cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parametric Amplifier for Ionization Detector Applications

A type of parametric amplifier is described that may in some circumstances offer advantages over the usual JFET preamplifier for low-noise front-end amplification of signals from such devices as Si, Ge, and gaseous ionization detectors. A particular advantage is low power dissipation at the front end.
Identification of the Sentinel Node by Ultrasonography in Patients with Breast Cancer

Identification of the sentinel node (SN) in patients with breast cancer is done by tracking a radioactive tracer, a vital dye, or both, as the marker(s) reach the axilla. Replacing this method with ultrasonographic (US) recognition of the SN could eventually spare patients the need for systemic anesthesia, permit minimally invasive outpatient biopsy of the node, and allow the formulation of a precise therapeutic plan before a definitive surgical procedure. Eighty-eight axillae of 84 patients with a histologic diagnosis of breast cancer were studied by injecting the subareolar area of the affected breast(s) with technetium 99 and an iron preparation before the planned surgical procedure and SN biopsy. An axillary US scan was performed in all patients before the injection of the markers. After induction of anesthesia, the SN was identified, needle-localized, and extracted under US guidance. Confirmation that the SN was retrieved was established by concordance with the audible gamma signal, unless there was none. All extracted nodes had iron stains performed. All except three of the SNs were identified with US after the iron marker was injected, and all except six were identified by their radioactive signal. One of the SNs undetected on US was identified by its radioactive tracer, and the other two, although seen on US, had neither a gamma signal nor concordant iron deposits. All other SNs identified with US had a concordant audible signal when there was one, and all had concordant iron deposits on microscopy. Of the six SNs without a gamma signal, three without preincision activity were identified with US; three with neither a preincision nor an ex vivo signal were seen with US, but two of these were the SNs without a concordant iron deposit. Using an iron preparation, the SN in patients with breast cancer can be identified with US with an accuracy equal to and perhaps better than that achieved with a radioactive tracer. These findings may change the current diagnostic model and affect the therapeutic algorithm of breast cancer patients.
Age dependence of Olympic weightlifting ability.

There is increasing interest among Masters athletes in standards for comparing performances of competitors of different ages. The goal of this study was to develop one such age-comparison method by examining the age dependence of ability in Olympic-style weightlifting. Previous research on the deterioration of muscular strength and power with increasing age offers only limited guidance toward this goal; therefore, analysis of performance data was required. The variation of weightlifting ability as a function of age was examined by two different methods. First, cross-sectional data corresponding to two separate populations of Masters weightlifters were analyzed in detail. Then, a longitudinal study of 64 U.S. male Masters weightlifters was carried out, with performance versus age curves resulting from the two methods were very similar, reflecting approximately 1.0-1.5% x yr-1 deterioration rates. These curves were characterized by common features regarding the rate of decline of muscular power with increasing age, in apparent agreement with published data regarding Masters sprinters and jumpers. We tentatively conclude that Olympic weightlifting ability in trained subjects undergoes a nonlinear decline with age, in which the second derivative of the performance versus age curve repeatedly changes sign.
The potential difference of the frog lens.

Data are presented which suggest that the internal lens fibers are not degenerate. It is shown that the anterior surface of the frog lens maintains about a 5 mV greater potential than the posterior. This gradient presumably represents an IR drop along a lens fiber. When the K+ concentration of the bath is increased, the anterior surface depolarizes at a slightly faster rate so that the two surfaces become isopotential at high bath K+ concentrations. The anterior and posterior potentials also change at different rates in hyposmotic SO4= solutions and in choline chloride Ringer's. The potential reducing effect of surgical trauma on the lens is described and proper methodology for lens P.D. measurements is suggested. The depolarizing effect of ouabain is discussed.
Prediction of body density from skinfold measurements in lactating women.

1. Regression equations predicting body density from skinfold measurements were derived for a group of lactating women. 2. It was concluded that specific equations for lactation were not necessary, since the resultant equations were not significantly different from those published for non-lactating women. 3. The ability to predict an individual's body density from skinfold thickness measurements was unsatisfactory for either clinical or research applications.
Effect of zirconia-modified alumina on the properties of Co/γ-Al2O3 catalysts

Abstract Zr promotion has been shown to improve the activity of Co/SiO 2 and Co/Al 2 O 3 Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) catalysts. However, little is known about how it works. The focus of this study was to investigate the impact of Zr modification of alumina used to support Co catalysts. Zr was first impregnated into alumina to produce Zr-modified alumina supports containing 2–11 wt% of ZrO 2 in the final catalyst. Co catalysts having 20 wt% Co were then prepared from these supports by incipient wetness. It was found that Zr modification had a significant impact on the catalyst properties: FTS rate per gram of catalyst increased significantly (>65% at steady state) with Zr modification and Co reducibility, especially during standard reduction, also increased. H 2 chemisorption, however, was found to be essentially constant with Zr modification. The impact of Zr modification is likely due to stabilization of the alumina support, prevention or blockage of Co surface “aluminate” formation, and an increase in Co reducibility to the active catalytic metallic phase. SSITKA results for CO hydrogenation showed an increase in the number of active surface intermediates ( N M ) with Zr modification while the intrinsic activity (1/ τ M ) remained constant, confirming that the major impact of Zr was in increasing the concentration of active Co surface sites. Because of the inconsistency of the turnover frequency calculated based on H 2 chemisorption with the 1/ τ M results, it is suggested that the standard adsorption conditions usually used for Co may not be adequate for modified Co catalysts such as the ones studied here.
SuperCritical Auto-Thermal Rankine (SCATR) System: High Efficiency Fossil Fuel Based Electricity With Intrinsic Carbon Separation

