cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability of Dynamical Systems with a Multiplicative White Noise

We discuss the behavior, for large values of time, of a class of linear mechanical systems with a white noise in their parameters. The initial conditions may be random as well but are independent of white noise. It is well known that a deterministic linear mechanical system with viscous damping is stable, i.e. its energy approaches zero as time increases. We calculate the expected energy and check that this behavior takes place in the case when the initial conditions are random but the parameters are not. When the parameters contain a random noise the expected energy may be infinite, approach zero, remain bounded, or increase with no bound. This regime is similar to but more interesting than the known regime for the solutions of differential equations with time-dependent periodic coefficients that describe the behavior of a mechanical system whose characteristics are periodic functions of time. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for stability of the systems considered in terms of the roots of an auxiliary equation. We explain why our approach may not be applied to some other models.
Interaction between dietary factors and Helicobacter pylori infection in noncardia gastric cancer: a population-based case-control study in China.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships among Helicobacter pylori, dietary factors, and the risk of noncardia gastric cancer in a hospital-based case-control study in China.Methods: A case-control study of noncardia gastric cancer was performed at 3 hospitals in Xi'an, China, between September 2008 and July 2010. Participants were 257 men and women with histologically diagnosed primary noncardia gastric cancer and 514 sex- and age-matched (± 5 years) control subjects selected from the communities where the cases were living when diagnosed. A questionnaire was used to obtain information regarding potential risk factors, including diet, and blood samples were obtained to examine H pylori infection status.Results: Positive H pylori status (odds ratio [OR], 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.8–5.9) and high consumption of pickled foods (OR, 27.1; 95%, 8.7–79.1) appeared to increase the risk of noncardia gastric cancer, whereas high consumption of vegetables (OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0...
Generation of Silicon Nanocolumns by Nanosecond Pulsed-Excimer Laser Irradiation and Their Field Emission Properties

Laser-generated silicon microcone arrays were used as templates for the growth of nanocolumns using laser irradiation as well. The formation mechanism of the microstructure is briefly reviewed, and the origin and growth of nanocolumns are discussed. The formation mechanism of nanocolumns requires highly localized melting, which explains why they fail to form on a flat surface but can grow atop the microcones. Field emission properties from both microcolumns and nanocolumns have been measured. The high aspect ratio (height/tip radius) of nanocolumns makes them suitable for various field emission applications.
Global register allocation for SIMD multiprocessors

It is relatively clear how to map regular, repetitive or grid oriented computations onto SIMD architectures. It is not so clear, however, how to do this for irregular computations even though there may be significant amount of intrinsic parallelism in branch free code. We study compilation techniques for this type of code when targeted to SIMD computer and illustrate their use on a simple model architecture.
Statistical Engineering, a Missing Ingredient in the Introductory Statistics Course

In this article, the author reviews recent advances in how we teach our introductory statistics courses.
Graphic User Interface for a Human Circulation Model

Numerical simulations are important tools for understanding the human circulation system in different states of heart failure and exercise, or with a cardiac assist device. However, its application is limited due to the complexity of the numerical model of the human circulation system. To overcome this difficulty, a Graphic User Interface (GUI) has been developed. The GUI was designed to be intuitive; users can set different scenarios using self-explanatory controls, without knowledge of the tasks done in the complex numerical model. The GUI will display the simulated hemodynamic response of the model. This GUI may be used for both education and medical/research purposes.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Impaired aldosterone secretion from dispersed adrenal capsular cells of chronically α-MSH-treated rats

Abstract To investigate the chronic effects of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) on aldosterone secretion, synthetic α-MSH (8 μg/day) was infused in Sprague-Dawley rats by miniosmotic pumps for 5 days. Saline was infused in equivalent volume for 5 days using the same type of pumps in the control group of rats. Aldosterone secretion from the capsular cells of the two groups was examined in the basal state and in response to various stimuli of aldosterone secretion. Aldosterone secretion in vitro from the α-MSH-treated rats was significantly impaired in response to all stimuli tested including cyclic AMP, suggesting an intracellular defect in aldosterone synthesis in that group. These results are similar to those observed after chronic adrenocorticotropin administration.
Kinetics of Sn whisker nucleation using thermally induced stress

