cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Co-Reduction Process for Plating Ionic Polymer Transducers With Precious and Non-Precious Metal Electrodes

A co-reduction process is developed for plating ionic polymer materials with precious and non-precious metal electrodes. The purpose is to develop a process that reduces the use of expensive precious metals such as platinum and gold in the development of ionic polymer transducers. Previous results by Bennett and Leo (1) have demonstrated that oxidation is the key issue associated with the use of non-precious metal electrodes. The present work overcomes this problem through the use of a co-reduction process in which an alloy of platinum and copper is deposited in an impregnation/reduction process. A thin (~50 nm) layer of gold is then deposited to increase the surface conductivity of the electrode. Actuators developed using this process are tested for longevity for approximately 250,000 cycles. The results demonstrate the stability of the electrode, although multiple tests reveal that variations in the process produce variations in the electrode stability.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Ly49h is necessary for genetic resistance to murine cytomegalovirus

Natural killer (NK) cells play critical roles in antiviral immunity. While the importance of effector mechanisms such as interferons has been demonstrated through knockout mice, specific mechanisms of how viruses are recognized and controlled by NK cells are less well defined. Previous genetic studies have mapped the resistance genes for murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV), herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), and ectromelia virus to the NK gene complex on murine chromosome 6, a region containing the polymorphic Ly49 and Nkrp1 families. Genetic resistance to MCMV in C57BL/6 has been attributed to Ly49H, an activation receptor, through susceptibility of the recombinant inbred strain BXD-8 that lacks Ly49h (also known as Klra8) but derived about half of its genome from its DBA/2 progenitor. However, it remained possible that epigenetic effects could account for the MCMV phenotype in BXD-8 mice. Herein, we report the generation of a novel congenic murine strain, B6.BXD8-Klra8Cmv1-del/Wum, on the C57BL/6 genetic background to evaluate the effect of deletion of a single NK activation receptor, Ly49H. Deletion of Ly49H rendered mice much more susceptible to MCMV infection. This increase in susceptibility did not appear to be a result of a difference in NK cell expansion or interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production between the C57BL/6 and the B6.BXD8 strains. On the other hand, the deletion of Ly49h did not otherwise affect NK cell maturation or Ly49D expression and had no effect on susceptibility to HSV-1 or ectromelia virus. In conclusion, Ly49h is necessary for genetic resistance to MCMV, but not HSV-1 or ectromelia virus.
Consequences of aberrant ornithine decarboxylase regulation in rat hepatoma cells.

DH23A cells, an α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO)–resistant variant of rat hepatoma tissue culture cells (HTC), contain high levels of very stable ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). In the absence of DFMO, the high ODC activity results in a large accumulation of endogenous putrescine. Concomitant with the putrescine increase is a period of cytostasis and a subsequent loss of viable cells. In contrast, HTC cells with a moderate polyamine content can be maintained in exponential growth. This suggests that a moderate polyamine concentration is necessary for both optimal cell growth and survival. The cytoxicity observed in the DH23A cells is apparently not due to byproducts of polyamine oxidation or alterations in steady state intracellular pH or free [Ca2+]. It is possible to mimic the effects of high levels of stable ODC by treatment of cells with exogenous putrescine in the presence of DFMO. This suggests that overaccumulation of putrescine is the causative agent in the observed cytotoxicity, although the mechanism is unclear. These data support the hypothesis that downregulation of ODC may be necessary to prevent accumulation of cytotoxic concentrations of the polyamines. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Cytotoxicity of taxol in vitro against human and rat malignant brain tumors

Taxol is a novel antitumor alkaloid that has shown clinical activity against several tumors, including ovarian and breast carcinoma and melanoma. To evaluate taxol's potential as a therapy for malignant brain tumors, we measured the sensitivity of four human (U87, U373, H80, and D324) and two rat (9L, F98) brain-tumor cell lines to taxol. The cells were exposed to taxol in vitro using a clonogenic assay. Log cell kill (LD90) occurred at concentrations of 42 (9L), 25 (F98), 19 (H80), 7.2 (U373), 9.1 (U87), and 3.9 nM (D324) when cells were continuously exposed to taxol for 6-8 days. The human cell lines were uniformly more sensitive to taxol than were the rat lines. The duration of exposure had a significant effect on taxol's cytotoxicity. When cells were exposed to taxol for 1 h the LD90 increased to 890 nM for the 9L rat line and 280 nM for the human U373 line. On the basis of these results, we conclude that taxol has significant potency in vitro against malignant brain tumors and that the activity occurs at concentrations of taxol that have previously been shown to be effective for several tumors against which the drug is currently being evaluated clinically.
Effect of ouabain resistance on human diploid fibroblasts carrying other genetic variants.