This paper presents SCATR: a novel, high-efficiency electricity generation system with carbon separation. The system uses oxygen from an air separation unit to burn methane in supercritical water, expanding the resulting products stream through turbines to generate power. The water is condensed, preheated, and recycled through the plant, leaving a stream of CO2 compressed to pipeline pressures. The details of the model are discussed, and an exergy analysis of the system is performed, providing insight into the operation of the plant as well as possible avenues for improvements. The efficiency of the system, including air separation and CO2 separation, is found to be 42.3% relative to the HHV of methane (or 47.0% relative to its LHV).Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Unsteady Aerodynamics of Airfoil Oscillating in and out of Dynamic Stall

Abstract : A solution procedure is presented for the computation of dynamic stall phenomena encountered by arbitrary shaped airfoils under arbitrary flow conditions. This procedure solves the unsteady, incompressible Navier-Stokes and the unsteady boundary layer equations using an efficient, zonal approach. A number of results for a modified NACA 0012 airfoil experiencing dynamic stall are presented and compared with available numerical data. Qualitative comparisons with flow visualization experiments are also presented. (Author)
Microswitches and microrelays with a view toward microwave applications

In this paper, we discuss our work on surface micromachined microswitches and microrelays that are based on electroplated materials. We have successfully fabricated devices with lifetimes exceeding 107 cycles cold switched at current levels exceeding 10 ma. Contact resistance is consistently below one ohm for a single contact. Multiple contact devices have much lower effective contact resistance. ©1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 9: 338–347, 1999.
RESEARCH ARTICLE: Decision Criteria Development and Methodology for the Degraded Fish Population Beneficial Use Impairment in Wisconsin's Lower Menominee River Area of Concern

The Lower Menominee River area of concern (AOC) is one of 43 such areas in the Great Lakes region that have been subject to historical degradation and recent remediation activities. An evaluation o...
Experimental and computational studies of the G[UUCG]C RNA tetraloop.

In prokaryotic ribosomal RNAs, most UUCG tetraloops are closed by a C-G base-pair. However, this preference is greatly reduced in eukaryotic rRNA species where many UUCG tetraloops are closed by G-C base-pairs. Here, biophysical properties of the C[UUCG]G and G[UUCG]C tetraloops are compared, using experimental and computational methods. Thermal denaturation experiments are used to derive thermodynamic parameters for the wild-type G[UUCG]C tetraloop and variants containing single deoxy substitutions in the loop. A comparison with analogous experiments on the C[UUCG]G motif shows that the two RNA species exhibit similar patterns in response to the substitutions, suggesting that their loop structures are similar. This conclusion is supported by NMR data that suggest that the essential UUCG loop structure is maintained in both tetraloops. However, NMR results show that the G[UUCG]C loop structure is disrupted prior to melting of the stem; this behavior is in contrast to the two-state behavior of the C[UUCG]G molecule. Stochastic dynamics simulations using the GB/SA continuum solvation model, run as a function of temperature, show rare conformational transitions in several G[UUCG]C simulations. These results lead to the conclusion that substitution of a G-C for a C-G closing base-pair increases the intrinsic flexibility of the UUCG loop.
The RANKL pathway and denosumab.

Abstract Denosumab (Prolia) is a fully human monoclonal antibody directed against receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), which interferes with the formation, activation, and survival of osteoclasts. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in June 2010 as a new treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis in women who are at high risk for fracture. Given its mechanism of action, it is an antiresorptive therapy that is administered as a 60-mg subcutaneous injection every 6 months. It is the first biologic antiresorptive therapy for osteoporosis, and the first osteoporosis therapy to show efficacy and safety in patients with renal impairment.
Gemcitabine and taxane combinations in non small-cell lung cancer.

Abstract Gemcitabine, docetaxel, and paclitaxel are among the most active agents available for the treatment of non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Each has been shown to produce objective responses in approximately 20%-25% of previously untreated patients with advanced or metastatic NSCLC and to improve survival and quality of life when compared to best supportive care. In randomized clinical trials, these drugs have produced response rates and survival outcomes equal to older platinum-based regimens and, when combined with a platinum compound, have produced the best results achieved to date in this disease. Because of their effectiveness and moderate toxicity profiles, investigators have studied novel combinations of these new agents. Multiple phase II clinical trials have explored a variety of doses and schedules of gemcitabine combined with docetaxel or paclitaxel. Randomized clinical trials have shown that gemcitabine 1000-1100 mg/m 2 administered on days 1 and 8 every 3 weeks combined with either docetaxel 100 mg/m 2 on day 8 or paclitaxel 200 mg/m 2 on day 1 can produce response rates and survival outcomes at least equivalent to the newer platinum-based taxane regimens. More recently, several investigators have explored weekly administration of either docetaxel or paclitaxel with gemcitabine. Preliminary results are encouraging and suggest that these novel gemcitabine/taxane regimens could provide an alternative to standard platinumbased regimens.
Competitive immunosorbent assays using ligand-enzyme conjugates and bifunctional liposomes: Theory and experiment