We have simultaneously measured the evolution of stress and formation of whiskers/hillocks in Sn layers using stress induced by thermal-expansion mismatch. The formation kinetics suggest that whisker initiation is controlled by a nucleation process. We use measurements of the nucleation rate at different stresses and temperatures to determine quantitatively how the activation barrier for nucleation is decreased by the stress in the layer.
Biochemical effects of binding [(H2O)(NH3)5RuII]2+ to DNA and oxidation to[(NH3)5RuIII]n—DNA.

Abstract The reaction of [(H 2 O)(NH 3 ) 5 Ru II ] 2+ with calf thymus and salmon sperm DNA has been studied over a wide fange of transition metal ion concentrations. Kinetic studies revealcd a biphasic reaction with an initial fairly rapid coordination of the metal ion being followed by slower reactions. Binding studies were done under pseudo-equilibrium conditions following completion of the initial rapid reaction. Spectra and HPLC of acid-hydrolyzed samples of [(NH 3 ) 5 Ru II ] n -DNA prepared by incubation of [(H 2 O)(NH 3 ) 5 Ru II ] 2+ with DNA (where [P DNA ] = 1.5 mM and reactant [Ru II ]/[P DNA ] ratios were in the fange 0.1 to 0.3) followed by air oxidation showed the predominant binding site on helical DNA to be in the major groove at the N-7 of guanine. The equilibrium constant for [(H 2 O)(NH 3 ) 5 Ru II ] 2+ binding to the G 7 site in helical CT DNA is 5.1 x 103. Differential pulse voltammetry exhibited a single peak at 48 mV, which is attributed to the reduction of Rum on the G 7 sites. At [Run]/[P DNA ] Tm values for the DNA decreased linearly with increasing ruthenium concentration and an increase in the intensity of the 565 nm dG→ Ru(III) charge transfer band was noted upon melting. The UV and CD spectra of these samples indicated no extensive destacking or alteration in geometry (B family) compared to unsubstituted DNA. At [Run]/[P DNA ]〉 0.5 or when single-stranded DNA was used, increased absorbance at 530 nm and 480 nm suggested additional binding to the exocyclic amine sites of adenine and cytosine residues. HPLC and individual spectrophotometric identification of the products derived from hydrolysis of these spec~es yielded both [(Gua)(NH 3 ) 5 Ru III ] and [(Ade)(NH 3 ) 5 Ru III ]. Earlier studies have established the cytidine and adenosine binding sites of [(NH 3 ) 5 Ru III ] to be at their exocyclic amines (C4 and A6). Coordination to these positions indicates disruption of the double helix since these amines are involved in hydrogen bonding on the interior of B-DNA. Agrose gel electrophoresis of superhelical pBR322 plasmid DNA after exposure to various complexes of [(nh 3 ) 5 Ru iii ] in the presence of a reductant and air generally revealed moderately efficient cleavage of the DNA, presumably due to the generation of hydroxyl radical via Fenton's chemistry. However, similar studies involving [(NH 3 ) 5 Ru III ] directly coordinated to the DNA showed no strand cutting above background. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of a 381 bp, 3′- 32 P-labeled fragment of pBR322 plasmid DNA containing low levels of bound [(NH 3 ) 5 Ru III ] further indicated negligible DNA cutting by the coordinated metal ion.
Erg28p is a key protein in the yeast sterol biosynthetic enzyme complex

