (< 1% of the state), with 43% of all N...
Orexin-1 Receptor Mediation of Cocaine Seeking in Male and Female Rats

Previous studies have shown that female rats exhibit enhanced cocaine seeking during multiple phases of cocaine addiction compared with males. The orexin/hypocretin system recently has been implicated in drug addiction in male rats. Based on the known sex differences in cocaine addiction, in the current study we examined orexin-mediated cocaine seeking during self-administration, extinction, and reinstatement in age-matched male (initial weight 250–300 g) and female (initial weight 175–225 g) Sprague-Dawley rats by using the orexin-1 receptor (OX1R) antagonist 1-(2-methylbenzoxazol-6-yl)-3-[1,5]naphthyridin-4-yl urea (SB-334867) (10–30 mg/kg). OX1R blockade had no effect on established cocaine self-administration, but attenuated cocaine seeking during extinction in both male and female rats. It is noteworthy that OX1R blockade potently attenuated cue-induced reinstatement in males but had no effect on females. SB-334867 also reduced cocaine seeking during pharmacological stress-induced (yohimbine, 2.5 mg/kg) and yohimbine + cue-induced reinstatement in both sexes. SB-334867 failed to affect reinstatement induced by cocaine (10 mg/kg) in either male or female rats, but selectively reduced cocaine + cue-induced reinstatement only in males. In separate experiments examining basal and cocaine-induced locomotion, SB-334867 attenuated locomotion in both male and female rats. Finally, assessment of plasma and brain levels of SB-334867 showed that estrus females had slightly higher plasma levels than diestrus females, but no overall sex differences or estrous cycle differences were observed in plasma or brain SB-334867 concentrations. These results show that OX1R signaling plays a role in mediating cocaine seeking, but differs between the sexes for cue-induced reinstatement.
Latent Graphical Model Selection: Efficient Methods for Locally Tree-like Graphs

Graphical model selection refers to the problem of estimating the unknown graph structure given observations at the nodes in the model. We consider a challenging instance of this problem when some of the nodes are latent or hidden. We characterize conditions for tractable graph estimation and develop efficient methods with provable guarantees. We consider the class of Ising models Markov on locally tree-like graphs, which are in the regime of correlation decay. We propose an efficient method for graph estimation, and establish its structural consistency when the number of samples n scales as $n = \Omega(\theta_{\min}^{-\delta \eta(\eta+1)-2}\log p)$, where θmin is the minimum edge potential, δ is the depth (i.e., distance from a hidden node to the nearest observed nodes), and η is a parameter which depends on the minimum and maximum node and edge potentials in the Ising model. The proposed method is practical to implement and provides flexibility to control the number of latent variables and the cycle lengths in the output graph. We also present necessary conditions for graph estimation by any method and show that our method nearly matches the lower bound on sample requirements.
Fatigue leads to gait changes in spinal muscular atrophy.

Introduction: Impaired mobility and fatigue are common in ambulatory spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients. The 6-minute walk test (6MWT) is a reliable measure of fatigue in SMA patients. To further evaluate fatigue, we used quantitative gait analysis during the 6MWT. Methods: Nine subjects with SMA and 9 age- and gender-matched, healthy controls were evaluated. Gait parameters of speed and dynamic balance were correlated with 6MWT distance. Performance during the first and last 25 meters of the 6MWT was compared. Results: Speed-related gait parameters and support base correlated with 6MWT distance. Walking performance was worse for SMA patients. The deterioration in stride length during the 6MWT was greater in SMA patients than in controls. Conclusions: Gait analysis detects fatigue, and the decrement in stride length may reflect selective muscle involvement in SMA. Further understanding of the mechanisms underlying fatigue may suggest additional targets for future therapeutic interventions. Muscle Nerve, 2010
VLSI layouts of complete graphs and star graphs

In this paper, we present efficient layouts for complete graphs and star graphs. We show that an N-node complete graph can be optimally laid out using LN2/4] tracks for a colinear layout, and can be laid out in N4/16 + o(N4) area for a 2D layout. We also show that an N-node star graph can be laid out in N2/16 + o(N2) area, which is smaller than any possible layout of a similar-size hypercube. This solves an open question posed by Akers and Krishnamurthy in 1986. Both the layouts of complete graphs and star graphs are optimal within a factor 1 + o(l). 0 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Application of a fibre‐reactive chitosan derivative to cotton fabric as a zero‐salt dyeing auxiliary

Cotton fabric has been treated with a fibre-reactive chitosan derivative containing quaternary ammonium groups, O-acrylamidomethyl-N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium)propyl]chitosan chloride (NMA-HTCC). Cotton treated with NMA-HTCC has been dyed with direct and reactive dyes without the addition of salt. The colour yield was higher than that on untreated cotton, despite the addition of a large amount salt in the latter case. After dyeing, cotton treated with NMA-HTCC gave better wash fastness than the untreated cotton. The light fastness was however inferior to that on untreated cotton. The antimicrobial activity of cotton treated with NMA-HTCC against Staphylococcus aureus was considerably lower after dyeing, probably due to the antimicrobial effect of the cationic group on NMA-HTCC being blocked by its combination with the anionic dye.