Two models of immunoadsorbent assays are developed that describe the competitive adsorption of labeled antigen and unlabeled analyte to antibody binding sites immobilized on a solid surface. In the first model, a small labeled antigen and a small unlabeled analyte compete with only binding site limitations and no steric limitations. A multicomponent Langmuir isotherm results that is sufficient to quantify competitive adsorption. This model can describe, with no adjustable parameters, the data of competitive assays for biotin using biotinylated horseradish peroxidase (B-HRP) over a wide range of anti-biotin antibody (ABA) surface densities. In the second model, the small unlabeled analyte competes with a large colloidal particle containing many antigens and enzyme labels attached to its surface. This model quantifies the steric interference that large particles can experience upon binding (large ligand effect) due to the lower probability of finding an available area of the right size to accommodate the larger adsorbent. This large ligand model also takes into account the increased probability of binding a large particle due to the larger number of antibody binding sites covered per collision. The resulting model is used to analyze the competitive assay data of biotin competing with liposomes to which many biotin and HRP molecules have been conjugated. This analysis is of interest because previous work has shown that these bifunctional liposomes can reduce the detection limit for antigens in bulk solution relative to assays performed with conventional small labeled antigens.
The preparation of Pt-alumina catalyst and its role in cyclohexane dehydrogenation

Abstract The reactions of aqueous H 2 PtCl 6 with alumina in the preparation of Pt-alumina catalyst, and some of the catalytic properties of the product, were investigated. The H + of H 2 PtCl 6 , a strong acid, reacts much more with alumina (to release an aluminum species to the solution) than does PtCl 6 2− . The two reactions are apparently independent of each other, and the Pt reaction is probably irreversible. The activities of a large number of Pt-alumina catalysts in the dehydrogenation of cyclohexane at 150 °C, without added hydrogen, were measured. Activity depends upon Pt concentration, but not upon the mode of the preparation of the catalyst. For a given Pt concentration, reproducible Pt surfaces are not easily obtained. Even for the 130–150 °C temperature range, where the equilibrium mixture contains only ~ 1 % benzene, it is possible to eliminate the effect of the back reaction in order that the rate of dehydrogenation be obtained. Dehydrogenation was shown to be zero order, indicating a fully covered surface, at atmospheric pressure and 150 °C. Therefore, the Arrhenius plots of the 130–150 °C activities for several catalysts can be used to calculate the true activation en rgies. The number of active sites per unit area, calculated using these data in connection with transition-state rate theory, radically differs from the number determined using another method. From the discrepancy between the two methods of counting sites, it is deduced that benzene desorption is not the slow step and that cyclohexene and/or cyclodiene are probably intermediates in the dehydrogenation reaction.
State Policies and Nursing Home Characteristics Associated With Rates of Resident Mistreatment

Background A federal complaint/incident system was implemented in 2004 with the stated purpose of promoting and protecting the health, safety, and the welfare of residents receiving health care services. This system provided the first national database of mistreatment in the nursing home setting. Methods The purpose of this research was to identify state and nursing home characteristics associated with the rates of nursing home resident mistreatment. Outcomes were incident reports filed by nursing home staff and complaints filed by persons other than service providers obtained from the federal complaints/incidents tracking system. Predictor variables used in the analysis of the reporting system included state legislation, census demographic data, and characteristics of the nursing home including aggregate characteristics of the residents. Results In 2004, based on complaint and incident reports, 1.6% of the nursing home population was reported to be mistreated. The average rates per 1000 residents were 16 reports, 14 investigations, and 4 substantiations. Incident report rates per 1000 ranged from 0.04 in Virginia to 46 in Alabama. Complaint report rates ranged from 0.42 in Hawaii to 52 in New Mexico. Incident outcomes were significantly lower in states that had nursing home statutes that require the facility, rather than the individual, to report mistreatment or in states that defined mistreatment in the nursing home differently from the definitions used by adult protective service statutes. Higher complaint outcomes were associated with lower levels of staffing. After controlling for resident characteristics, mistreatment measures remained associated with nursing home staffing levels but not with elements of statutes. Conclusions Documentation of nursing home mistreatment shows substantial differences in report rates across states. These differences cannot be explained by variations in the laws.
Analysis of dielectric resonator antennas excited by a coaxial probe with wideband enhancement

The dielectric resonator antenna (DRA) has become attractive to antenna designers in recent years. Two different dielectric resonator antenna configurations are investigated numerically. A coaxial probe excites each of the antenna configurations. The first configuration (stacked top insert DRA) achieves 25% matching and radiation bandwidth. The results of the second configuration (coated bottom insert DRA) will be presented later. The performance of both configurations is found to be similar to the stacked structure.
Molecular template for a voltage sensor in a novel K+ channel. II. Conservation of a eukaryotic sensor fold in a prokaryotic K+ channel.

