cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Walk-on-Spheres Algorithm for Solving Boundary-Value Problems with Continuity Flux Conditions

We consider boundary-value problem for elliptic equations with constant coefficients related through the continuity conditions on the boundary between the domains. To take into account conditions involving the solution’s normal derivative, we apply a new mean-value relation written down at a boundary point. This integral relation is exact and provides a possibility to get rid of the bias caused by usually used finite-difference approximation. Randomization of this mean-value relation makes it possible to continue simulating walk-on-spheres trajectory after it hits the boundary. We prove the convergence of the algorithm and determine its rate. In conclusion, we present the results of some model computations.
The Reaction of n-Butyl Isocyanide with Human Hemoglobin III. TEMPERATURE JUMP RELAXATION KINETICS

Abstract The binding of n-butyl isocyanide to human hemoglobin has been examined by means of rapid mixing and chemical relaxation kinetics. It is seen that an extended Adair scheme (Adair, G. S. (1925) J. Biol. Chem. 63, 529) can be applied to describe the kinetic data. Two relaxation processes are observed which are attributed to binding of ligand to the α and β subunits. The effect of temperature on subunit heterogeneity is described, and the thermodynamics of n-butyl isocyanide binding are presented.
Computing the blocking probability in tactical communications networks

Tactical communications networks are multi-hop wireless networks in which switches and endpoints are mobile nodes. In a tactical environment, fast algorithms for performance analysis are desirable for optimizing the network in a timely fashion. Also, preemptive priorities are commonly used to achieve low blocking probabilities for high priority calls when the loss of equipment in the battlefield is not trivial. Analytical algorithms are presented for computing the end-to-end blocking probability in a tactical communications network where a preemption service discipline is employed and traffic is divided into multiple classes to provide multiple grades of service. Each class of traffic has its distinct characteristics, such as average call arrival rate, average call holding time and service priority. Experiments show that the preemption does provide significantly better performance for higher priority traffic. The algorithms presented may also be useful in the optimization of other rapidly deployable networks, where mobility, communication efficiency and computational complexity for adapting the network to unpredictable environments are of significant concern.
Intracellular Distribution and Late Endosomal Effects of the Ocular Albinism Type 1 Gene Product: Consequences of Disease-Causing Mutations and Implications for Melanosome Biogenesis

To investigate the function of ocular albinism type 1 (OA1), the gene responsible for X-linked ocular albinism, we employed a construct containing murine Oa1 fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) in a heterologous COS cell expression system. The cellular distribution of wild-type (WT) Oa1 protein and Oa1 proteins reflecting mutations causing X-linked ocular albinism were examined. Comparison with different organelle markers revealed that Oa1-GFP localized to the late endolysosomal compartments. Some Oa1 mutant proteins failed to exit the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) (Class I mutants), while other mutants partially (Class II mutants) or fully (Class III mutants) exited the ER and trafficked to endolysosomal compartments. We observed that expression of WT Oa1-GFP in COS cells caused an apparent enlargement of late endosomes and a redistribution of the mannose-6-phosphate receptor (M6PR). None of the mutants displayed the full range of effects on the redistribution of M6PR exhibited by WT Oa1. The effects of Oa1 on late endosome structure and content are thus likely to reflect an important biological property of Oa1. We propose that OA1 is involved in reorganizing the endolysosomal compartment as a necessary step in ocular melanosome biogenesis.
Mechanism of induction of heme oxygenase by metalloporphyrins in primary chick embryo liver cells: evidence against a stress-mediated response

Heme oxygenase catalyzes the first and rate-controlling step in heme catabolism. One of the two forms of heme oxygenase (heme oxygenase-1) has been shown to be increased by heme, metals, and in some systems, by certain environmental stresses. However, it remains uncertain whether heme induces hepatic heme oxygenase-1 by a general stress response, or a specific heme-dependent cellular response. The work communicated here explores this issue by examining possible mechanisms whereby heme and other metalloporphyrins induce heme oxygenase-1 in normal liver cells. Primary cultures of chick embryo liver cells were tested for their ability to increase heme oxygenase mRNA after exposure to selected metalloporphyrins (heme, chromium mesoporphyrin, cobalt protoporphyrin and manganese protoporphyrin). The ability of antioxidants to decrease metalloporphyrin-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1 mRNA was also tested. Our results indicate that: 1) the increase in heme oxygenase-1 mRNA mediated by heme or other metalloporphyrins may involve a short-lived protein(s) since the increase was prevented by several inhibitors of protein synthesis; and 2) in normal liver cells, heme-dependent oxidative stress does not play a key role in the heme-mediated induction of heme oxygenase-1. We conclude that heme and other non-heme metalloporphyrins induce heme oxygenase-1 through a mechanism requiring protein synthesis, not because metalloporphyrins increase cellular oxidative or other stress.
1 MV repetition-rated modulator