Abstract Human skin fibroblasts from a Lesch-Nyhan male with the G6PD A variant and those from a female with the cri-du-chat deletion have been treated with ethyl methane sulfonate and subjected to ouabain selection. Sixteen ouabain-resistant clones were obtained from 1.2 × l0 8 cells plated in 10 −6 M ouabain. Some variation in degree of ouabain resistance was noted among subclones. The ouabain-resistant phenotype was stable and was associated with G6PD and HGPRT phenotypes and karyotypes similar to the parent strains except that tetraploidy characterized 2 of 5 of the clones karyotyped. The ouabain-resistant cells were used to study the influence of the mutation leading to ouabain resistance on the transfer of nucleotides from cell to cell. Results indicate that contact-feeding of nucleotides is not dependent upon the ouabain-sensitive Na + K + transport system. It is suggested that ouabain resistance may provide a simple assay to detect agents mutagenic for human cells, and that cells carrying both HGPRT as well as ouabain-resistant markers are ideal for cell hybridization with strains having no selectable markers.
Regulation of Murine Telomere Length via Rtel

Normal somatic cells have a finite replicative capacity. With each cell division, telomeres (the physical ends of linear chromosomes) progressively shorten until they reach a critical length, at which point the cells enter replicative senescence. Some cells can maintain telomere length by the action of the telomerase enzyme. A recent article described in detail the organization and function of Rtel, a murine gene encoding a DNA helicase-like protein. The Rtel protein was found to be essential for genomic stability and embryonic development and survival, and is proposed to be a dominant regulator of murine telomere length.
Critical roles of the p160 transcriptional coactivators p/CIP and SRC-1 in energy balance.

Summary Several transcriptional coactivators have been implicated in modulating the transcriptional activities of nuclear hormone receptors in vitro. Potential roles of these cofactors in important physiological processes such as energy homeostasis remain unknown. We report here that a developmental arrest in interscapular brown fat and defective adaptive thermogenesis occur in mice lacking both the p160 family transcriptional coactivators SRC-1 and p/CIP due to a failure in induction of selective PPARγ target genes involved in adipogenesis and mitochondrial uncoupling. In the absence of p/CIP and SRC-1, mice eat more food on both regular chow and a high-fat diet because of decreased blood leptin levels. However, the p/CIP −/− /SRC-1 −/− mice are lean and resistant to high-fat-diet-induced obesity. They exhibit increased basal metabolic rates and heightened levels of physical activity. Therefore, p/CIP and SRC-1 play critical roles in energy balance by controlling both energy intake and energy expenditure.
Robust micro-rate sensor actuated by parametric resonance

Abstract Loss in sensitivity, commonly presented in micro-gyroscopes based on harmonic oscillators [N. Yazdi, F. Ayazi, K. Najafi, Micromachined inertial sensors, Proceedings of the IEEE 86 (8)], can be overcome by using parametric resonance as an actuation mechanism. We demonstrate experimentally that using a parametric resonance based actuator, the drive-mode signal has a rich dynamic behavior with a large response in a large bandwidth (1 kHz). In this way the system is able to induce oscillations in the sense-mode by Coriolis force coupling, despite a clear disparity on their fundamental frequencies. Thus we propose a micro-gyroscope that is less sensitive to parameter variations due to its inherent dynamical properties. The device is fabricated using a single mask SOI process and in this paper we report its complete rate table characterization including off-axis isolation, drift, hysteresis and noise.
High Surface Area of Porous Silicon Drives Desorption of Intact Molecules

The surface structure of porous silicon used in desorption/ionization on porous silicon (DIOS) mass analysis is known to play a primary role in the desorption/ionization (D/I) process. In this study, mass spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are used to examine the correlation between intact ion generation with surface ablation and surface morphology. The DIOS process is found to be highly laser energy dependent and correlates directly with the appearance of surface ions (Sin+ and OSiH+). A threshold laser energy for DIOS is observed (10 mJ/cm2), which supports that DIOS is driven by surface restructuring and is not a strictly thermal process. In addition, three DIOS regimes are observed that correspond to surface restructuring and melting. These results suggest that higher surface area silicon substrates may enhance DIOS performance. A recent example that fits into this mechanism is the surface of silicon nanowires, which has a high surface energy and concomitantly requires lower laser energy for analyte desorption.
Insulin-dependent apolipoprotein B degradation is mediated by autophagy and involves class I and class III phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases

Insulin acutely stimulates the degradation of apolipoprotein B (apo B) which decreases very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) secretion by liver. Insulin-dependent apo B degradation (IDAD) occurs following phosphatidylinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activation and involves lysosomal degradation. Insulin suppression of apo B secretion is blocked by over-expression of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) in McArdle RH7777 (McA) cells suggesting the importance of Class I PI3K generated PI (3,4,5) triphosphate (PIP3) in IDAD. Classical autophagy inhibitors including 3-methyladenine, L-asparagine and bafilomycin A1 also blocked the ability of insulin to suppress apo B secretion by rat hepatocytes (RH) suggesting that IDAD occurs through an autophagy-related mechanism. IDAD is also blocked following over-expression in McA cells of a dominant negative kinase-defective Vps34, a class III PI3K that generates PI 3-monophosphate required for autophagy. Vps34 inhibition of IDAD occurs without altering insulin-dependent S473 phosphorylation of Akt indicating PI3K/PIP3/Akt signaling is intact. Cellular p62/SQSTM1, an inverse indicator of autophagy, is increased with insulin treatment consistent with the known ability of insulin to inhibit autophagy, and therefore the role of insulin in utilizing components of autophagy for apo B degradation is unexpected. Thapsigargan, an inducer of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and a recently demonstrated autophagy inhibitor, blocked apo B secretion which contrasted with other autophagy inhibitors and mutant Vps34 results which were permissive with respect to apo B secretion. Pulse chase studies indicated that intact B100 and B48 proteins were retained in cells treated with thapsigargan consistent with their accumulation in autophagosomal vacuoles. Differences between IDAD and ER stress-coupled autophagy mediated by thapsgargin suggest that IDAD involves an unique form of autophagy. Insulin action resulting in hepatic apo B degradation is novel and important in understanding regulation of hepatic VLDL metabolism.
Mechanisms of miniaturization of sessile drops on a heated surface

Abstract The miniaturization phenomena of single water drops are experimentally studied following their impingement on a heated surface. Measurements are made on the frequency and amplitude of the elastic-longitudinal waves produced by boiling, and the acoustic pressure of boiling sounds using both a piezoelectric potential transformer and a condenser microphone. The process of morphological change and microexplosion is recorded by means of high-speed photography. It is disclosed that the maximum values of the frequency and amplitude of the elastic-longitudinal waves and the maximum values of the boiling acoustic pressure occur in a certain range of the heated surface temperatures for violent miniaturization of sessile drops. The range of the heated surface temperature coincides with that of transition boiling regime.
Developmental education and speech communication in the community college

This article provides a rationale for establishing and retaining developmental programs in speaking and listening in the community college to meet the needs of increasingly large numbers of students for remedial instruction.
Granular fragility under thermal cycles

We study the effect of thermal cycling of granular materials on both the granular packing fraction and the position of an intruder object within a granular sample. We demonstrate that the packing fraction consistently increases with thermal cycling, regardless of the relative coefficients of thermal expansion for the grains and their containers. The exact magnitude of the packing fraction increase appears to be influenced by factors other than the thermal expansion coefficients, with the intergrain friction and the friction between the grains and their container likely to be important. We also examined the motion of spherical intruders with thermal cycling as a function of the size and density of the intruders, and find that such intruders sink within the grains when the pressure from the intruder exceeds a threshold. These data demonstrate the fragility of dense granular ensembles to changes in the ambient temperature.
Accuracy in Equianalgesic Dosing: Conversion Dilemmas

The clinical benefit and increased application of opioid rotation has focused attention on efficacy differences between opioids and their respective equianalgesic dose ratios. Understanding the differences between the opioids is critical to understanding their equianalgesic dose ratios and for adjusting therapy following rotation to a new analgesic. The purpose of this article is to describe controversies regarding the relative potencies of these agents as presented in current equianalgesic charts and to provide pharmacologic information to assist the clinician with opioid rotation.
Relative Protein Efficiency Ratios for Wheat-Based Breakfast Cereals

Male weanling rats were subjected to standard 28-day PER trials following the outline by the AOAC (1984) except that the diets contained 8.5% protein (N × 6.25) as one of six wheat-based breakfast cereals, white flour, whole wheat flour or casein. One of the cereals was an extrusion puffed product, three were flaked and toasted cereals and two were extruded cereals. Of the two extruded cereals, one was lightly toasted and the other was more heavily toasted. Relative PER (R-PER) was lowest for the puffed cereal (- 15.3) and highest for the extruded-lightly toasted cereal (69.9). R-PER for the flaked cereals ranged from 1.7 to 16.3; the other extruded cereal had a R-PER of 2.8 and each of the two flours had a R-PER of 42.9.
Expression of Toll-Like Receptors on Breast Tumors: Taking a Toll on Tumor Microenvironment

Breast cancer remains a major cause of death in women in the developed world. As Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are widely expressed on tumor cells and play important roles in the initiation and progression of cancer, they may thus serve as important targets and have an effective perspective on breast cancer treatment. Expression of TLRs on breast cancer cells and mononuclear inflammatory cells can promote inflammation and cell survival in the tumor microenvironment. Inflammation and cancer are related. It is well known that persistent inflammatory conditions can induce cancer formation, due to production of cytokines and chemokines, which play a crucial role in promoting angiogenesis, metastasis, and subversion of adaptive immunity. TLR signaling in tumor cells can mediate tumor cell immune escape and tumor progression, and it is regarded as one of the mechanisms for chronic inflammation in tumorigenesis and progression. This paper delineates the expression of various TLRs in promotion of inflammation and development of mammary tumors. Understanding the mechanisms through which TLRs on breast cancer cells and inflammatory cells regulate growth, survival, and metastatic progression can make them potential targets for breast cancer therapy.
Serial Fiberoptic Bronchoscopy during Chemotherapy for Small Cell Carcinoma of the Lung: Early Detection of Patients at High Risk of Relapse