KvLm, a novel bacterial depolarization-activated K+ (Kv) channel isolated from the genome of Listeria monocytogenes, contains a voltage sensor module whose sequence deviates considerably from the consensus sequence of a Kv channel sensor in that only three out of eight conserved charged positions are present. Surprisingly, KvLm exhibits the steep dependence of the open channel probability on membrane potential that is characteristic of eukaryotic Kv channels whose sensor sequence approximates the consensus. Here we asked if the KvLm sensor shared a similar fold to that of Shaker, the archetypal eukaryotic Kv channel, by examining if interactions between conserved residues in Shaker known to mediate sensor biogenesis and function were conserved in KvLm. To this end, each of the five non-conserved residues in the KvLm sensor were mutated to their Shaker-like charged residues, and the impact of these mutations on the voltage dependence of activation was assayed by current recordings from excised membrane patches of Escherichia coli spheroplasts expressing the KvLm mutants. Conservation of pairwise interactions was investigated by comparison of the effect of single mutations to the impact of double mutations presumed to restore wild-type fold and voltage sensitivity. We observed significant functional coupling between sites known to interact in Shaker Kv channels, supporting the notion that the KvLm sensor largely retains the fold of its eukaryotic homologue.
A parametric approach to sign language synthesis

In this paper we discuss the progress made toward accurate synthesis of signs in American Sign Language (ASL) using a finite number of descriptive parameters. A sign editor produces elements of a sign inventory that can be used with a commercially available human avatar to allow the generation of signed sentences from written or spoken text.
Point Mutation in Essential Genes with Loss or Mutation of the Second Allele: Relevance to the Retention of Tumor-Specific Antigens

Antigens that are tumor specific yet retained by tumor cells despite tumor progression offer stable and specific targets for immunologic and possibly other therapeutic interventions. Therefore, we have studied two CD4+ T cell–recognized tumor-specific antigens that were retained during evolution of two ultraviolet-light–induced murine cancers to more aggressive growth. The antigens are ribosomal proteins altered by somatic tumor-specific point mutations, and the progressor (PRO) variants lack the corresponding normal alleles. In the first tumor, 6132A-PRO, the antigen is encoded by a point-mutated L9 ribosomal protein gene. The tumor lacks the normal L9 allele because of an interstitial deletion from chromosome 5. In the second tumor, 6139B-PRO, both alleles of the L26 gene have point mutations, and each encodes a different tumor-specific CD4+ T cell–recognized antigen. Thus, for both L9 and L26 genes, we observe “two hit” kinetics commonly observed in genes suppressing tumor growth. Indeed, reintroduction of the lost wild-type L9 allele into the 6132A-PRO variant suppressed the growth of the tumor cells in vivo. Since both L9 and L26 encode proteins essential for ribosomal biogenesis, complete loss of the tumor-specific target antigens in the absence of a normal allele would abrogate tumor growth.
Results of a Phase II Trial of Brentuximab Vedotin for CD30+ Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma and Lymphomatoid Papulosis

Purpose Brentuximab vedotin, a monoclonal antibody (cAC10) conjugated to monomethyl auristatin E, targets CD30+ receptors. This phase II open-label trial was conducted to evaluate safety and efficacy in CD30+ cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Patients and Methods Forty-eight patients with CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders or mycosis fungoides (MF) received an infusion of 1.8 mg/kg every 21 days. Results Forty-eight evaluable patients (22 women and 26 men; median age, 59.5 years) had an overall response rate of 73% (95% CI, 60% to 86%; 35 of 48 patients) and complete response rate of 35% (95% CI, 22% to 49%; 17 of 48 patients). Fifteen (54%; 95% CI, 31% to 59%) of 28 patients with MF responded, independent of CD30 expression. In patients with MF/Sezary syndrome, the overall response rate was 50% (five of 10 patients) in patients with low CD30 expression (< 10%), 58% (seven of 12 patients) in patients with medium expression (10% to 50%), and 50% (three of six patients) in patients with high expression (≥ 50%). ...
Deterministic sorting in nearly logarithmic time on the hypercube and related computers

Abstract This paper presents a deterministic sorting algorithm, called Sharesort, that sorts n records on an n -processor hypercube, shuffle-exchange, or cube-connected cycles in O (log n (log log n ) 2 ) time in the worst case. The algorithm requires only a constant amount of storage at each processor. The fastest previous deterministic algorithm for this problem was Batcher's bitonic sort, which runs in O (log 2 n ) time.
Laser magnetic resonance spectroscopy of ClO and kinetic studies of the reactions of ClO with NO and NO2