The design of a 1 MV, repetition-rated modulator capable of switching 20 kJ into an 80 Omega load is presented. The design utilizes two recently developed 100 kV hollow-anode thyratrons to discharge four parallel lumped-constant Blumleins composed of two 1.0-2.0 Omega , 6-stage, type E pulse-forming networks (PFNs). The Blumleins are to be command-resonantly charged from a capacitive energy storage bank to 100 kV and then discharged through a 10:1 step-up iron core transformer to 1 MV. The primary switch thyratrons in the modulator must be able to hold off 100 kV and conduct currents up to 200 kA with as di/dt approaching 10/sup 12/ A/s total. Preliminary work has shown that the main switch tube, with PFNs, and the command charge circuits perform satisfactory at half their rated values (50 kV). >
Measuring x-ray spectra of flash radiographic sources

A Compton spectrometer has been re-commissioned for measurements of flash radiographic sources. The determination of the energy spectrum of these sources is difficult due to the high count rates and short nature of the pulses (~50 ns). The spectrometer is a 300 kg neodymium-iron magnet which measures spectra in the <1 MeV to 20 MeV energy range. Incoming x-rays are collimated into a narrow beam incident on a converter foil. The ejected Compton electrons are collimated so that the forward-directed electrons enter the magnetic field region of the spectrometer. The position of the electrons at the magnet’s focal plane is a function of their momentum, allowing the x-ray spectrum to be reconstructed. Recent measurements of flash sources are presented.
Feature-independent context estimation for automatic image annotation

Automatic image annotation is a highly valuable tool for image search, retrieval and archival systems. In the absence of an annotation tool, such systems have to rely on either users' input or large amount of text on the webpage of the image, to acquire its textual description. Users may provide insufficient/noisy tags and all the text on the webpage may not be a description or an explanation of the accompanying image. Therefore, it is of extreme importance to develop efficient tools for automatic annotation of images with correct and sufficient tags. The context of the image plays a significant role in this process, along with the content of the image. A suitable quantification of the context of the image may reduce the semantic gap between visual features and appropriate textual description of the image. In this paper, we present an unsupervised feature-independent quantification of the context of the image through tensor decomposition. We incorporate the estimated context as prior knowledge in the process of automatic image annotation. Evaluation of the predicted annotations provides evidence of the effectiveness of our feature-independent context estimation method.
Is Increased Access Enough? Advanced Placement Courses, Quality, and Success in Low-Income Urban Schools:

This article combines descriptive statistics and interviews with college-bound high school students to explore the connection between increased access and academic quality of Advanced Placement (AP) courses in low-income urban high schools. Results suggest that although moderately more opportunities to take AP courses exist than in previous years, students' sense of their own preparation and their resultant performance on AP exams do not indicate quality or appropriate preparation for college. The article is guided by a “funds of knowledge” framework, which emphasizes the value of instrumental and content aptitudes in preparation for college success.
Melt migration in the Earth

Most of the phenomena studied by geologists and geochemists are due, at least in part, to the ability of fluids to migrate within the Earth's interior. Three processes are believed to operate in melt migration: diapirism (large buoyant masses of partially molten rock, rising by viscously deforming the surrounding solid rock), magmafracturing (the rapid migration of melt along macroscopic fissures in cold rock) and two-phase flow in porous media (the microscopic percolation of buoyant melt in a partially molten rock, and an essential precursor to the other two processes). As a recent paper by McKenzie shows, it is in understanding the third of these processes that the most significant recent developments have occurred.
Cardiac histologic findings in patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias of unknown origin

Percutaneous endomyocardial biopsy (right ventricle in 10, left ventricle in 2) was performed in 12 patients, aged 9 to 57 years, with serious ventricular arrhythmias occurring in the setting of normal cardiac anatomy and mechanical function. Light microscopic examination of tissue revealed histologic abnormalities in 11 patients, including myocardial cellular hypertrophy in 7, interstitial fibrosis in 5, endocardial fibrosis in 2, myocardial degenerative changes in 1 and increased interstitial cellularity in 1. One patient had histologic evidence of acute lymphocytic myocarditis. Thus, a majority of patients with serious ventricular arrhythmias and normal cardiac anatomy had histologic abnormalities, bringing into question the concept of primary electrical heart disease or idiopathic ventricular tachycardia.
A national survey of assessment trends in communication departments

Results of the survey presented in this article, concerned with how departments of communication were responding to assessment mandates, indicated that most colleges and universities consider the development of oral communication abilities a goal of their general education programs, and that this goal is most frequently operationalized as a required course for students. Course evaluations were the most common source of information on the effectiveness of requirements and programs of study. Faculty seemed more involved in the assessment process at the departmental level than at the school‐wide level. The article concludes with recommendations for better assessment of student outcomes.
Genomic structural variation and schizophrenia