Previously, a microarray expression study in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae indicated that the ERG28 gene was strongly coregulated with ergosterol biosynthesis. Subsequently, Erg28p was shown to function as an endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane protein, acting as a scaffold to tether the C-4 demethylation enzymatic complex and also to interact with a downstream enzyme, Erg6p. To understand all possible protein interactions involving Erg28p in sterol biosynthesis, a yeast two-hybrid system designed to assess interactions between membrane proteins was used. The Erg28p fusion protein was used as bait to assess interactions with all 14 sterol biosynthetic proteins in a pairwise study based on two reporter systems as well as Western blots demonstrating the release of a transcription factor. Our results indicated that Erg28p not only interacted with the C-4 demethylation enzymes and Erg6p but also with Erg11p and Erg1p. Interactions between Erg28p and seven ergosterol biosynthetic enzymes were confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation experiments. Furthermore, by comparing the reporter gene expression levels, we demonstrate that Erg28p is most closely associated with Erg27p, Erg25p, Erg11p, and Erg6p and less with Erg26p and Erg1p. Based on these results, we suggest that many if not all sterol biosynthetic proteins may be tethered as a large complex.
Report of Committee on the Physics of Soil Moisture, 1952–1953

The report of the Committee is in two parts. The part below consists of a summary of research in progress on the physics of soil moisture. The Committee has also sponsored a paper and discussion on, Does Transpiration Decrease as the Soil Moisture Decreases?, a subject which has given rise to much controversial discussion in recent years. The Committee is indebted to F. J. Veihmeyer, President, Section of Hydrology, AGU, and A . H. Hendrickson, two pioneer investigators in this field, for submitting their point of view in the paper for subsequent discussion. This will be submitted soon for publication. The report of the research in progress and the geographical distribution of workers on the physics of soil moisture in agricultural colleges and departments in the United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico is as follows.
Identification and analysis of epimastigote surface and metabolic proteins in Trypanosoma cruzi

Metabolic and surface membrane proteins of four epimastigote-stage Trypanosoma cruzi clones were analyzed by one and two-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. No major inter-clonal differences were observed in the metabolic protein patterns, indicating that these proteins are highly conserved. However, marked quantitative and qualitative differences were observed in surface-labeled protein patterns following both one and two-dimensional electrophoretic analyses. Inter and intra-clonal differences in antigenic properties also were demonstrated by immunoprecipitation of the surface proteins with sera from animals immunized or infected with various T. cruzi stocks. Thus, a wide spectrum of both phenotypic and antigenic diversity exists in T. cruzi which may be relevant to problems of the diagnosis and immunotherapy of Chagas' disease.
Composite fermions without U(1)'s

Abstract We discuss a class of models that may produce masslesscomposite fermions which carry nonabelian unbroken chiral symmetries, but no chiral U(1) symmetries. We analyze these models both in the confining picture and in a variant of the most-attractive-channel picture.
The Maintenance of Fruiting Potential Through the Winter for ‘Merlot’ Grapevines Grown in Southwestern Michigan

Abstract Several cold-tender Vitis viniferawinegrape varieties afford wine marketing opportunities in cool climate viticultural regions. However, in some of these regions, their survival through the winter is a major challenge. The ‘Merlot’ variety, as it is grown in southwest Michigan, presents such a situation. Therefore, ‘Merlot’ vines on C3309 rootstock were evaluated on a southwest Michigan farm for a 5-year period to determine the ability of several treatments to preserve the fruiting potential of vines through the winter. Vines were managed with a combination of the fan training system and renewal spurs near the graft union so that trunk renewal canes near the graft union were capable of being laid along the ground. Treatments were: (a) Control-no fall vine manipulation, and pruning performed in the spring; (b) Canes Near Ground (CNG)-vines pruned to two-to-four trunk renewal canes per vine in the fall and tied to a trellis wire 20 cm above ground; (c) Straw Mulch (SM)-same as CNG except canes were...
Detection of Rydberg states in atomic uranium using time-resolved stepwise laser photoionization

We report the first observation of perturbed and unperturbed Rydberg progressions of atomic uranium. Highlying levels within 1000 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ of the ionization limit were accessed by time-resolved stepwise excitation using dye laser pulses tuned to resonant transitions. Atoms excited to these states were then photoionized by intense infrared radiation from a pulsed ${\mathrm{CO}}_{2}$ laser. The resultant photoion production was monitored. By delaying the infrared ionizing pulse, and thus discriminating against the shorter-lived valence states, we preferentially detected Rydberg levels with principal quantum numbers $n$ exceeding 60. Series convergence yields a value of the ionization limit of 6.1941 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.0005 eV, in fair agreement with the value of 6.1912 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.0025 eV obtained in photoionization studies. Ab initio calculations indicate that the unperturbed series belong to highly excited $5{f}^{3}7{s}^{2}\mathrm{np}$ and $\mathrm{nf}$ configurations.
Synthesis and low temperature transport properties of Mg2Ge1–ySby

