cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modes of interaction among yeast Nej1, Lif1 and Dnl4 proteins and comparison to human XLF, XRCC4 and Lig4

The nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) pathway of double-strand break repair depends on DNA ligase IV and its interacting partner protein XRCC4 (Lif1 in yeast). A third yeast protein, Nej1, interacts with Lif1 and supports NHEJ, similar to the distantly related mammalian Nej1 orthologue XLF (also known as Cernunnos). XRCC4/Lif1 and XLF/Nej1 are themselves related and likely fold into similar coiled-coil structures, which suggests many possible modes of interaction between these proteins. Using yeast two-hybrid and co-precipitation methods we examined these interactions and the protein domains required to support them. Results suggest that stable coiled-coil homodimers are a predominant form of XLF/Nej1, just as for XRCC4/Lif1, but that similar heterodimers are not. XLF-XRCC4 and Nej1-Lif1 interactions were instead mediated independently of the coiled coil, and by different regions of XLF and Nej1. Specifically, the globular head of XRCC4/Lif1 interacted with N- and C-terminal domains of XLF and Nej1, respectively. Direct interactions between XLF/Nej1 and DNA ligase IV were also observed, but again appeared qualitatively different than the stable coiled-coil-mediated interaction between XRCC4/Lif1 and DNA ligase IV. The implications of these findings for DNA ligase IV function are considered in light of the evolutionary pattern in the XLF/XRCC4 and XLF/Nej1 family.
Biological decay of 18O-labeled phosphate in soils

Abstract There is an increasing demand to develop a means to trace phosphorus (P) movement through the environment as excessive inputs of P have led to the eutrophication of many fresh water bodies. 18 O labeled phosphate has been suggested as a potential tool for tracing P, and other researchers are using information from natural abundance 18 O levels of phosphate to study phosphorus cycling. The objective of this research was to determine the rate of biological de-labeling of 18 O in soils. This objective was achieved using a laboratory incubation study in which three silt-loam textured soils were incubated with 250 mg kg − 1 P 18 O 4 -P for a period of 3, 10, 30, or 50 d. The incubations were conducted on both sterilized and unsterilized soils. Following incubation, phosphate from soils was extracted with a modified Bray extractant and analyzed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry to determine the distribution of labeled phosphate species. The half-life of P 18 O 4 in the non-sterile soils ranged from 15 to 22 d, while there was no observed P 18 O 4 de-labeling in sterile soils after 50 d. A parameterized numerical model was developed which provided insight into the dynamics of the individual labeled phosphate species, including their half-lives and relative concentrations across the incubation period. The use of P 18 O 4 may be useful in areas where use of radioisotopes of P is restricted, and P 18 O 4 has potential to be useful to elucidate the dynamics of the P cycle in soils.
On parallel searching (Extended Abstract)

We investigate the complexity of seaching by comparisons a table of n elements on a synchronous, shared memory parallel computer with p processors. We show that O(lgn) steps are required if concurrent access to the same memory cell is not allowed, whereas only O(lgn/lgp) steps are required if simultaneous reads are allowed. We next show that it is possible to search in O(lg(n)/p) steps if more general operations are used.
Protein and Methionine Hydroxy Analog for Lactating Cows

Abstract A 2×2 factorial experiment (protein 12.5 and 15.5; methionine hydroxy analog 0 and .125% dry matter) included 144 cows for one complete lactation, distributed over seven locations. Rations were formulated to the desired protein, methionine analog, and constant amounts of fiber 17%, sulfur .225%, calcium .6%, phosphorus .4%, and salt .5%. Treatment effects were not apparent for dry matter intake, daily milk and fat-corrected milk production, conversion of energy, and body weight changes. Conversion of dietary crude protein into milk protein was 34.5% for the low and 25.8% for the high protein ration. Methionine analog affected fat test (0% = 3.61%; .125% = 3.73%) and number of services/conception (0% = 2.54; .125% = 1.90). Effect of methionine analog was most apparent at low protein as 0 analog cows produced 247kg fat, required 2.9 services/contraception, and had 156 days open whereas cows on other treatments (.125% analog and/or high protein) produced 264kg fat, required 1.8 to 2.2 services/conception, and had 124 to 134 days open. Methionine analog response is discussed in relation to ruminal and postruminal effects as well as the interrelation with protein and energy.
Harmonia: a transparent, efficient, and harmonious dynamic binary translator targeting the Intel® architecture