It has recently been demonstrated that a large amount of structural variation exists in the human genome. Since 2004, when two landmark studies reported polymorphic levels of copy number variation in phenotypically normal individuals, our understanding of genome-wide levels of copy number variation has grown. This has inspired hypotheses about this class of variation's contribution to complex genetic phenotypes, including the specific hypothesis that structural variation is associated with psychiatric illness. The technology to accurately and efficiently detect polymorphic structural variants is still largely under development, but some examples of genomic imbalance contributing to schizophrenia and bipolar disorder already have been identified. Although much optimism surrounds this burgeoning field, the technical challenges in reliably identifying structural variation mean recent literature should be approached with caution.
Phosphorylation and Ubiquitination of Degron Proximal Residues Are Essential for Class II Transactivator (CIITA) Transactivation and Major Histocompatibility Class II Expression

Major histocompatibility (MHC) class II molecules are cell surface glycoproteins that present extracellular antigens to CD4+ T cells and are essential for initiation of the adaptive immune response. MHC class II expression requires recruitment of a master regulator, the class II transactivator (CIITA), to the MHC class II promoter. Post-translational modifications to CIITA play important roles in modulating CIITA mediated transcription of various genes in different cell types. We have previously linked regulation of CIITA to the Ubiquitin Proteasome System (UPS), and we and others have demonstrated that mono-ubiquitination of CIITA dramatically increases its transactivity whereas poly-ubiquitination leads to CIITA degradation. Here we identify three degron proximal lysine residues, Lys-315, Lys-330, and Lys-333, and a phosphorylation site, Ser-280, located within the CIITA degron, that regulate CIITA ubiquitination, stability, and MHC class II expression. Together, these findings contribute to the developing post-translational modification code for CIITA.
Ankle work and dynamic joint stiffness in high- compared to low-arched athletes during a barefoot running task

Abstract High- (HA) and low-arched (LA) athletes have an exaggerated risk of injury. Ankle joint stiffness is a potential underlying mechanism for the greater rate of injury within these two functionally different groups. An alternative candidate mechanism of injury in HA and LA athletes pertains to the efficacy of the foot as a rigid lever during propulsion. The purpose of this study was to quantify the differences in ankle dynamic joint stiffness, and ankle braking work and ankle propulsive work during stance phase of running. Methods Ten HA and ten LA athletes performed five barefoot running trials while ground reaction forces and three-dimensional kinematics were recorded. Ankle dynamic joint stiffness was calculated as the slope of the ankle joint moment–ankle joint angle plot during load attenuation. Ankle braking and propulsive work values were calculated for the stance phase. Results HA athletes had significantly greater ankle dynamic joint stiffness and significantly smaller ankle net and propulsive work than LA athletes. Conclusions These data demonstrate that HA and LA athletes exhibit unique biomechanical patterns during running. These patterns may be related to lower extremity injury.
A ligand-based approach for enhancing the pharmacokinetic profile of highly charged antibacterial agents

Glutamate racemase catalyses the interconversion of l-glutamate and d-glutamate making available d-glutamate which is essential for peptidoglycan biosynthesis. Inhibitors of this enzyme have exhibited antibacterial activity with the d-glutamate-analogues group of inhibitors being the most significant as it is the only group that has demonstrated efficacy in a murine thigh Streptococcus pneumoniae infection model. This group of inhibitors, however, showed a narrow antibacterial spectrum that could be due to poor lipophilicity and permeability properties. Here, we have adopted a computational ligand-based drug design approach to enhance the lipophilicity and, hence, the antibacterial spectrum of this group of inhibitors. By limiting the charged groups on our pharmacophore model and identifying key interactions for glutamate racemase binding and inhibition, we have successfully searched a compound database for compounds with both antibacterial activity and increased lipophilicity. However, our compounds appear less potent, likely due to decreased specificity. We also demonstrate that permeability and lipophilicity alone are not responsible for the narrow antibacterial spectrum observed in the d-glutamate analogue inhibitors.
Pediatric sleep disordered breathing—Macroglossia

In the past, surgical treatment of macroglossia has focused on treating the enlarged, protruding tongue, with various anterior glossectomy techniques. However, in the treatment of pediatric sleep disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea, obstruction occurs more often in the posterior and base of tongue areas. Techniques to evaluate for site of obstruction are presented. Surgical approaches for treating the posterior tongue and base of tongue glossoptosis are discussed. It should be emphasized that the use of these techniques in children is still in its infancy, and published data on outcomes in children are not yet available.
Agglutination of Circulating Leukocytes by Antileukocytic Sera

SummaryA method of testing and titrating antileukocytic sera by agglutination is presented. The procedure offers a relatively simple method of studying the immunochemical differences between normal and leukemic leukocytes and between lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes.
Effect of fuel molecular structure on soot formation in gas turbine engines