Far-infrared rotational transitions in ClO(X2∏3/2, υ = 0) have been observed using laser magnetic resonance (LMR) with an optically pumped spectrometer. Five observed transitions at wavelengths between 444 and 713 µm have been compared with values predicted with spectroscopic constants from the literature. LMR detection of ClO has been used to study its reactions with NO and NO2 in a discharge flow system under pseudo-first-order conditions for ClO. The measured rate constants are k(ClO + NO) = (7.1 ± 1.4) × 10−12 exp[(270 ± 50)/T] cm3/molec·s for the temperature range of 202 < T < 393 K; k(ClO + NO2 + M) = (2.8 ± 0.6) × 10−33 exp[(1090 ± 80)/T] cm6/molec2·s (M = He, 250 < T < 387 K), (3.5 ± 0.6) × 10−33 exp[(1180 ± 80)/T] (M = O2, 250 < T < 416 K), and (2.09 ± 0.3) × 10−31 (M = N2, T = 297 K). All measurements were made at low pressures, between 0.6 and 6.6 torr. These results are compared with those from other studies.
Summary of 1940 forecast for Huntington, Florence, and Shaver Lakes

The Edison Company's Big Creek hydroelectric development is served by three storage-reservoirs, namely, Huntington, Florence, and Shaver lakes, having a combined capacity of 288,523 acre-feet. These three reservoirs impound the runoff of Bear Creek, Mono Creek, South Fork San Joaquin River, Big Creek, Pitman Creek, and Stevenson Creek. The combined area of the six drainage-basins is 450 square miles, 45 per cent of which is above an elevation of 10,000 feet. Forecasts based on snow-survey data are made at monthly intervals beginning March 1, and, when heavy storms or operating requirements make it desirable, semi-monthly forecasts are made. In general, all forecasts are based primarily on the results of snow-surveys made at two key courses, namely, Huntington Lake, elevation 7,000 feet, and Kaiser Pass, elevation 9,200 feet. However, consideration is given to data from 17 other snow-courses in the San Joaquin River Easin. when sufficient data have been collected from some additional courses recently established by the Company, all data from the several available sources will be correlated and new curves prepared.
The Role of the Peripheral Sympathetic Nervous System in Cerebral Blood Flow Autoregulation

The effect of chronic, unilateral superior cervical ganglionectomy on cerebral blood flow and blood flow autoregulaiton to changes in perfusion pressure was examined in seven phencyclidine anesthetized monkeys. Ten to 14 days prior to the experiments Doppler ultrasonic flow transducers were placed on both carotid arteries after ligation of the external carotid branches and removal of one superior cervical ganglion. Autoregulation was tested by exsanguination and metaraminol infusion with the monkeys inspiring from air, 9% and 12% carbon dioxide in air. Immediately following experimentation the cerebral vessels were examined for the presence of noradrenergic fibers. The results of the study demonstrate that: (1) superior cervical ganglionectomy produces a significant reduction in the noradrenergic innervation of ipsilateral extraparenchymal arteries: (2) the peripheral sympathetic nervous system contrivutes to overall cerebral vascular resistance primarily by affecting resistance in extraparenchymal arteries; and (3) as a result, it determines the contribution of the extraparenchymal arteries to overall cerebral blood flow autoregulation.
Disaggregating Education Production

A particular weakness of the education production function literature is that production is measured after a long series of treatments have been administered and reflects the effects of aggregation. This study meets a need to extend the perspective of this literature to a disaggregated view. We directed our inquiry toward a traditional set of production stages: the reading assignment, the lecture, after the lecture study and preparation for the exam. Our experimental design was constructed to measure student performance before and after each stage of production. We found that production varied significantly across stages. The reading assignment and lecture stages were productive. The post lecture stage exhibited negative but insignificant productivity. The test preparation stage also exhibited negligible productivity.
Fossil tree casts in South Louisiana soils

ABSTRACT Cylindrical structures up to 70 cm or more in diameter and 100 cm or greater in depth are found in soils on upland landscapes in south Louisiana. The cylinders are in two stratigraphic units differing in age and lithology, the late Pliocene or early Pleistocene Citronelle Formation and the overlying Sicily Island Loess (thermoluminescence-dated at 75,000-95,000 B.P.). By morphology and stratigraphy we infer that the cylinders are fossil tree-root casts preserved by pedogenesis and diagenesis. The cylinders can be divided into circumferential zones including a reduced core and an indurated rim that are morphologically, physically, and chemically distinct from each other and from the surrounding soil. In the Citronelle Formation, the rim can be subdivided into an inner rim, a black hand and an outer rim; a transition zone between the core and the rim also may be present. Differences in time of development and lithology have resulted in differences in the morphological, physical, and chemical properties of the cylinders, but their effects could not be separated. Our model for these tree-root casts explains how they were formed and preserved.
Valence screening of water in protein crystals reveals potential Na+ binding sites.