Dynamic binary translation (DBT) has been widely used as a means to run applications created for one instruction-set architecture (ISA) on top of processors with a different ISA. Given the great amount of legacy software developed for PCs, based on the Intel® Architecture (IA) ISA, a lot of attention has been given to translating IA to other ISAs. The recent trends in industry for both smaller ultra-mobile PCs and more powerful embedded and mobile internet devices (e.g. smartphones) are blurring the frontiers between these distinct markets. As a result, this market convergence is creating great interest in DBT from ISAs that currently dominate the embedded and mobile-internet-device markets (e.g. ARM, MIPS, and PowerPC) to IA. This paper investigates the main challenges that arise when targeting IA in a DBT. We identify the two key issues in efficiently translating from other ISAs to IA: IA's small number of registers, and its condition-code handling mechanism. To address these issues, we propose a combination of software and hardware solutions. Although motivated by IA, these techniques are not IA-specific, and they can be applied to other architectures with similar limitations to make them better DBT-targets. We have prototyped these techniques in Harmonia, an ARM-to-IA DBT tool based on open-source QEMU. Our experiments show that Harmonia achieves an average of 55% (up to 164%) of the performance of highly optimized native binaries, and an average speedup of 2.2 x on top of the baseline QEMU.
Bone and body composition measurements of small subjects: discrepancies from software for fan-beam dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Objectives: A piglet model was used to determine the variations in measurements from different software algorithms used in the same type of dual energy X ray absorptiometry (DXA) instruments from the same manufacturer.Methods: Forty-one piglets (6190 +/− 5856g, mean +/− SD) were scanned in duplicate with a fan-beam densitometer (Hologic QDR4500A, Hologic Inc, Bedford, MA) in the infant whole body scan mode. The same scans were analyzed with two software versions: vKH6 (validated with carcass chemical measurement) and v11.2 (commercial software from the same densitometer manufacturer).Results: All analysis values were highly correlated (r = 0.90 to 1.00) and DXA values for total weights were almost identical. However, v11.2 results consistently overestimated bone mineral content (49.3 +/− 23.4%, mean +/− SD), bone area (21.1 +/− 8.2%), bone mineral density (24.1 +/− 22.2%), and fat mass (160.9 +/− 71.7%) but underestimated lean mass (−14.3 +/− 5.5%) when compared to the values from vKH6. Differences betwee...
Dissociation between global and regional systolic and diastolic ventricular function during coronary occlusion and reperfusion

Indexes of global ventricular function such as the ejection fraction (EF) and the peak diastolic filling rate (PDFR) are often used to assess the effects of coronary recanalization in patients with myocardial infarction. In this investigation we assessed the relationship between these global indexes and directly measured indexes of regional function during 15 minutes of coronary occlusion followed by 120 minutes of reperfusion in 22 open-chest dogs. A computerized nuclear cardiac probe was used to assess EF and PDFR. Indexes of regional function were measured by Doppler ultrasonic wall-thickening probes. During coronary occlusion, paradoxical systolic thinning occurred and the EF and PDFR decreased an average of 31.6% and 24.4%, respectively. During reperfusion the EF and PDFR improved rapidly and at 60 minutes were similar to baseline. Systolic wall thickening improved more gradually and remained abnormal throughout reperfusion. Likewise, indexes of diastolic function (mean rate to half end-diastolic thinning and late diastolic thinning fraction) recovered slowly and remained abnormal throughout reperfusion (78% and 69.7%, respectively). The correlation between the rate of change of global and regional function was poor during both coronary occlusion and reperfusion. Thus, during coronary occlusion the global and regional indexes of ventricular function undergo directionally similar changes. However, during coronary reperfusion the global indexes do not reflect the slow recovery of the stunned myocardium.
Face recognition performance with superresolution

With the prevalence of surveillance systems, face recognition is crucial to aiding the law enforcement community and homeland security in identifying suspects and suspicious individuals on watch lists. However, face recognition performance is severely affected by the low face resolution of individuals in typical surveillance footage, oftentimes due to the distance of individuals from the cameras as well as the small pixel count of low-cost surveillance systems. Superresolution image reconstruction has the potential to improve face recognition performance by using a sequence of low-resolution images of an individual’s face in the same pose to reconstruct a more detailed high-resolution facial image. This work conducts an extensive performance evaluation of superresolution for a face recognition algorithm using a methodology and experimental setup consistent with real world settings at multiple subject-to-camera distances. Results show that superresolution image reconstruction improves face recognition performance considerably at the examined midrange and close range.
PPARδ modulates lipopolysaccharide-induced TNFα inflammation signaling in cultured cardiomyocytes

Peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs: PPARalpha, gamma and delta) regulate fatty acid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, cell proliferation, differentiation and inflammation. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) is one of the important pathological factors in inflammatory responses during the pathological progression of myocardial ischemic/reperfusion and hypertrophy. Accumulating evidence shows that synthetic ligands of PPARalpha and PPARgamma suppress myocardial inflammatory responses, such as the production of TNFalpha, thus exerting beneficial effects in animals who had undergone ischemia/reperfusion injury or cardiac hypertrophy. However, it remains obscured if PPARdelta and its ligands exert any effect on the production of TNFalpha, thus influencing cardiac inflammatory responses. In this study, we investigated the effects of PPARdelta and its synthetic ligand GW0742 on TNFalpha production in cultured cardiomyocytes. Our studies indicate that a PPARdelta-selective ligand inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNFalpha production from cardiomyocytes. Adenoviral-mediated overexpression of PPARdelta substantially inhibited TNFalpha expression in cultured cardiomyocytes compared to controls, whereas overexpression of a PPARdelta mutant with ablated ligand binding domain did not show similar effect. Conversely, absence of PPARdelta in cardiomyocytes further exaggerated LPS-induced TNFalpha production. Moreover, activation of PPARdelta abrogated LPS-induced degradation of IkappaBs, thus suppressing LPS-induced nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activities. Therefore, PPARdelta is an important determinant of TNFalpha expression via the NF-kappaB signaling pathway, thus serving as therapeutic targets to attenuate inflammation that are involved in cardiac pathological progression.
2 W, 8?12 GHz GaAs f.e.t. amplifier