A high-pressure research combustor operating over a wide range of burner inlet conditions was used to determine the effects of fuel molecular structure on soot formation. Six test fuels with equal hydrogen content (12.8 percent) were blended to stress different molecular components and final boiling points. The fuels containing high concentrations (20 percent) of poly-cyclic aromatics and partially saturated polycyclic structures such as tetralin, produced more soot than would be expected from a hydrogen content correlation for typical petroleum based fuels. However, fuels containing naphthenes, such as decalin, agreed with the hydrogen content correlation. The contribution of polycylic aromatics to soot formation was equivalent to a reduction in fuel hydrogen content of about 1%. The fuel sensitivity to soot formation due to the polycyclic aromatic contribution decreased as burner inlet pressure and fuel/air ratio increased.
Increased accuracy from a three-dimensional movement-tracking system

This report describes the methods used to improve the performance of a three-dimensional movement-tracking system that is based on infrared cameras and light-emitting diodes. The technique has general application to similar systems with other types of cameras. The improvement was obtained by postprocessing to correct camera-image distortions. This procedure yielded a six-fold increase in accuracy. With a 900-mm-cube viewing volume, the error in locating a point was reduced to less than 3 mm.
A prospective study of prevalence and characterization of headache following mild traumatic brain injury.

BackgroundHeadache is one of the most common and persistent symptoms following traumatic brain injury (TBI). The current study examines the prevalence and characteristics of headache following mild...
Improving the therapeutic index in myeloma.

In this issue of Blood , Bringhen and colleagues report on the efficacy and safety of once-weekly bortezomib in multiple myeloma (MM) patients.[1][1] The authors report on a post-hoc analysis which assessed the impact of schedule change on clinical outcomes as part of their randomized phase 3 trial
Lithium isotope evidence for light element decoupling in the Panama subarc mantle

The systematics of fluid-mobile trace elements in arc lavas from Panama, relative to their Li isotopic compositions, provide unique evidence for the fertilization and subsequent differential extraction of mobile species from the subarc mantle. Calc-alkaline lavas that crystallized between 20 and 5 Ma (Old Group) that possess δ 7 Li as high as +11.2 have low B/Be. Otherwise identical (and similarly old) calcalkaline lavas with high B/Be (to 23), have mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) like δ 7 Li (+4.7 to +5.6). Adakite lavas (<3 Ma; Young Group) possess δ 7 Li from +1.4 to +4.2 and have consistently lower B/Be than Old Group lavas, consistent with derivation from melting of a devolatilized MORB slab. If Li and B had comparable fluid mobility in the subarc mantle, then slab fluids would carry both high B concentrations and elevated δ 7 Li signatures into arc sources, and samples with the highest δ 7 Li would also have the highest B/Be. Our data suggest that although both Li and B are initially derived from the slab, older δ 7 Li signatures may be preserved in the mantle beneath arcs. As a result, regions of the lithospheric mantle will develop Li isotope signatures that are heavier than typical MORB mantle.
Hydrological effects of changes in levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide

The potential influence of increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2 ) on water resources includes changes in evapotranspiration that result from control of stomatal resistance by CO2 and changes in precipitation and temperature caused by ‘greenhouse’ warming. In this study we investigate the potential effects of CO2 change on the hydrological response of a forested catchment in Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Steady temporal trends are superimposed on stochastically derived time series of precipitation and temperature. These input data, which account for the natural variability of the system and the hypothetical effects of climate change, are then used to drive TOPMODEL, a variable-source-area hydrological model. A variety of climate-change scenarios is simulated and temporal trends in annual average flow, peak flow, and basin yield are detected using Kendall's tau statistic. The direction and magnitude of the runoff trends are dependent on the relative magnitudes of the induced trends in precipitation, temperature, and stomatal resistance. Stochastic variability in temperature and precipitation obscure the runoff trends even when real trends in precipitation, temperature, and stomatal resistance are significant.
Electromagnetic engineering of the dispersion properties of photonic crystal devices

We present a photonic-crystal (PhC) device that does not require line defects for confinement and yet can arbitrarily route light by exploiting engineered dispersion. Our proposed device is based on engineering the dispersion properties of a two-dimensional slab PhC such that the propagation of light is permitted only in certain directions. We demonstrate the application of dispersion engineering in photonic crystals for efficient waveguiding, routing, and splitting. We have experimentally demonstrated self-collimation in planar PhCs, and a new means of achieving structureless confinement of light in optical devices. The applications of these devices are far-reaching in that they allow for very high-density photonic circuits due to the lack of structural interaction as well as their ability to propagate and route optical beams in an arbitrary fashion with low loss.
Measurement of the local wavenumber and frequency spectrum in a plane wake