Identification of Na+binding sites in protein crystals is complicated by the comparable electron density of this monovalent cation and water. Valence calculations can predict the location of metal ion binding sites in proteins with high precision. These calculations were used to screen 332,242 water molecules in 2742 protein structures reported in the Protein Data Bank (PDB), searching for molecules with Na+-specific valence values νNa+≥1.0 v.u., as expected for a bound Na ion. Thirty-three water molecules (<0.01% of the total) were found to have νNa+≥1.0 v.u. and to be located within 3.5 A from at least two protein oxygen atoms. These water molecules, with a high Na+-specific valence, do not have valences specific for other cations, like Li+, K+, Mg2+or Ca2+. They belong to nine different proteins (deoxyribonuclease I, enolase, hen egg-white lysozyme, human lysozyme, phospholipase A2, proteinase A, rubredoxin, thrombin and phage T4 lysozyme) and appear with similar coordination geometry, typically octahedral, in the same place in multiple crystal structure determinations of the same protein. In the case of thrombin, the water molecule singled out by valence calculations is, in fact, a bound Na ion as demonstrated by molecular replacement with Rb+. Valence calculations provide an accurate screening of water in protein crystals and may help identify Na+binding sites of functional importance.
Nonparametric classification with polynomial MPMC cascades

A new class of nonparametric algorithms for high-dimensional binary classification is proposed using cascades of low dimensional polynomial structures. Construction of polynomial cascades is based on Minimax Probability Machine Classification (MPMC), which results in direct estimates of classification accuracy, and provides a simple stopping criteria that does not require expensive cross-validation measures. This Polynomial MPMC Cascade (PMC) algorithm is constructed in linear time with respect to the input space dimensionality, and linear time in the number of examples, making it a potentially attractive alternative to algorithms like support vector machines and standard MPMC. Experimental evidence is given showing that, compared to state-of-the-art classifiers, PMCs are competitive; inherently fast to compute; not prone to overfitting; and generally yield accurate estimates of the maximum error rate on unseen data.
Variation in butterfly egg adhesion: adaptation to local host plant senescence characteristics?

Most butterflies that overwinter as diapausing eggs have evolved oviposition behaviours where egg placement is near or on perennating portions of their host plant. We describe an alternative strategy used by alpine populations of a Lycaenid butterfly species complex where eggs are not attached strongly to the leaf substrate and subsequently fall off the plant. Other populations occurring at lower elevations attach their eggs strongly to the plant. In the laboratory, we measured the amount of force required to detach eggs from the leaf substrate. Eggs of the non-alpine populations required more than five times the force required to detach eggs of the alpine population. Field surveys of the host plant characteristics used by various populations suggest that easy detachment may be adaptive for alpine populations because, unlike the host plants used by other populations, nearly all of the preceding year’s vegetative growth is blown away by strong winds during the winter months.
Thermal annealing of irradiated lithium hydride I. Measurement of stored energy

Abstract The release of stored energy from irradiated LiH during thermal annealing was measured with a differential thermal analysis technique. For all samples irradiated with 60 Co γ -rays to doses between 1 × 10 9 and 5 × 10 10 rad. at temperatures ranging from 40 to 270°C, the amount of stored energy was directly proportional to the amount of ‘motionally narrowed’ hydrogen seen in the material by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance. The energy release is from the recombination reaction of free lithium and hydrogen that have been produced by irradiation; the energy for the reaction Li (c) + 1 2 H 2(c) → LiH (c) was ∼20kcal/mole. This is comparable to the standard heat of formation of LiH, ΔH° ƒ = −21·7 kcal/mole .
Necessary and sufficient conditions for a polytope of real polynomials to contain a Hurwitz polynomial

Necessary and sufficient conditions for a polytope of real polynomials to contain a Hurwitz polynomial are established. More specifically, it is proved that a polytope of real polynomials contains a stable polynomial if and only if a certain semipolytope of the polytope contains a stable polynomial. The existence theorem is followed by an algorithm to determine a stable polynomial in the polytope, if one exists. The polytope problem for discrete polynomials is also solved. Two illustrative examples are included.
Measurement of the Surface Free Energy of Amorphous Cellulose by Alkane Adsorption: A Critical Evaluation of Inverse Gas Chromatography (IGC)

Abstract Surface energies of amorphous cellulose “beads” were measured by IGC at different temperatures (50 to 100°C) using n-alkane probes (pentane to undecane). The equation of Schultz and Lavielle was applied which relates the specific retention volume of the gas probe to the dispersive component of the surface energy of the solid and liquid, γd s and γd l, respectively, and a parameter (“a”) which represents the surface area of the gas probe in contact with the solids. At 50°C, γd s was determined to be 71.5 mJ/m2, and its temperature dependence was 0.36 mJ m−2 K−1. Compared with measurements obtained by contact angle, IGC results were found to yield higher values, and especially a higher temperature dependence, d(γd s)/dT. Various potential explanations for these elevated values were examined. The surface energy, as determined by the Schultz and Lavielle equation, was found to depend mostly on the parameter “a”. Two experimental conditions are known to affect the values of “a”: the solid surface and ...
Test pattern generation for current testable faults in static CMOS circuits

Many manufacturing defects in static CMOS circuits are not detected by tests generated using the traditional single stuck-at fault model. May of these defects may be detected as increased propagation time or as excessive quiescent power supply current (IDDQ). In this paper the authors consider the probable manufacturing defects and compare the costs of detecting them by the resulting excess IDDQ versus the cost of traditional testing methods. >
A new microelectronics program at Boise State University: The Idaho Microelectronics Manufacturing Research Center (IM/sup 2/RC)