Circuit topologies and performance results of a 2 W, 8–12 GHz GaAs f.e.t. amplifier using a 4800 μm gate width f.e.t. are reported. Results of a 1 W, 6–13 GHz amplifier are also described.
Using Senior Citizen Volunteers in the Special Education Classroom

Features ideas for recruiting, effectively using, and keeping senior citizens in the classroom.
Visible Photolysis and Amperometric Detection of S-Nitrosothiols

The concentration of S-nitrosothiols (RSNOs), endogenous transporters of the signaling molecule nitric oxide (NO), fluctuate greatly in physiology often as a function of disease state. RSNOs may be measured indirectly by cleaving the S–N bond and monitoring the liberated NO. While ultraviolet photolysis and reductive-based cleavage both decompose RSNOs to NO, poor selectivity and the need for additional reagents preclude their utility clinically. Herein, we report the coupling of visible photolysis (i.e., 500–550 nm) and amperometric NO detection to quantify RSNOs with greater selectivity and sensitivity. Enhanced sensitivity (up to 1.56 nA μM–1) and lowered theoretical detection limits (down to 30 nM) were achieved for low molecular weight RSNOs (i.e., S-nitrosoglutathione, S-nitrosocysteine) by tuning the irradiation exposure. Detection of nitrosated proteins (i.e., S-nitrosoalbumin) was also possible, albeit at a decreased sensitivity (0.11 nA μM–1). This detection scheme was used to measure RSNOs in p...
A double-blind, randomized, multiple-dose, parallel-group study to characterize the occurrence of diarrhea following two different dosing regimens of neratinib, an irreversible pan-ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Purpose Neratinib, a potent, low-molecular-weight, orally administered, irreversible, pan-ErbB receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor has antitumor activity in ErbB2 + breast cancer. The objective of this study was to characterize the onset, severity, and duration of diarrhea after administration of neratinib 240 mg once daily (QD) and 120 mg twice daily (BID) for ≤14 days in healthy subjects.
Possible detection of O VI from the large magellanic cloud superbubble N70

We present Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE ) observations toward four stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) superbubble N70 and compare these spectra to those of four comparison targets located in nearby field and diffuse regions. The N70 sight lines show O VI ?1032 absorption that is consistently stronger than the comparison sight lines by ~60%. We attribute the excess column density (N = 1014.03 cm-2) to hot gas within N70, potentially the first detection of O VI associated with a superbubble. In a survey of 12 LMC sight lines, Howk and collaborators concluded that there was no correlation between ISM morphology and N. We present a reanalysis of their measurements combined with our own and find a clear difference between the superbubble and field samples. The five superbubbles probed to date with FUSE show a consistently higher mean N than the 12 nonsuperbubble sight lines, although both samples show equivalent scatter from halo variability. Possible ionization mechanisms for N70 are discussed, and we conclude that the observed O VI could be the product of thermal conduction at the interface between the hot, X-ray-emitting gas inside the superbubble and the cooler, photoionized material making up the shell seen prominently in H?. We calculate the total hydrogen density nH implied by our O VI measurements and find a value consistent with expectations. Finally, we discuss emission-line observations of O VI from N70.
The evolution of proteins from random amino acid sequences: II. Evidence from the statistical distributions of the lengths of modern protein sequences.