A digital technique is presented for experimentally measuring the local wavenumber-frequency spectrum SL(k, f) of a fluctuating velocity field using two probes. From SL(k, f), the local wavenumber spectrum SL(k), the averaged dispersion relation, and the broadening of the wavenumber spectrum for a given frequency can be determined. The technique is demonstrated by applying it to the velocity field of a plane wake which is undergoing transition from laminar to turbulent flow. A specially designed two sensor hotwire probe is used to obtain simultaneous records of streamwise velocity fluctuations at two locations having a fixed streamwise separation. New information is obtained concerning: the spatial characteristics of instability waves in the wake; the importance of local wavenumber matching in nonlinear coupling among waves; and broadening of the dispersion relation associated with the transition to turbulence. The usefulness of the SL(k, f) approach when Taylor's hypothesis is not valid is also discussed.
Impedance, filtering and noise in n-phase passive CMOS mixers

Here we review a simple Linear Time-Invariant (LTI) model that captures the impedance transparency properties of CMOS passive mixers, as well as filtering and noise effects and compare these analyses to measured results. We then extend this model to account for device parameters and suggest a simple metric for predicting limits to performance as a function of process and frequency. Finally we discuss the requirements such mixers place upon the LO circuits, and interactions between such circuits and performance.
Occurrence of specific sterols in Pneumocystis carinii.

Abstract We have examined the sterol composition and biosynthesis of rat Pneumocystis carinii. We found a number of lipid components among the nonsaponifiable fraction that appear unique to P. carinii. These lipids are present in P. carinii purified preparations and P. carinii -infected whole lungs but absent from control lungs. They show chromatographic properties typical of sterols on GC and HPLC; they are present in free and esterified sterol fractions isolated by thin layer chromatography, they are precipitated by digitonin and they are labeled upon incubation of purified P. carinii cell suspensions with [3H] mevalonate and [3H] squalene. The finding of these sterols opens new opportunities for the identification of chemotherapeutic targets against P. carinii.
Wald, likelihood ratio, and Lagrange multiplier tests as an F test

Abstract This expository note contains, in the case of a multiple regression model, a derivation of the Wald, Lagrange, and Likelihood Ratio tests as a function of the small sample F test. This also allows us to readily establish the well-known small sample inequalities among the first three large sample tests.
Unsolved mysteries in molecule-based magnets — a personal view

Abstract Over a decade has passed since the first International Conference on Molecule-based Magnets (ICMM) was convened, with the topic attracting an increasing number of participants, and the focus of the meeting has evolved to include aspects of magnetic ordering found in single-molecule magnets and spin-crossover materials in addition to those found in molecule-based systems. Although many aspects of the observed magnetic behaviors of molecule-based magnets are understandable in terms of the models and mechanisms first used for conventional atom-based magnets, some aspects need further study to elucidate details not well understood; a few are discussed herein. In time some mysteries will be resolved, as one already has, but new ones will undoubtedly be identified and added.
Modulation of dendritic cell differentiation and function by YopJ of Yersinia pestis

Yersinia pestis evades immune responses in part by injecting into host immune cells several effector proteins called Yersinia outer proteins (Yops) that impair cellular function. This has been best characterized in the innate effector cells, but much less so for cells involved in adaptive immune responses. Dendritic cells (DC) sit at the crossroads between innate and adaptive immunity, and can function to initiate or inhibit adaptive immune responses. Although Y. pestis can target and inactivate DC, the mechanism responsible for this remains unclear. We have found that injection of Y. pestis YopJ into DC progenitors disrupts key signal transduction pathways and interferes with DC differentiation and subsequent function. YopJ injection prevents up-regulation of the NF-kappaB transcription factor Rel B and inhibits MAPK/ERK activation--both having key roles in DC differentiation. Furthermore, YopJ injection prevents costimulatory ligand up-regulation, LPS-induced cytokine expression, and yields differentiated DC with diminished capability to induce T cell proliferation and IFN-gamma induction. By modulating DC function through YopJ-mediated disruption of signaling pathways during progenitor to DC differentiation, Yersinia may interfere with the adaptive responses necessary to clear the infection as well as establish a tolerant immune environment that leads to chronic infection/carrier state in the surviving host.
SINGULARITIES AND GAUGE-GRAVITY DUALITY

We describe toy models of cosmology in asymptotically AdS space-times which have natural gauge theory duals. For spacetimes containing null singularities we argue that the gauge theory provides a well defined evolution in light front time even though the gravity description does not. For models with spacelike singularities examined so far, we identify the signature of such singularities in the gauge theory. However, it is not clear whether these singularities can be "resolved".
Tritium as a tracer for mitochondrial and cytosolic reducing hydrogen in the kidney cortex