Serial fiberoptic bronchoscopic examinations were performed during intensive chemotherapy with a combination of drugs in 77 previously untreated patients with small cell carcinoma of the lung. Before treatment, bronchoscopic examination revealed evidence of cancer in 93 percent (70) of the 75 patients studied at that time, including 8 percent (six) in whom the tumor was not evaluable on the chest x-ray film. After therapy was initiated, 36 percent (29) of the 81 procedures performed in patients with a complete response radiographically and 62 percent (33) of the 53 bronchoscopic procedures in those with a partial response or no response showed evidence of tumor. In both of these groups, patients with abnormal findings on endoscopic examination had a much higher rate of relapsing tumor of the chest within a 12-week period. Progression of intrathoracic tumor was first detected solely by bronchoscopic examination in 22 percent (seven) of the 32 episodes of progression. In our hands, repeated fiberoptic bronchoscopic procedures during chemotherapy for small cell carcinoma have yielded information not apparent from the chest x-ray film in a significant number of patients.
Relative inclusive fitness in the social wasp Polistes metricus

1. The average between-foundress relatedness for foundresses of Polistes metricus was estimated as 0.63. Both foundresses were assumed to be derived from the same nest. 2. The relative probability of producing a successful nest for two foundress: one foundress nests was estimated as 1.38, SE=0.022. 3. The relative reproductive success observed for two foundress: one foundress nests was 2.25, SE=0.35. 4. The inclusive fitness of an α foundress relative to its expected fitness if it and the β foundress act alone is 1.83±0.57. The inclusive fitness of a β foundress relative to its expected fitness if it and the α foundress act alone is 1.39±0.44. 5. The β foundresses who may have the option of founding their own nests would not appear to decrease their inclusive fitness by becoming a subordinated foundress on the nest of a foundress from their own nest even though they give up a substantial portion of reproduction and increase their chance of death. Thus the results presented in this paper are in accord with those expected for kin selection theory.
International investment and the theory of devaluation

Abstract The theory of international investment is integrated to the monetary approach to balance of payments. It is shown that in the short run when the level of international investment is given a devaluation may not improve the balance of payments even if the Marshall-Lerner condition is met. If the devaluing country is a net importer of capital, then the chances for a successful devaluation are small. When the level of international investment is variable, a devaluation may not help balance of payments even if goods are gross substitutes. It is also shown that the effects of devaluation on international investment crucially depends on the movement of the terms of trade.
A solution of the inverse nodal problem

In this paper, we reconstruct the potential and the boundary condition of the Sturm - Liouville problem from nodes of its eigenfunctions. We also give the uniqueness for general boundary conditions using the same method as McLaughlin.
The Mechanisms of Earthquakes and Faulting in the Southern Gulf of California

Abstract Accurate earthquake locations and their focal mechanisms can illuminate the distribution and mode of deformation at rifted continental margins. The Pacific–North America (Pa–NA) plate boundary within the Gulf of California (GoC) provides an excellent opportunity to explore the evolution and kinematics of rifting, as continental extension in the north transitions to seafloor spreading in the south. From October 2005 to October 2006, an array of eight four‐component ocean‐bottom seismographs deployed in the GoC recorded seismicity as part of the Sea of Cortez Ocean‐Bottom Array (SCOOBA) experiment. By combining the data with those from the onshore Network of Autonomously Recording Seismographs (NARS)‐Baja array, we detect and locate ∼700 earthquakes ( M w 2.2–6.6) mainly along the northwest–southeast‐striking transform faults that delineate the plate boundary. For 36 events ( M w 3.5–6.6) with high signal‐to‐noise ratio in a long‐period (10–20 s) band, we determine deviatoric moment tensors and associated double‐couple focal mechanisms by regional waveform inversion. Many focal mechanisms are consistent with right‐lateral strike‐slip faulting along the Pa–NA transform fault system, which suggests that the transform faults primarily accommodate seismic deformation within the gulf. In addition, we capture a swarm of events on Baja California along the right‐lateral northwest–southeast‐striking Las Viboras–El Azufre fault, which may be related to ongoing geothermal activity and volcanic deformation within the peninsula. The combination of high‐resolution earthquake locations and focal mechanisms improves our understanding of the distribution of seismic deformation within the greater extensional zone in the southern GoC. Online Material: Earthquake catalog of the 695 events detected and located during our combined on‐/offshore deployment of seismometers.
Sectionable microcarrier beads: An improved method for the preparation of cell monolayers for electron microscopy