This paper continues an examination of the hypothesis that modern proteins evolved from random heteropeptide sequences. In support of the hypothesis, White and Jacobs (1993, J Mol Evol 36:79–95) have shown that any sequence chosen randomly from a large collection of nonhomologous proteins has a 90% or better chance of having a lengthwise distribution of amino acids that is indistinguishable from the random expectation regardless of amino acid type. The goal of the present study was to investigate the possibility that the random-origin hypothesis could explain the lengths of modern protein sequences without invoking specific mechanisms such as gene duplication or exon splicing. The sets of sequences examined were taken from the 1989 PIR database and consisted of 1,792 “super-family” proteins selected to have little sequence identity, 623 E. coli sequences, and 398 human sequences. The length distributions of the proteins could be described with high significance by either of two closely related probability density functions: The gamma distribution with parameter 2 or the distribution for the sum of two exponential random independent variables. A simple theory for the distributions was developed which assumes that (1) protoprotein sequences had exponentially distributed random independent lengths, (2) the length dependence of protein stability determined which of these protoproteins could fold into compact primitive proteins and thereby attain the potential for biochemical activity, (3) the useful protein sequences were preserved by the primitive genome, and (4) the resulting distribution of sequence lengths is reflected by modern proteins. The theory successfully predicts the two observed distributions which can be distinguished by the functional form of the dependence of protein stability on length.
The effect of international teleradiology attending radiologist coverage on radiology residents' perceptions of night call.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of international teleradiology attending radiologist coverage (ITARC) of emergency examinations on radiology residents’ perceptions of night call. Methods A survey was administered at 2 different radiology residency programs that have attending radiologists who cover the night shift via teleradiology from Israel 5 nights per week. The survey consisted of 12 questions concerning residents’ education and anxiety during on-call shifts and the effects of ITARC on these aspects of residency training. The questions were answered on a scale ranging from 1 to 5, with 3 being neutral. Results The radiology residents felt that ITARC improved the on-call learning experience (score = 3.7; 1 = much worse, 5 = much improved). The residents felt neutral about the statements “Review of cases with the attending radiologist over the telephone is comparable educationally to having the attending radiologist in person at the workstation” (score = 3.0) and “Having an attending radiologist easily available diminishes the need for me to commit to a diagnosis on my own and is therefore detrimental to my education” (score = 2.9; 1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree). The residents’ stress levels on call were high without ITARC (score = 1.8; 1 = very high, 5 = very low) and moderate with ITARC (score = 2.7). The residents’ anxiety levels before a night on call were moderate without ITARC (score = 2.9; 1 = very high, 5 = very low) and low with ITARC (score = 3.7). Conclusions Radiology residents felt that ITARC improved their educational experience. International teleradiology attending radiologist coverage also decreased radiology residents’ stress and anxiety related to on-call shifts.
Eigenschaften von Cer/Lanthan‐Mischoxyden, insbesondere als Katalysatoren der Oxydation des Kohlenoxydes

Einige physikalische Eigenschaften von Cer/0Lanthan-Oxydmischkatalysatoren wurden untersucht, insbesondere der elektrische Widerstand und die Oberflachengrose. Auf Grund der Leitfahigkeitsmessungen wird angenommen, das CeO2 bei den entsprechenden Temperaturen ein p-Leiter und La2O3 ein n-Leiter ist. Im Gebiet kleiner Dotierungen werden die katalytischen Eigenschaften der Grundoxyde (Umsatz und Aktivierungsenergie) gegenuber der CO-Oxydation stark beeinflust; dies last sich auf der Grundlage bekannter Uberlegungen unter der Annahme deuten, das die Chemisorption des Sauerstoffs der geschwindigkeitsbestimmende Schritt ist. Es bestehen keine Beziehungen zwischen der Sauerstofftension, der absoluten Oberflachengrose und den katalytischen Eigenschaften, wohl aber zwischen Leitfahigkeit bzw. Gitterstruktur und den katalytischen Eigenschaften. Some physical properties of Ce/La-oxide catalysts, especially their electric conductivities and surface amounts, have been investigated. From the conductivity measurements, it is supposed that - at the temperatures chosen - CeO2 is a p-conductor and La2O3 is an n-conductor. The catalytic influence of both the pure oxides on the yield and activation energy of the oxidation of CO is highly altered in the range of small additions of the other oxide; the results show that the chemisorption of oxygen is the rate-determining step. There are no relations between the catalytic properties and oxygen pressure or absolute amount of surface; there are relations, however, between catalytic activity and conductivity and lattice structure, respectively.
Moving Large River Ecology from Past Theories to Future Actions: A Review

Large river ecology has evolved through time, from perceiving rivers as big streams to accepting rivers as spatiotemporally diverse and complex ecosystems spanning terrestrial, aquatic, and socio-political realms. This review summarizes past and present concepts in large river ecology and highlights uncertainties facing the science and management of large rivers, and provides examples of tools (river restoration and adaptive management) that may be used to continue the advancement of large river ecology into the future. We need to ask, “Where do we go from here?” and, “How do we get there?” The science, management, and policy of large rivers are inseparable and decisions formulated by river stakeholders today will inevitably shape how rivers are studied and managed into the future.
Keyframe control of complex particle systems using the adjoint method

Control of physical simulation has become a popular topic in the field of computer graphics. Keyframe control has been applied to simulations of rigid bodies, smoke, liquid, flocks, and finite element-based elastic bodies. In this paper, we create a framework for controlling systems of interacting particles -- paying special attention to simulations of cloth and flocking behavior. We introduce a novel integrator-swapping approximation in order to apply the adjoint method to linearized implicit schemes appropriate for cloth simulation. This allows the control of cloth while avoiding computationally infeasible derivative calculations. Meanwhile, flocking control using the adjoint method is significantly more efficient than currently-used methods for constraining group behaviors, allowing the controlled simulation of greater numbers of agents in fewer optimization iterations.
Focus Group Evidence: Implications for Design and Analysis.