Tritium labeled substrates have been used to follow the coupling of redox systems in the cytosol of various tissues and cells [l-3]. Coupling of mitochondrial redox systems has been less widely studied with tritium labeled compounds, perhaps because of the belief that exchange reactions with water in the mitochondria are so rapid that water will be the only labeled product. In this paper we have investigated the fate of tritium which labels mitochondrial NADH and cytosolic NADH in several enzyme reactions in the kidney cortex. Tritium from citrate-2Tt, isocitrate-2T, L-glutamate-2T and D-fl-hydroxybutyrate-3T, which labels the mitochondrial NADH pool, appears in glucose, probably as a result of coupling of the mitochondrial and cytosolic NADH pools via the malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in both compartments [4,51.
Scattering of thermal phonons by dislocations in superconducting lead and tantalum

Thermal-conductivity measurements on deformed superconducting samples of Pb and Ta have demonstrated the resonant scattering of thermal phonons from dislocations. The results are in good agreement with calculations based on the elastic-string model of localized modes associated with dislocations.
The Slice Group in Rubik's Cube

The different maneuvers on Rubik's cube can be thought of as a set of transformations forming a subgroup of the group of all permutations of the cube's 54 facelets. In this paper, we shall do a complete study of the small subgroup of this group generated by turning only the center layers of the cube. This is known as the slice group. Our purpose in this study is to use the cube to illustrate several fundamental group theoretic techniques. Before an accurate statement of the problem can be made, we must introduce some notation, most of which is standard in the cube literature [4]. We shall describe all maneuvers as if they were carried out with respect to the cube held in a fixed position, referring to the six faces by the "colors" F, B, R, L, U, and D for front, back, right, left, up, and down. The cube will be assumed to start with all six faces having solid colors, known as the clean state of the cube (see FIGURE 1). A clockwise 900 turn of any of these six faces (clockwise looking at the face "from outside") will be denoted by TF, TB, etc. (see FIGupE 2). We shall also talk about a 90? clockwise turn of the entire cube looking at the corresponding face from outside and denote these by CF, BC,, etc. Every possible maneuver M can be written as a finite sequence of these fundamental moves, hence these moves generate the group of all possible transformations of the cube. The inverse of any move M, denoted by M1, is the maneuver required to undo the effect of the move M. Note that the actual twists of the cube needed to accomplish this will not be unique. To avoid this problem, when speaking of a move or maneuver on the cube, we refer only to its effective permutation of the cube's 54 facelets, and not to the actual twists required. Two different sequences of twists having the same effect are considered to be the same move. Repeating any move a number of times will be expressed with the usual exponential notation. In addition to referring to the cube's facelets, we shall also refer to the 27 subcubes of the cube,
Advances in the pharmacologic treatment of bipolar depression.

The pharmacologic treatment of bipolar depression has not been well studied in randomized, controlled trials. Thus important clinical questions regarding the efficacy in bipolar depression of mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and new antiepileptic and atypical antipsychotic agents have been relatively unaddressed. Until recently there were few data regarding the degree to which mood stabilizers reduce the risk of switching associated with antidepressant treatment. Likewise, although treatment guidelines have often recommended limiting antidepressant exposure in the maintenance treatment of bipolar depression, the potential risks of depressive relapse after antidepressant discontinuation were largely unknown. We review here data from new randomized, controlled trials published or presented during the past 5 years regarding the efficacy of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, lamotrigine, and olanzapine in the acute and maintenance treatment of bipolar depression. We also review new studies clarifying the protective effect of coadministration of mood stabilizers from antidepressant-associated switching and the risk of depressive relapse when antidepressants are discontinued during maintenance treatment.
Evidence from ion chromatography experiments that met-cars are hollow cage clusters.

Ion chromatography studies were performed to assess various models proposed for the structure of M8C12 species, the met-cars. A laser desorption source was used to make a sequence of titanium-carbon clusters centered around Ti8C12+. The Ti8C12+ was determined to be a hollow cage cluster, with the dodechadron structure originally propposed termined to be a hollow cage cluster, with the dodecahedron structure originally proposed giving the best fit to experiment; cubic structures could be excluded. Collisional breakup of Ti8C12+ yielded only Ti7C12+ under the experimental conditions described herein, and modeling indicated that the cage structure was retained. Both Ti8C11+ and Ti8C13+ were made by the cluster source, and again, dodecahedral-type cage structures were consistent with experiment. The extra carbon atom in Ti8C13+ was attached exohedrally to a single titanium atom. No evidence for an endohedral species was found.
Inclusion principle for statistical inference and learning

In this paper, we propose a general approach for statistical inference and machine learning based on accumulated observational data. We demonstrate that a large class of machine learning problems can be formulated as the general problem of constructing random intervals with pre-specified coverage probabilities for the parameters of the model for the observational data. We show that the construction of such random intervals can be accomplished by comparing the endpoints of random intervals with confidence sequences for the parameters obtained from the observational data. Asymptotic results are obtained for such sequential methods.
Some Considerations of Fluid Interfaces in Two Dimensions