Cross-linked dextran beads provide an excellent surface for tissue-cultured cell monolayers, and can be processed for transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy, as well as light microscopy (LM). Cells are grown to confluency on the surface of the microcarriers, where at any point aliquots can be removed and experimentally treated as desired (e.g. immunocytochemistry) providing a representative sample. Sample preparation for TEM follows standard procedures for any cell monolayer, but infiltration times must be at least doubled to allow penetration of the beads. The polymerized blocks can then be sectioned for TEM or LM with no additional steps required. SEM sample preparation involves attaching the fixed bead/cell suspension to a glass coverslip with poly-1-lysine, dehydration, critical point drying, and coating for conductivity. The fixed and dried sample can also be attached directly to the SEM stub as free beads and subsequently gold coated. These beads provide (1) an increased surface area of cells visible per area of thin section, (2) eliminates the careful orientation required for flat substrate methods of embedding, (3) decreases the amount of sample manipulation in the forms of re-embedding and gluing, and (4) decreases the amount of drying artifact seen as cracking in SEM monolayer preparations.
Dietary selenium requirements based on tissue selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase activities in old female rats.

Abstract Dietary nutrient requirements for older animals have been studied far less than have requirements for young growing animals. To determine dietary selenium (Se) requirements in old rats, we fed female weanling rats a Se-deficient diet (0.007 μg Se/g) or supplemented rats with graded levels of dietary Se (0–0.3 μg Se/g) as Na 2 SeO 3 for 52 weeks. At no point did Se deficiency or level of Se supplementation have a significant effect ( P >0.05) on growth. To determine Se requirements, Se response curves were determined for 7 Se-dependent parameters. We found that minimum dietary Se requirements in year-old female rats were at or below 0.05 μg Se/g diet based on liver Se, red blood cell glutathione peroxidase (Gpx1) activity, plasma Gpx3 activity, liver and kidney Gpx1 activity, and liver and kidney Gpx4 activity. In conclusion, this study found that dietary Se requirements in old female rats were decreased at least 50% relative to requirements found in young, rapidly growing female rats. Collectively, this indicates that the homeostatic mechanisms related to retention and maintenance of Se status are still fully functional in old female rats.
The Motion of Intellect On the Neoplatonic Reading of Sophist 248e-249d

This paper defends Plotinus’ reading of Sophist 248e-249d as an expression of the togetherness or unity-in-duality of intellect and intelligible being. Throughout the dialogues Plato consistently presents knowledge as a togetherness of knower and known, expressing this through the myth of recollection and through metaphors of grasping, eating, and sexual union. He indicates that an intelligible paradigm is in the thought that apprehends it, and regularly regards the forms not as extrinsic “objects” but as the contents of living intelligence. A meticulous reading of Sophist 248e-249d shows that the “motion” attributed to intelligible being is not temporal change but the activity of intellectual apprehension. Aristotle’s doctrines of knowledge as identity of intellect and the intelligible, and of divine intellect as thinking itself, are therefore in continuity with Plato, and Plotinus’ doctrine of intellect and being is continuous with both Plato and Aristotle.
Cutaneous sarcoidosis: definitions and types of lesions.

Abstract Sarcoidosis is a peculiar granulomatous disease of unknown etiology. Most commonly, it involves the lungs, lymph nodes, liver, spleen, skin, eyes, phalangeal bones, and parotid glands, but other organs may be involved. The pathology consistently shows nonca-seating granulomas with a lack of surrounding lymphocytes (naked tubercules) in all of the involved tissues. There are no consistent laboratory findings, although many patients show a depression in some aspects of cell-mediated immunity. The serum angiotensin-converting enzyme may be elevated, as may the sedimentation rate, but none of these tests is diagnostic. Diagnosis rests with the characteristic pathology, the finding of disease in more than one organ, and the elimination of other etiologic possibilities. Noncaseating granulomas limited to skin lesions, in the absence of findings in other organs, cannot be labeled as sarcoidosis; they are sometimes referred to as sarcoidal reactions.
Mobility enhancement in indium-rich N-channel In x Ga 1−x As HEMTs by application of uniaxial strain

As in Si CMOS, the incorporation of mechanical strain offers the possibility of improving the performance of III-V field effect transistors (FETs). Quantifying its potential and providing fundamental understanding of the impact of strain are the goals of this study. This paper reports an investigation of the impact of uniaxial strain on n-type InAlAs/InGaAs HEMTs with a 70% InAs channel core. The main impact of strain is found to be a modification of the electron effective mass and mobility. A comparison between the effect of strain in Si and InGaAs suggests that strain engineering can indeed be leveraged to improve transport properties in deeply scaled InGaAs FETs.
Asymmetries in Mating Preferences between Species: Female Swordtails Prefer Heterospecific Males

In male swordtails ((Xiphophorus nigrensis)) there are three size classes that derive from allelic variation at the pituitary locus on the Y chromosome. Progeny analysis and preference tests suggest that females prefer to mate with larger males. In the closely related X. pygmaeus, there is no allelic variation at this locus; this species consists of males similar in size only to smaller X. nigrensis males. In addition to being smaller than most X. nigrensis males, these X.pygmaeus males also lack both the swordtail and a major component of the courtship display common in most X. nigrensis males. Usually, female X. pygmaeus prefer to mate with heterospecific males rather than conspecifics, regardless of body size and the presence of a swordtail. However, the smallest X. nigrensis males lack the same courtship component as do the X. pygmaeus males, and in this comparison female X. pygmaeus show no preference. Although sexual selection, through its action on divergence of courtship displays, has been implicated as a factor leading to speciation, in this case sexual selection could lead to the congealing of gene pools between heterospecifics.
The Kulturstaat in the Time of Empire: Notes on Germany Thirteen Years After