In evaluation and applied social research, focus groups may be used to gather different kinds of evidence (e.g., opinion, tacit knowledge). In this article, we argue that making focus group design choices explicitly in relation to the type of evidence required would enhance the empirical value and rigor associated with focus group utilization. We offer a descriptive framework to highlight contrasting design characteristics and the type of evidence they generate. We present examples of focus groups from education and healthcare evaluations to illustrate the relationship between focus group evidence, design, and how focus groups are conducted. To enhance the credibility of focus group evidence and maximize potential learning from this popular qualitative data collection method, we offer a set of questions to guide evaluators reflection and decision making about focus group design and implementation.
An electron microscope study of lampbrush chromosomes.

Lampbrush chromosomes were isolated from germinal vesicles of oocytes from Necturus maculatus, Triturus viridescens, Pseudotriton montanus and Rana pipiens . After treatment of isolated nuclei with 10 per cent sucrose, chromosomes free of nuclear sap are obtained for examination in either the light microscope or in the electron microscope. For electron microscopy the chromosomes were prepared either by Anderson's critical-point procedure or were embedded in methacrylate and sectioned. The evidence presented in favor of the view that the loops, axis, and the chromomeres of lampbrush chromosomes are formed by two chromonemata is based on the following observations: 1. Treatment of isolated chromosomes with 0.002 M KCN loosens the structure of the loops, and a more or less coiled organization is then observed in most of them with the light microscope. At the electron microscope level, each loop consists of a bundle of microfibrils. The latter are 500 A in diameter, and their complex arrangement within the loops is best studied in stereoscopic preparations. 2. Treatment of chromosomes with 0.002 M KCN also unravels the "chromomeric" regions of the axis. A fibrillar organization then becomes visible in the light microscope. In the electron microscope, wide strands are seen within some chromomeres; their diameter corresponds closely to that of the chromonemata forming the loops associated with the same chromomeres. In thin transverse sections of isolated chromosomes, no special structure is visible in the axial region except random profiles of fibrils similar to those seen in the loops of the same preparations. 3. Two strands sometimes connect adjacent chromomeres. Where gaps exist along the axis, after stretching of the chromosomes, a loop occasionally straddles the break and returns to a chromomere on each side.
Transcyclopalladation on silica gel

Abstract A possibility of transcyclopalladation on silica gel was shown using reactions of acetato- and chloro-bridged dimeric cyclopalladated complexes derived from N,N-dimethylbenzylamine with benzyl methyl sulfide, benzyl phenyl sulfide, benzyldiphenylphosphine, 8-methylquinoline and 1,3-bis(methylthiomethyl)benzene in the presence of equimolar amount of CF3CO2H. The reaction provided the corresponding C,S-, C,N-, C,P- and S,C,S-palladacycles in 39–65% yield.
Liver metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma: MR imaging characteristics.

Purpose: To describe the magnetic resonance imaging spectrum of appearances of liver metastases from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the MRI exams performed between July 1996 and August 2001 in all patients who had liver metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma and histopathologic diagnosis from either the primary pancreatic tumor, liver metastases, or both. Sixteen patients were included in the study. All MR studies were performed at 1.5 T with a standard protocol including T1- and T2-weighted images and serial post-gadolinium spoiled gradient echo (SGE) images. Location, size, number, signal characteristics on T1- and T2-weighted images, and pattern of enhancement on serial gadolinium-enhanced SGE images were assessed. Results: The diameter of metastases ranged from a few millimetres to 4 cm, and 12 patients (75%) had only lesions of 1.5 cm or less. Capsular-based liver metastases were found in 13 patients (81%) and three patients had only capsular-based lesions with a diameter under 1.5 cm. Hypervascular lesions were found in six patients (38%) and hypovascular lesions in 10 patients (62%). Perilesional enhancement was present in 10 patients (62%), with six patients (38%) having ring perilesional enhancement and eight patients (50%) having wedge-shaped perilesional enhancement. Conclusion: On MR imaging, hepatic metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma show a range of enhancement patterns. Hypervascular metastases are not rare. Capsular based distribution, small diameter, and perilesional enhancement are common features. This retrospective study describes the MR imaging spectrum of appearances of liver metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma in patients with histopathologic confirmation of the diagnosis. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;18:181–188. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
D/H ratios of fatty acids from marine particulate organic matter in the California Borderland Basins

We report the molecular and hydrogen–isotopic compositions of fatty acids extracted from suspended particulate organic matter (POM) and surface sediments at three stations off the southern California coast: Santa Barbara Basin, Santa Monica Basin, and the Gulf of Santa Catalina. Values of δD for individual fatty acids ranged from −237‰ to −73‰ in POM and from −216‰ to −124‰ in sediments. For most fatty acids, there are no significant differences in δD between sampling locations, with depth at each location, or between POM and sediments. Two fatty acids of likely bacterial origin (i-15:0, 15:0) are strongly D enriched in all samples, while a third (cyc-17:0) is not. The origins of that enrichment are uncertain, and could reflect either an anomalous D/H fractionation in certain marine bacteria, or a significant terrestrial source for those fatty acids, or both. In surface POM and sediments, even carbon numbered fatty acids become slightly D enriched as chain length increases. This isotopic ordering is similar to that observed in living organisms, and is presumably biosynthetic in origin. In contrast, all POM samples from below the mixed layer show a consistent pattern of D depletion with increasing chain length. The order of D enrichment in these fatty acids is well correlated with their solubility, and may be caused by fractionations accompanying dissolution or degradation by microbes.
Hispanic and Female College Students: Evidence for Increased Risk for Cardiac Disease