Basic assumptions of the capillary wave theory of fluid interfaces are examined critically as a function of space dimensionalityd. When the predictions of capillary wave theory are compared with those of the nonclassical Maxwell-van der Waals theory, agreement is found ind=3 and 4, but strong disagreement occurs ind=2. It is shown that the total effective mass density obtained from the Hamiltonian describing the collective capillary wave excitations has a logarithmic divergence ind=2. This result suggests the possibility of anomalous behavior for fluid interfaces ind=2.
Robust Kernel Regression for Restoration and Reconstruction of Images from Sparse Noisy Data

We introduce a class of robust non-parametric estimation methods which are ideally suited for the reconstruction of signals and images from noise-corrupted or sparsely collected samples. The filters derived from this class are locally adapted kernels which take into account both the local density of the available samples, and the actual values of these samples. As such, they are automatically steered and adapted to both the given sampling "geometry", and the samples' "radiometry". As the framework we proposed does not rely upon specific assumptions about noise or sampling distributions, it is applicable to a wide class of problems including efficient image upscaling, high quality reconstruction of an image from as little as 15% of its (irregularly sampled) pixels, super-resolution from noisy and under-determined data sets, state of the art denoising of images corrupted by Gaussian and other noise, effective removal of compression artifacts; and more.
Transporters involved in the elimination of drugs in the kidney: Organic anion transporters and organic cation transporters

Abstract Transporters in the kidney mediate the secretion or reabsorption of many compounds and thereby influence the plasma levels of their substrates. Organic anion transporters and organic cation transporters are two major classes of secretory transporters in the mammalian kidney. During the past decade, significant progress has been made in the cloning, functional expression, and initial characterization of these transporters. To date, five organic cation transporters and nine organic anion transporters have been cloned. In this review, we summarize the available data on organic anion and organic cation transporters, focusing in particular on their molecular characteristics, tissue distribution, and inhibitor and substrate selectivities. Currently we have a good understanding of the inhibitor selectivities for most of these transporters, and with the development of more robust assays, we will soon have a better understanding of their substrate selectivities. Based on the available data, summarized in this review, it appears that many compounds interact with multiple transporters. Futhermore, there appears to be substantial overlap in the selectivities of organic cation transporters, and the same appears true for organic anion transporters. At the present time, it is unclear what the roles of these multiple transporters are in renal drug elimination. With the development of new assays, reagents, and experimental methods, we will soon have a better understanding of the roles of each transporter isoform in the renal elimination of drugs. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 90:397–421, 2001
Civil commitment from a systems perspective.

Responsibility for the civil commitment process currently is shared between the justice and mental health systems. Neither system, however, owes substantial loyalty to the goals of civil commitment. The result, as documented in numerous empirical studies, is that the ostensible goals of the process are routinely subverted in favor of other systemic interests. Most reform efforts to date, focused on altering legal rules to conform to doctrinal desiderata, have ignored this problem, leading to uneven and disappointing outcomes. A systems perspective on these problems suggests that one means of dealing with systems whose loyalty to a task is questionable is to create an independent system with the incentives to give primacy to the task in question. The implications of this analysis for civil commitment are explored.
Nanostructured surfaces for enhanced protein detection toward clinical diagnostics.

Abstract “Label-free” biomolecule sensors for detection of inflammatory cardiovascular biomarker associated with vulnerable coronary vascular plaque rupture were designed and fabricated using micro- and nanotextured polystyrene (PS) polymer structures that functioned as sensing elements coupled with electronic measurement equipment. We demonstrated that scaling down the surface texturing from the micro- to the nanoscale enhances the amplitude of the measured detected signal strength. We believe that the nanoscale fiber morphology provides size-matched spaces for trapping and immobilizing the protein biomolecule, resulting in improved detection signal strength. We selected PS as the model system and demonstrated the detection of human serum C-reactive protein. We employed these findings in designing a platform “lab-on-a-chip” protein sensor. Comparative studies were performed on PS textured surfaces of two different surface features: a PS microsphere mat and an electrospun PS nanofiber matrix. From the Clinical Editor In this study, nanotechnology-based biosensors for vulnerable coronary vascular plaque rupture were designed and fabricated using micro- and nanotextured polystyrene polymer structures. The authors demonstrated that scaling down the surface texturing from the micro- to the nanoscale enhances the sensitivity of this detection method.
Predicting Initiation of Smoking Cessation Treatment and Outcome Among Adolescents Using Stressful Life Events and Coping Style

ABSTRACTBackground: Adolescent smoking is a major public health concern, and current treatments are only somewhat effective in promoting abstinence. One way to improve treatments is to identify psychosocial characteristics that impede cessation, allowing development of targeted treatments. This study examined the influence of 2 such characteristics, life event stressors and coping, on initiation of cessation treatment and end-of-treatment abstinence status. Methods: One hundred five adolescent smokers were eligible to participate in a validated contingency management (CM) and cognitive-behavioral (CBT) cessation treatment; of those, 72 completed at least 1 treatment session. Data included sociodemographic characteristics, questionnaires assessing past-year life events and coping behavior use, and abstinence status at the end of the 4-week treatment. Logistic regression was used to predict treatment initiation and abstinence status, with life event stressor number, coping, or their interaction as predictor...
Multiple spectral window mirrors based on Fibonacci chains of dielectric layers and applications