Six years ago in PAJ 52, I detailed the situation of the Berlin kulturszene in an article entitled "Forgetting, Erasure and the Cry of the Billy Goat: Berlin Theatre Five Years After." At that time, the highly subsidized cultural sector was already grappling with issues brought about by the radical shift in German society after the fall of the Wall and subsequent reunification between East and West. Six years later, these issues have not disappeared; on the contrary, they have escalated to a crisis point that potentially threatens the very existence of the statesupported cultural apparatus, the kulturstaat.
A27 Pharmacodynamic And Proximal Biomarkers For Modulation Of Huntingtin Levels: Preclincial Studies For Translation To The Clinic

HTT suppression is a key therapeutic strategy for HD. Reducing the amount of the disease-causing expanded HTT protein in the brain of patients is predicted to slow the progression of the disease. Several approaches are being employed to lower HTT including antisense oligonucleotides and siRNAs, as well as gene therapy approaches using viral delivery of miRNAs, shRNAs, and zinc-finger repressor proteins. To enable the advancement of such therapeutics to the clinic, translatable HTT lowering pharmacodynamic and proximal biomarkers are being explored in preclinical models of HD. Specifically, efforts to identify both molecular and imaging measures that are sensitive to HTT levels will be presented. One or more of these pharmacodynamics markers will be essential measures to demonstrate that the delivery of a HTT lowering therapy does, in fact, lower the amount of HTT in the brains of HD patients.
Effects of operation of Germanium alloy junction transistors above rated conditions

As a part of the investigations and analyses performed at Battelle Memorial Institute for Remington Rand Univac, some exploratory experiments were performed at various operating conditions with type ZJ1?501 (4JD1A-62) and ZJ11?501(4JD1A-70) transistors. Both of these transistors are special type 2N123 p-n-p alloy junction high-frequency switching transistors. (The primary physical difference between the ZJ1?501 and ZJ11?501 transistors is the thicker base region of the ZJ1?501.) These exploratory experiments were performed as a portion of a program directed toward the development of accelerated life test procedures for transistors.
Protocol verification made simple: a tutorial

Abstract We describe how to define communication protocols, how to express protocol properties, and how to verify that the execution of a given protocol definition satisfies a given protocol property. The presentation is rarely opinionated, sometimes conversational, mostly rigorous, but always simple.
Bioorganic Chemistry of Hypothiocyanite

Abstract Hypothiocyanite (OSCN−) plays an important role in the human host defense system as a nonimmunological antimicrobial agent. Although many conjugate reactions of proteins have been attributed to OSCN−, there is little precedence for such reactions in small-molecule chemistry. We will discuss the derivative species that are in equilibrium with OSCN−, including hypothiocyanous acid (HOSCN), thiocyanogen [(SCN) 2 ], and trithiocyanate [(SCN) 3 −], the first organic derivatives of this mixture to be fully characterized, and we will describe a new method of synthesizing hypothiocyanite.
Scalable Network Management Using Lightweight Programmable Network Services

Although the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) has proven to be a powerful tool for network administrators, it is widely accepted that SNMP does not offer the scalability or the functionality needed to manage large systems of routers and end systems. Active/programmable networks and mobile agent systems have been proposed as alternative network management solutions, offering new functionality and better scalability. Unfortunately, the flexibility and programmability of these (heavyweight) systems comes with its own set of problems, which has prevented them from becoming widely adopted. This paper presents an ultra-lightweight programmable network service called ephemeral state processing (ESP) that can be used to efficiently monitor and collect information from large-scale networks. Although the service offers a limited set of features, the building blocks it does offer can be combined in novel ways to solve a wide range of network management problems while avoiding the problems that plague (heavyweight) active network approaches. The simplicity of ESP allows us to make it available as a general-purpose service that can be used by all packets in the network. We demonstrate the utility of the service by showing how it can be used to efficiently solve common network management problems.
In-situ FT-IR/IRS investigation of double-bond reactions of adsorbed oleate at a fluorite surface

Abstract Previous experimental results have shown that an increase in temperature and/or oxygen concentration leads to an increase in the hydrophobicity of fluorite with adsorbed oleate as collector. Subsequently, ex-situ Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) transmission studies suggested that this increase in hydrophobicity was the result of double-bond reactions between adjacent oleate species adsorbed at the fluorite surface. Now, an in-situ FT-IR study on single crystals of fluorite has been used to monitor this phenomenon using internal reflection spectroscopy (IRS) with the crystals serving as reactive internal reflection elements (IREs). The double-bond reaction has been correlated with in-situ adsorption density measurements from spectral data. These results demonstrate that only the monolayer of chemisorbed oleate undergoes the double-bond reaction at an appreciable rate. At higher concentrations multilayers of surface precipitated calcium oleate form, and under these conditions, no reaction of the double bond could be detected even for oxygen-saturated solutions at elevated temperatures.
A first flight corrected neutral diffusion model for edge plasma simulation