This article describes subjective and objective risks for cardiovascular disease and the relationship to anger and spirituality among 104 predominately Hispanic college freshman women. Findings indicated a population at risk for metabolic syndrome, hypertension, and diabetes and identified students requiring medical and anger management interventions. Associations between anger, spirituality, and weight suggest a need for further study. University health services are strategically positioned to reach students with lifestyle modification information for cardiac risk reduction.
Dynamic fracture of compositionally graded materials with cracks along the elastic gradient: experiments and analysis

Abstract Crack tip deformation and fracture parameter histories in compositionally graded glass-filled epoxy are evaluated for low velocity impact loading. The situations when the elastic gradient is unidirectional with crack orientation along the gradient are examined. The fracture behavior of graded compositions is studied relative to homogeneous counterparts made of identical constituents. Optical method of CGS and high-speed photography are used to measure crack tip deformations prior to crack initiation and during dynamic crack growth. The apparent stress intensity factors prior to crack initiation are determined using dynamic equivalent of the stationary fields for FGMs while crack tip fields for steadily growing cracks in FGMs are used for post-initiation situations. Results from finite element simulations up to crack initiation are in excellent agreement with the experimental evaluations. Post crack initiation stress intensity factor histories and crack growth resistance behaviors for FGMs with monotonically increasing and decreasing elastic gradient are strikingly different. When the crack growth occurs into material with progressively increasing filler volume fraction, continuously increasing KID(t) is seen while a decreasing trend is observed when the gradient is of the opposite sense. The fracture behaviors are explained by independent fracture tests and fractured surface micrographs.
Ultrafast x-ray absorption spectroscopy: observing the equilibrium structure and structural dynamics of solvated molecules

Ultrafast high-intensity laser pulses incident upon condensed matter targets can generate solid-density plasmas that emit x-ray pulses with sub-picosecond temporal structure and significant spatial coherence. Such ultrafast laser-driven plasma x-ray sources based on solid and liquid targets are currently under construction in our laboratory. Performance details at several kilohertz laser pulse repetition rates are discussed. As an application of the temporal structure of laser-generated x-ray pulses, ultrafast x-ray absorption fine structure (UXAFS), currently under development, is discussed. It allows, in principle, to measure the structural dynamics of atoms during a chemical process in solution. An overview over UXAFS is presented and properties of our ultrafast x-ray absorption spectrometer are discussed. First calculations of time dependent UXAFS-spectra for ironpentacarbonyl are presented. Ultrafast molecular dynamics depend on the structure of the solvated molecule at the moment of photo-excitation. This structure depends on the solute's interaction with the solvent. Furthermore, the solute's vibrational modes and structure are correlated, solvent dependent, and can be measured by mid-infrared and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Such measured spectra are presented and correlated with semi-empirical quantum calculations in order to elucidate the solvation environment of transition metal coordination complexes in various solvents.
Uranium oxidation: Characterization of oxides formed by reaction with water by infrared and sorption analyses

Abstract Three different uranium oxide samples have been characterized with respect to the different preparation techniques. The results show that the water reaction with uranium metal occurs cyclically forming laminar layers of oxide which spall off due to the strain at the oxide/metal interface. Single laminae are released if liquid water is present due to the prizing penetration at the reaction zone. The rate of reaction of water with uranium is directly proportional to the amount of adsorbed water on the oxide product. Rapid transport is effected through the open hydrous oxide product. Dehydration of the hydrous oxide irreversibly forms a more inert oxide which cannot be rehydrated to the degree that prevails in the original hydrous product of uranium oxidation with water. Inert gas sorption analyses and diffuse reflectance infrared studies combined with electron microscopy prove valuable in defining the chemistry and morphology of the oxidic products and hydrated intermediates.
AQS-20 through-the-sensor environmental data sharing

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) has developed an advanced architecture for connecting many maturing Through-The-Sensor (TTS) efforts for an end-to-end demonstration using the AQS-20 mine hunting sensor. The goal of TTS technologies is to exploit tactical sensors to characterize the battlespace environment for Navy Fleet Tactical Decision Aids (TDAs) with minimal impact on tactical systems. The AQS-20 Rapid Transition Process (RTP) will utilize the AQS-20 to demonstrate sensor data collection, processing, fusion, storage, distribution and use in a tactical decision aid. In recent years, NRL has shown that the AQS-20 can be used to obtain swath bathymetry and bottom sediment information in a single flight. In the AQS-20 RTP, these data will be processed and fused with historical databases to provide an improved environmental picture. The RTP will also utilize the Geophysical Data Base Variable resolution (GDBV) dynamic format for storing local datasets. The GDBV dynamic has been developed in prior years to provide an extensible, efficient data storage format for TTS systems. To provide the interconnectivity that is critical to Network Centric Warfare (NCW), the GDBV will be connected to the SPAWAR funded Tactical Environmental Data Services (TEDServices). To complete the flow of information from sensor to user, the RTP will transmit information to the MEDAL TDA through existing connections in The Naval Oceanographic Office"s (NAVOCEANO) Bottom Mapping Workstation (BMW). In addition, TEDServices will handle transmission of the AQS-20 data to NAVOCEANO who serves as the domain authority for oceanographic datasets in the U.S. Navy.© (2005) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Overview of NOAA's hyperspectral sounding data, communication, and compression activities