The microelectronics industry in Boise and the surrounding Inter-Mountain region has grown rapidly during the past decade. This growth has led to an urgent need for local microelectronics education opportunities at the associate, bachelor, and graduate levels. In 1995, an AAS program in Semiconductor Technology was created at BSU. Then, with strong support from local industry (particularly Micron Technology), the State of Idaho transformed what had been a satellite engineering program from University of Idaho, Moscow ID into a new School of Engineering at Boise State. BS degree programs in Civil, Electrical, and Mechanical engineering were established, a nationwide search for a new faculty was performed, and classes began in August 1996. Microelectronics is the clear focus of BSU's new program, with four of the new faculty specializing in this area.
Model of Alzheimer’s disease amyloid-β peptide based on a RNA binding protein

Although Alzheimer's Abeta peptide has been shown to form beta-sheet structure, a high-resolution molecular structure is still unavailable to date. A search for a sequence neighbor using Abeta(10-42) as the query in the Protein Data-Bank (PDB) revealed that an RNA binding protein, AF-Sm1 from Archaeoglobus fulgidus (PDB entry: 1i4k chain Z), shared 36% identical residues. Using AF-Sm1 as a template, we built a molecular model of Abeta(10-42) by applying comparative modeling methods. The model of Abeta(10-42) contains an antiparallel beta-sheet formed by residues 16-23 and 32-41. Hydrophobic surface constituted by residues 17-20 (LVFF) separates distinctly charged regions. Residues that interact with RNA in the AF-Sm1 crystal structure were found to be conserved in Abeta. Using a native gel we demonstrate for the first time that RNA can interact with Abeta and selectively retard the formation of fibrils or higher-order oligomers. We hypothesize that in a similar fashion to AF-Sm1, RNA interacts with Abeta in the beta-hairpin (beta-turn-beta) structure and prevents fibril formation.
A Photodiode-Array-Based Near-Infrared Spectrophotometer for the 600–1100 nm Wavelength Region:

We describe a silicon photodiode-array (PDA)-based near-infrared spectrophotometer for making molecular absorption/diffuse reflectance measurements in the 600-1100 nm wavelength range. Absorptions in this spectral region arise from both low-lying electronic states and vibrational overtones of CH, NH, and OH functional groups and combination bands. One disadvantage of silicon-based array detectors is their decreasing quantum efficiency at wavelengths longer than 950 nm. For transmission measurements, this can be compensated for by the technique of spectral plane masking, which markedly improves the consistency and overall level of baseline noise as well as the dynamic range. The instrument's performance is evaluated in the areas of spectral resolution, baseline noise, stray light, and dynamic range, and a comparison is made with a state-of-the-art mechanically scanned instrument. In the study, the PDA spectrometer attained a signal-to-noise ratio two times better than that of the commercial instrument with a time efficiency advantage of twelve, while achieving a spectral resolution three times greater. Finally, the application of analyzing caustic brine solutions by rapid-scanning NIR spectroscopy is illustrated.
Pharmacokinetics of Anti-cancer Chemotherapy in Renal Insufficiency and Dialysis

There may be as many as 50 million people with impaired renal function and a half million patients on dialysis in the United States. The risk for renal disease and for cancer increases with age, suggesting that patients with dual diagnoses of cancer and renal disease are common. In contrast, there are relatively few anti-cancer chemotherapy agents for which detailed pharmacokinetics in renal disease are known. In this chapter, we present general guidelines for considering the renal and dialytic clearance of 42 of the most common chemotherapy agents in use. In so doing, we also present a common framework for considering new agents that are yet to enter clinical practice, so that the practitioner can look up the molecular weight, protein binding, volume of distribution, metabolism and elimination of a new agent and quickly obtain a sense of whether renal or dialytic dose adjustment will be needed.
Identification of Involved Internal Mammary Lymph Node(s) on Pretreatment Breast MRI Correlated With Aggressive Histology and Poorer Outcomes

Conclusion: IORT with 50 kv-X ray using INTRABEAM is well tolerated with little late skin toxicity and very good cosmetic outcome. Although our inclusion criteria were substantially stricter than those of the TARGIT-A trial, around 30% of the patients had to receive external WBRT after IORT. This, however, leads to a significantly higher risk for developing late high grade skin and breast toxicity compared to patients treated with IORT alone. As such, patient’s selection optimization is needed in order to further reduce the risk of late severe toxicity. Author Disclosure: S. Key: None. P. Miglierini: None. S. Vourch: None. O. Miranda: None. J. Mahlaire: None. P. Dupre: None. O. Pradier: None. U. Schick: None.
MANAGEMENT EDUCATION: ARTICULATING THE UNSPOKEN, RIDING THE HERD, WASTING MONEY, OR PREPARING FOR TOMORROW?