The standard neutral diffusion model is improved by treating the first flight neutrals, originating at the boundary, separately and exactly, and using the diffusion approximation only for the neutrals suffering one or more charge exchange interactions. Different source neutral energies are thereby accomodated unlike the diffusion model which cannot distinguish between bulk plasma neutrals and recycling neutrals. Both models have been implemented in the 2D NEWEDGE code and results for 5 and 50 eV neutrals are contrasted with diffusion model predictions. Significant differences are seen in the divertor plasma density, temperature and heat flux profiles, with the 50 eV neutral energy case showing most dramatic differences. An improvement in convergence rate of the edge plasma code is also seen for the first flight corrected diffusion model.
The relationship between fluorescence and absorbance of some o-phthaldialdehyde derivatives: The basis for a new method for distinguishing exo-and endoproteinase activities*

The fluorescence and absorbance characteristics of some o -phthaldialdehyde-(OPA) derivatives of compounds representing possible proteolytic hydrolysis products were investigated. The data indicate that the relationship between these two analytical methods depends on several factors including the size and amino acid composition of the analyte. These results led to the development of a hypothesis which predicts that the ratio of fluorescence to absorbance of the OPA-derivatives of proteolysis products can be used to identify the mode of hydrolysis. A number of proteinase enzymes of known specificity were used with a variety of protein substrates to substantiate this hypothesis. The data show that the mode of proteolysis was consistently identified; endoproteolysis results in ratios of ~ 3 while exoproteolysis shows ratios of ~ 15. Mixtures of exo- and endoproteinases result in rations of ~ 8 under the conditions employed in this work.
Epigenetic Reconstruction in Dreaming

Extensions of Freud's work by Jung, Silberer, French, Hall, and Erikson suggest the normal psychological function of dreaming to be the pre-rational processing of developmental tasks. Current research by the author seeks to codify how dreaming performs chis function. An exploratory hypothesis suggests a process of epigenetic reconstruction, defined as the preconscious re-differentiation and re-integration of pre-adaptive developmental achievements under pressure of problematic re-adaptive crises. Evidence of such a process is sought in structural configurations of reported manifest dreams of normal subjects, as interpreted by way of Erikson's schemata: the psychosexual zones and modes, the psychosocial modes and modalities, and the normal growth crises. Indications are encouraging that an epigenetic reconstruction process can be traced which complements the sleep-protective wishfulfillment process. For example, a normal female adolescent reported the following dream: An image of walking down 18th Street toward Barnes and Noble's. When I got there I kept looking around at all the people who were passing the bookstore. At first I was puzzled that I did not see anyone that I knew but soon I felt deserted and I began to cry. . . The next thing that I remember was the consciousness of being near a brook; the brook was running past me, and I was standing on a rock nearby. At first I just stood there, but eventually 1 began ro prepare to dive from the rock into the water, but I could not force myself to do so. The dreamer's associations reveal the "Barnes and Noble's" item to be a disguised expression of oedipal wishes. Simultaneously, structural analysis renders the following epigenetic transcription: The locomotor zone (walking) in association with the passive-incorporative mode (kept looking around at all the people who were passing) activates feelings of ambivalent trust (was puzzled that I did not see anyone I knew) and then feelings of mistrust (felt deserted). . . Then, the inhibited locomotor zone (standing on a rock . . . just stood there), in association with the passive incorporative mode ( the brook was running past me) activates an inhibition of the intrusive mode (1 began to dive but I could not force myself to do so) . Throughout there are ambivalent overtones of the phase specific identity crisis: she first looks for familiar others, and then finds puzzlement and desertion in aloneness. A process of ego synthesis may be inferred, which is consistent with theoretical expectations of normal female identity formation.
Neuroprotection for Huntington’s disease: Ready, set, slow

The ultimate goal for Huntington’s disease (HD) therapeutics is to develop disease-modifying neuroprotective therapies that can delay or prevent illness in those who are at genetic risk and can slow progression in those who are affected clinically. Neuroprotection is the preservation of neuronal structure, function, and viability, and neuroprotective therapy is thus targeted at the underlying pathology of HD, rather than at its specific symptoms. Preclinical target discovery research in HD is identifying numerous distinct targets, along with options for modulating them, with some proceeding into large-scale efficacy studies in early symptomatic HD subjects. The first pilot studies of neuroprotective compounds in premanifest HD are also soon to begin. This review discusses the opportunities for neuroprotection in HD, clinical methodology in premanifest and manifest HD, the clinical assessment of neuroprotection, molecular targets and therapeutic leads, and the current state of clinical development.
On increasing separated sequences