Instruments on the next generation operational GOES will generate an expected 50 times greater amount of data than their predecessors on today’s GOES. Part of this increase is due to the high-spectral resolution data from the Hyperspectral Environmental Suite (HES). The data increase led to the need to research the impact to the GOES satellite’s end-to-end communication system, and research compression of hyper-spectral sounder sensor data. The compression research, in mathematics includes, but is not limited to, wavelets, principal components, adaptive clustering, empirical mode decomposition. The high data rates require additional RF spectrum, in the congested 8025-8400 MHz band X-band. Congestion in the geo orbit X and L-bands mandate extensive efforts to control out-of-band RF emissions. The need for communication signal data quality with few errors (low BER) is essential for NOAA science use. Limited bandwidth and the need to be efficient in bandwidth use, force the consideration of bandwidth efficient modulations. These communication issues force the use of the latest technologies. The research has shown that GOES will be able to downlink all of the future sensor data, and could continue to be used as a communication satellite to distribute large volumes of its sensor information to U.S. and foreign users.
Abnormal temperature dependence of photoemission intensity mediated by thermally driven reorientation of a monomolecular film.

The photoemission intensities of organic molecular layers generally obey the Debye−Waller temperature dependence but not always. With the example of a monomolecular film formed from [1,1‘;4‘,1‘ ‘-terphenyl]-4,4‘ ‘-dimethanethiol, we show that pronounced deviations from Debye−Waller temperature behavior are possible and are likely caused by temperature-dependent changes in molecular orientation.
An essentially non-oscillatory (ENO) high-order accurate adaptive table model for device modeling

Modern analytical device models become more and more complicated and expensive to evaluate in circuit simulation. Interpolation based table look-up device models become increasingly important for fast circuit simulation. Traditional table model trades accuracy for speed and is only used in fast-Spice simulators but not good enough for prime-time Spice simulators such as SPECTRE. We propose a novel table model technology that uses high-order essentially non-oscillatory (ENO) polynomial interpolation in multi-dimensions to guarantee smoothness in multi-dimensions and high accuracy in approximating i -- v/q --v curves. An efficient transfinite blending technique for the reconstruction of multi-dimensional tables is used. Interpolation stencil is adaptively determined by automatic accuracy control. The method has been proved to be superior to traditional ones and successfully applied in Spectre and Ultrasim for simulating digital, analog, RF, and mixed-signal circuits.
Computer-Assisted Career Guidance and Single-Subject Research: A Scientist-Practitioner Approach to Accountability.

In this article the author discusses how computer-assisted career counselors can become more accountable for their services by using intensive research designs. An overview of computer-assisted career guidance (CACG) is presented, and the relevance of the scientist-practitioner model is discussed. Applicable single-subject research, including simple and complex phase changes, alternating treatment designs, and replication are presented with examples for accountable CACG counseling. If your client has changed, how do you know it? —Jerry Schmidt To understand individuals, it is necessary to study individuals. —Leo Goldman
A single transverse-mode monolithically integrated long vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser

We present a fully monolithic long vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser operating in the fundamental TEM/sub 00/ transverse mode with output powers up to 7.8 mW. The lasing wavelength is 980 nm and the threshold is 9.1 mA. Pump currents from threshold to rollover produce an output beam with an M/sup 2/<1.08. The laser consists of an InGaAs-GaAs-AlGaAs gain region/semiconductor mirror bonded to a 0.5-mm-thick glass substrate with an integrated curved mirror.
Recent orbital evolution and the internal structures of Enceladus and Dione

Abstract We study the orbital behavior of Saturn’s satellites Enceladus and Dione during their passage through the 2:1 mean-motion resonances to constrain their interior structures, parameterized by the quantity k 2 / Q (assumed constant). Enceladus’ evolution after escape from the second-order e-Enceladus e-Dione resonance requires that ( k 2 / Q ) Enceladus 8 × 10 - 4 , for that Q Saturn > 18 , 000 . This result is in agreement with [Meyer, J., Wisdom, J., 2008b. Icarus 193, 213–223]. The present-day libration amplitude of Enceladus requires that ( k 2 / Q ) Enceladus > 1.2 × 10 - 4 , assuming that Q Saturn 10 5 . Dione’s present-day eccentricity indicates that ( k 2 / Q ) Dione ⩽ 3 × 10 - 4 for Q Saturn > 18 , 000 . Assuming Maxwellian viscoelastic behavior, we find that for Enceladus a convective ice shell overlying an ocean is too dissipative to match the orbital constraints. We conclude that a conductive shell overlying an ocean is more likely, and discuss the implications of this result. Dione’s ice shell is also likely to be conductive, but our results are less constraining.
Thin-shell wormholes: Linearization stability.