The unique properties of one-dimensional (1D) Fibonacci chains of dielectric layers are experimentally demonstrated and exploited for the design of new mirrors with multiple reflection spectral windows. The new mirror structures are simple, straightforward to make and enable a wide variety of multiple spectral window device performance to be achieved. By changing the thickness of the layers or the order of the Fibonacci chain, tens or even hundreds of windows can be obtained with the same approximate reflectivity over a very broad spectral region. These mirrors have numerous applications in photonics and optoelectronics.
LOW-COST RESPONSE SURFACE METHODS APPLIED TO THE DESIGN OF PLASTIC FASTENERS

[This abstract is based on the author's abstract.] "Low-cost response surface" methods were applied to derive the optimal engineering design of a plastic fastener with restricted experimental budget and timing requirements. These methods were..
Taylor column sidewall drag in a rotating cylinder

A time‐dependent analysis is made of the inviscid, incompressible Taylor column generated by the uniform motion of a thin disk of radius a rising slowly along the vertical axis of rotation of a tall, vertical, rotating, liquid‐filled right circular cylinder of radius b. It is shown analytically that the effect of the sidewalls of the cylinder on the Taylor column drag on the disk may be neglected if a/b<0.1. Even if a/b∼0.4, the increase in drag above unbounded Taylor column value is less than 10%.
Results from the Nantucket Sound autonomous underwater vehicle towed hydrophone array experiment

Results from several experiments with an autonomous underwater vehicle towed hydrophone array system demonstrate the ability of such a system to provide rapid, cost effective and accurate characterization of the shallow water waveguide. A synthetic aperture Hankel transform of the complex pressure as a function of range was used to estimate the eigenvalues and functions. Results showed that the vehicle was capable of towing the array in a steady and stable configuration sufficient for coherent processing and formation of a synthetic aperture Hankel transform. Transmission loss calculated with propagation codes that use depth and frequency dependent geo-acoustic profiles (compressional wave speed, density and attenuation) compared well with the measured transmission loss. The ability to perform coherent processing of the data obtained by this prototype system demonstrates that the system is an efficient and accurate alternative to traditional measurement techniques. Since the vehicle has the ability to change depth and course while measuring non-acoustic data such as currents, bathymetry, and sound speed; the time required for wide area characterization is significantly reduced.
A SENSITIVITY AND ARRAY-CONFIGURATION STUDY FOR MEASURING THE POWER SPECTRUM OF 21 cm EMISSION FROM REIONIZATION

Telescopes aiming to measure 21 cm emission from the Epoch of Reionization must toe a careful line, balancing the need for raw sensitivity against the stringent calibration requirements for removing bright foregrounds. It is unclear what the optimal design is for achieving both of these goals. Via a pedagogical derivation of an interferometer's response to the power spectrum of 21 cm reionization fluctuations, we show that even under optimistic scenarios first-generation arrays will yield low-signal-to-noise detections, and that different compact array configurations can substantially alter sensitivity. We explore the sensitivity gains of array configurations that yield high redundancy in the uv-plane—configurations that have been largely ignored since the advent of self-calibration for high-dynamic-range imaging. We first introduce a mathematical framework to generate optimal minimum-redundancy configurations for imaging. We contrast the sensitivity of such configurations with high-redundancy configurations, finding that high-redundancy configurations can improve power-spectrum sensitivity by more than an order of magnitude. We explore how high-redundancy array configurations can be tuned to various angular scales, enabling array sensitivity to be directed away from regions of the uv-plane (such as the origin) where foregrounds are brighter and instrumental systematics are more problematic. We demonstrate that a 132 antenna deployment of the Precision Array for Probing the Epoch of Reionization observing for 120 days in a high-redundancy configuration will, under ideal conditions, have the requisite sensitivity to detect the power spectrum of the 21 cm signal from reionization at a 3σ level at k < 0.25 h Mpc–1 in a bin of Δln k = 1. We discuss the tradeoffs of low- versus high-redundancy configurations.
Infection of the basal ganglia by a murine coronavirus

The coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59), causes mild encephalitis and chronic demyelination. Immunohistochemical techniques showed that MHV-A59-infected C57BL/6 mice contained dense deposits of viral antigen in the subthalamic nucleus and substantia nigra, with fewer signs of infection in other regions of the brain. The animals showed extra- and intracellular vacuolation, neuronal loss, and gliosis in the subthalamic-nigral region. Such localization is unprecedented among known viral encephalitides of humans and other species. This infection by a member of a viral class capable of causing both encephalitis and persistent infection in several species may be related to postencephalitic parkinsonism.