Abstract In this paper, we investigate some generalizations of normality and collectionwise normality. In particular, we answer a question of Balogh and Burke by showing that if there is a collectionwise normal space that is not countably metacompact, then there is a normal ↗ -collectionwise normal space that is not collectionwise normal. The proof is an application of a machine constructed by Rudin in [Fund. Math. 73 (1971) 179–186].
High-capacity data hiding in text documents

In today's digital world securing different forms of content is very important in terms of protecting copyright and verifying authenticity. One example is watermarking of digital audio and images. We believe that a marking scheme analogous to digital watermarking but for documents is very important. In this paper we describe the use of laser amplitude modulation in electrophotographic printers to embed information in a text document. In particular we describe an embedding and detection process which has the capability to embed 14 bits into characters that have a left vertical edge. For a typical 12 point document this translates to approximately 12000 bits per page.
Clinical impact of drug-eluting stents in changing referral practices for coronary surgical revascularization in a tertiary care center.

Abstract Background The long-term benefits of angioplasty are limited by the occurrence of restenosis. Drug-eluting stents with a projected restenosis rate of close to 0% are soon to become available. The short- and long-term consequences of this advance to the cardiac surgical volume remain unclear. Methods A total of 196 consecutive coronary angiograms and medical records of patients referred for coronary bypass surgery were reviewed. Considering the hypothetical premise of having drug-eluting stents with a near zero restenosis rate, we reviewed each case to determine if surgical revascularization was still the preferred option for revascularization. Results The mean age was 60 (±10.6) years. Seventy-two percent of patients were male. Considering the availability of drug-eluting stents 154 (79%) would still have been sent to surgery, representing a 21% decrease in the number of surgical revascularizations. Angiographic characteristics predicting coronary bypass revascularization were the presence of chronic total occlusion (odds ratio [OR]: 9.1; confidence interval [CI]: 2.1 to 39), left main coronary artery stenosis (OR: 9.6; CI: 1.27 to 73), and need for valvular surgery (OR: 7.38; CI: 1.3 to 157). The most common predictors of a change in clinical management from surgical to percutaneous revascularization if drug-eluting stents were available were diffuse coronary narrowing (OR: 15.78), restenotic lesions (OR: 27.86), and small coronary arteries (OR: 26). Conclusions Drug-eluting stents may have a significant impact on cardiac surgery volume (approximately a 21% decrease in our center). It may also direct patients with small vessels, diffuse narrowing, or restenotic lesions and diabetic patients to percutaneous therapy.
A compact self-similar power combining topology

A compact, modular 16-way combiner is presented which is based on a self-similar combiner topology. The combiner achieves a simulated passive efficiency of 38% at 77 GHz in a standard 90nm process with 1.49µm thick Al top metal. A 77 GHz power amplifier is built based on the combiner, combining the output power of 16 stages to achieve a P sat of 11.4dBm, small signal gain of 9.4dB, and a 3dB bandwidth of more than 11 GHz on a 0.7V supply, with the optimal MAG for the technology being approximately 5dB at 77 GHz. The power amplifier is unconditionally stable with the K factor exceeding 3.8 between 50–90 GHz. The entire architecture is based on a modular power splitting and combining network that makes the design flexible and scalable. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the highest P sat reported at 77 GHz in CMOS with a sub 1V quiescent V ds .
APTEEN: a hybrid protocol for efficient routing and comprehensive information retrieval in wireless

Wireless sensor networks with thousands of tiny sensor nodes, are expected to find wide applicability and increasing deployment in coming years, as they enable reliable monitoring and analysis of the environment. In this paper, we propose a hybrid routing protocol (APTEEN) which allows for comprehensive information retrieval. The nodes in such a network not only react to time-critical situations, but also give an overall picture of the network at periodic intervals in a very energy efficient manner. Such a network enables the user to request past, present and future data from the network in the form of historical, one-time and persistent queries respectively. We evaluated the performance of these protocols and observe that these protocols are observed to outperform existing protocols in terms of energy consumption and longevity of the network.
A paradigm for class identification problems

The following problem arises in many applications involving classification, identification, and inference. There is a set of objects X, and a particular x /spl isin/ X is chosen (unknown to us). Based on information obtained about x in a sequential manner, one wishes to decide whether x belongs to one class of objects A/sub 0/ or a different class of objects A/sub 1/. The authors study a general paradigm applicable to a broad range of problems of this type, which they refer to as problems of class identification or discernibility. They consider various types of information sequences, and various success criteria including discernibility in the limit, discernibility with a stopping criterion, uniform discernibility, and discernibility in the Cesaro sense. They consider decision rules both with and without memory. Necessary and sufficient conditions for discernibility are provided for each case in terms of separability conditions on the sets A/sub 0/ and A/sub 1/. They then show that for any sets A/sub 0/ and A/sub 1/, various types of separability can be achieved by allowing failure on appropriate sets of small measure. Applications to problems in language identification, system identification, and discrete geometry are discussed. >