The class of spherically symmetric thin-shell wormholes provides a particularly elegant collection of exemplars for the study of traversable Lorentzian wormholes. In the present paper we consider linearized (spherically symmetric) perturbations around some assumed static solution of the Einstein field equations. This permits us to relate stability issues to the (linearized) equation of state of the exotic matter which is located at the wormhole throat. {copyright} 1995 The American Physical Society.
Adaptive control of nonlinearly parameterized systems

Studies adaptive control of nonlinearly parameterized systems with uncontrollable linearization. Using a parameter separation technique and the tool of adding a power integrator, we develop a feedback domination design approach for the explicit construction of a C/sup /spl infin// adaptive controller which solves the longstanding open problem of global adaptive regulation. A significant feature of our adaptive regulator is its minimal-order property, namely, no matter how big the number of unknown parameters is, the order of the dynamic compensator is identical to one, and is therefore minimal. As an important consequence, global state regulation of feedback linearizable systems with nonlinear parameterization is solved by one-dimensional adaptive controllers, without imposing any convex or concave condition on the parameters.
Coal Miners' Slaughter: Corporate Power, Questionable Laws, and Impunity

Abstract: The April 5, 2010 Upper Big Branch explosion in West Virginia was the worst coal mine disaster in the United States in 40 years. Given the importance of the coal industry to the United States, coal mine safety regulations do not effectively prevent such disasters from occurring, and a culture of impunity protects both coal companies and government agencies from being held accountable for contributing to disasters. The United Mine Workers of America's diminished strength in West Virginia leaves most miners with little recourse against growing corporations. An examination of the history of disasters in West Virginia coal mines provides insight into how the factors leading to the Upper Big Branch explosion developed and can potentially be prevented. [West Virginia, coal mining, mine disasters, labor unions, corporate impunity, Massey Energy, legislation and enforcement]
Olivine and chromian spinel in primitive calc-alkaline and tholeiitic lavas from the southernmost Cascade Range, California; a reflection of relative fertility of the source

Chromian spinel and coexis '.9 olivine phenocrysts from a geochemically diverse suite of primitive tholeiitic and calc-alkaline basalts and maguesian andesites from the Lassen region, in the southernmost Cascade Range, in California, show that the sub-arc mantle is zoned. Depleted calc-alkaline basalts aad magnesian andesites erupt in the forearc region, and calc-alkaline basalts contain increasing abundances of incompatible elements toward the backmc. High-alumina olivine tholeiites erupt from the arc and backarc areas. Olivine from all these lavas displays a limited compositional range, from Fo86 to Fo9l, and crystallized at high temperature, generally 1225-Ln5"C. Chromian spinel trapped in the olivine phenocrysts displays a large raage of composition: Cr# values span the range 9J6. Excess Al in the spinel relative to that in l-atm spinel suggests that it crystallized at elevated pressure. The phenocrysts in these lavas are in equilibrium with their host liquids. The fulI range of Cr# of the spinel compositions cannot be explained by differentiation or variable pressure, variations in.t(Oz), subsolidus equilibration or variations in degree of partial melting of a single peridotitic source. Rather, the systematic compositional differences among phenocrysts in these primitive lavas result from bulk chemical variability in tlefu mantle sources. Correlations between spinel and host-rock compositions support the assertion that the geochemical diversity of Lassen basalts reflects tle relative fertility of their mantle sources.
Trifluoromethoxyl Substituted Phenylethylene Diamines as High Affinity σ Receptor Ligands with Potent Anti-Cocaine Actions

The phenylethylene diamines are a class of σ receptor ligands with excellent selectivity over other biological systems and with anti-cocaine actions that involve antagonism of σ1 receptors. In order to increase the potency of the aromatic methoxyl substituted analogues, trifluoromethoxyl groups were introduced to prevent metabolic demethylation. The para-substituted trifluoromethoxyl substituted analogues were shown to have increased σ receptor affinity and represent the most potent anti-cocaine phenylethylene diamines yet described.
The synthesis of amino acid derivatives by catalytic phase-transfer alkylations

The current widespread interest in the preparation and utilization of amino acids,2 "the building blocks of life," is based on their use in many diversified areas. For example, amino acids are employed as protein dietary supplements,3 as drugs4 and as starting materials for the synthesis of biologically active natural products.5 New and general synthetic routes to the amino acids are, therefore, of interest for both the large-scale production of known amino acids as well as the preparation of rare and/or unknown amino acids. Phase-transfer reactions6 provide a potentially attractive synthetic route for the preparation of higher amino acids from derivatives of the simplest amino acid, glycine. We recently reported7 the first general synthesis of amino acid derivatives using phase-transfer alkylations.B3g The Schiff base l7 is an active methylene compound in which both the carboxylate and