Stacks of computer printout are piled high on a desk and partially block the training director’s view of the entrance to his office. Bob Mueller, recently appointed director of a corporate training center, faces new job challenges. Directing a new and impressively modern “training temple,” Bob and his staff not only face concurrently designing and successfully delivering new training programs, maintaining current programs, and keeping costs down, but also must prove to top management that the center is contributing to corporate goals. The stacks of printout provide such data as: the ratio of students vs. seats per class; the center’s hotel room occupancy rate; and the cost of running everything within the center from classroom to gym to convenience shops. Bob even has information on pre- and posttest scores of participants attending basic skills classes over the past fiscal quarter.
Immortalizing Genes of Epstein-Barr Virus

EBV immortalizes human B lymphocytes efficiently. Ten of its approximately 100 genes are expressed in these proliferating lymphoblasts and are candidates for mediating the changes central to the immortalization of the cell. Enough has been learned now about three of these viral genes to indicate that they are likely to be required for immortalization. As more is learned, additional genes of EBV will probably be found to support the process of immortalization of the host cell. EBNA-2 has been shown genetically to be required for EBV to immortalize an infected B lymphocyte. The biochemical activities of EBNA-2 that constitute this requirement have not been identified. Many experiments indicate that EBNA-2 affects the accumulation of specific viral and cellular RNAs. These effects, however, can be detected only in certain EBV-negative B-lymphoblastoid cells. It is, therefore, not clear that the known effects of EBNA-2 adequately explain its ubiquitous requirement in the immortalization of primary human B lymphocytes. LMP is likely to be required for immortalization because it can affect the growth properties of established human lymphoid and epithelial cells and can transform at least two established rodent cells to proliferate in an anchorage-independent manner. The structure of this viral protein, its position in the plasma membrane, many of its biochemical properties, as well as studies of its mutant derivatives are consistent with its acting as a growth factor receptor or affecting the activity of such a receptor. However, no biochemical activity has been assigned directly to LMP, and both its mechanism of action and its possible contribution to immortalization by EBV remain enigmatic. EBNA-1 presumably is required for EBV to immortalize a B lymphocyte because it is essential for the initiation of plasmid DNA replication by EBV. Circumstantial observations indicate also that EBNA-1 is probably necessary for sustaining viral DNA replication in the proliferating cell population. EBNA-1 may well affect the regulation of transcription of viral genes that themselves are required for immortalization. These roles of EBNA-1 are performed in part by its site-specific binding to the elements of oriP required in cis for the replication of EBV plasmid DNAs. It is probable that EBNA-1 also binds both to a set of cellular proteins that function in transcription and to a nonidentical set of cellular proteins that function in replication. EBV effects a fascinating phenotypic change in B lymphocytes it infects. It does so by using several viral genes that alter the physiology of the cell by different means.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Aerodynamic aspects of icing effect on the helicopter BVI phenomenon; numerical studies using LES

The influence of icing on the helicopter blade-vortex interaction mechanism is investigated using large eddy simulation (LES). The simulations were performed for a Reynolds number of Re = 1.3 x 10 based on the chord of the airfoil (NACA0012). Computations are carried out to investigate the influence of icing on the aerodynamic coefficients. Overall larger amplitudes of aerodynamic coefficients were observed for the case of an iced leading edge when compared with the clean NACA0012 case. Also the bladevortex interactions are stronger in the presence of ice, resulting in larger oscillations of the aerodynamic coefficients.
Potential for Electrified Vehicles to Contribute to U.S. Petroleum and Climate Goals and Implications for Advanced Biofuels

To examine the national fuel and emissions impacts from increasingly electrified light-duty transportation, we reconstructed the vehicle technology portfolios from two national vehicle studies. Using these vehicle portfolios, we normalized assumptions and examined sensitivity around the rates of electrified vehicle penetration, travel demand growth, and electricity decarbonization. We further examined the impact of substituting low-carbon advanced cellulosic biofuels in place of petroleum. Twenty-seven scenarios were benchmarked against a 50% petroleum-reduction target and an 80% GHG-reduction target. We found that with high rates of electrification (40% of miles traveled) the petroleum-reduction benchmark could be satisfied, even with high travel demand growth. The same highly electrified scenarios, however, could not satisfy 80% GHG-reduction targets, even assuming 80% decarbonized electricity and no growth in travel demand. Regardless of precise consumer vehicle preferences, emissions are a function of...
Efficient design space exploration via statistical sampling and AdaBoost learning

Design space exploration (DSE) has become a notoriously difficult problem due to the exponentially increasing size of design space of microprocessors and time-consuming simulations. To address this issue, machine learning techniques have been widely employed to build predictive models. However, most previous approaches randomly sample the training set leading to considerable simulation cost and low prediction accuracy. In this paper, we propose an efficient and precise DSE methodology by combining statistical sampling and Adaboost learning technique. The proposed method includes three phases. (1) Firstly, orthogonal design based feature selection is employed to prune design space. (2) Sencondly, an orthogonal array based training data sampling method is introduced to select the representative configurations for simulation. (3) Finally, a new active learning approach ActBoost is proposed to build predictive model. Evaluations demonstrate that the proposed framework is more efficient and precise than state-of-art DSE techniques.