We report on the synthesis and low temperature transport of Mg2Ge1–ySby with 0 ≤ y ≤ 0.33. In these materials Sb substitutes for Ge in the antifluorite structure. Electrical and thermal transport measurements indicate that as the Sb content increases, vacancies are formed on the Mg sites thereby contributing to variations in the transport properties. With increasing Sb content both the absolute Seebeck coefficient and electrical resistivity first decrease and then increase, while the thermal conductivity decreases monotonically. Hall measurements indicate this tendency is associated with vacancy formation at higher Sb concentrations. The lattice thermal conductivity is fitted using the Debye approximation in order to elucidate the effect of alloying. We discuss these results in terms of potential for thermoelectric applications. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Drugged Out. Globalization and Jamaica's Resilience to Drug Trafficking

Drugged Out. Globalization and Jamaica's Resilience to Drug Trafficking Suzette Haughton, Lanham, Maryland: University Press of America, 2011. Reviewed by Franklin W. Knight* * Department of Histor...
DOES METABOLIC THEORY APPLY TO COMMUNITY ECOLOGY? IT'S A MATTER OF SCALE

al. (2004), there were moments of insight, of enthusiastic consensus, and of strongly divergent opinion. We agreed that the empirical relations and scaling theory of Brown et al. (2004) hold great appeal because of their power to abstract and simplify some of the complexity of nature. The earth harbors several million species, each having unique aspects to its morphology, physiology, and life history. A fundamental goal of science is to simplify and explain such complexity. Brown et al. (2004) do just this. They have documented robust patterns relating the body size and temperature of species to their basal metabolic rate; plotted on loglog scales, these empirical functions are well fit by straight lines. Moreover, they have used these scaling relations to make numerous predictions about other patterns and processes, thus greatly extending an approach that already had been shown to have considerable power (e.g., Huxley 1932, McMahon and Bonner 1983, Peters 1983, May 1986). One question that generated considerable debate among us was whether metabolic scaling theory represents a fundamental mechanism that has shaped life on earth, or whether it is a description of correlated patterns of as yet poorly known causes. Brown et al. (2004) hypothesize that scaling relations have a fundamental basis that comes from the universality of metabolic activation energy and of the fractal branching networks that determine resource distribution within
MINIMUM QUADRATIC DISTANCE ESTIMATION FOR A PARAMETRIC FAMILY OF DISCRETE DISTRIBUTIONS DEFINED RECURSIVELY

Summary The distribution function of a random sum can easily be computed iteratively when the distribution of the number of independent identically distributed elements in the sum is itself defined recursively. Classical estimation procedures for such recursive parametric families often require specific distributional assumptions (e.g. Poisson, Negative Binomial). The minimum distance estimator proposed here is an estimator within a larger parametric family. The estimator is consistent, efficient when the parametric family is truncated, and can be made either robust or asymptotically efficient when the parametric family has infinite range. Its asymptotic distribution is derived. A brief illustration with Automobile Insurance data is included.
A probabilistic approach to distributed system management

Large-scale distributed systems are playing an increasing role in computational research, production operations, information processing, and application hosting. The continuous management of such systems is a critical consideration when focusing on reliability, availability, and security. As the number of commodity components within these systems continue to grow, it becomes increasingly difficult to track the multitude of parameters required to ensure optimal performance from the system, especially in those systems that have been built through expansion and not as an initial purchase of identical nodes. In this paper, we discuss the use of statistical inference, specifically Markov Logic Networks, in a distributed multi-agent system to provide the most effective means of managing these parameters. We showcase an architecture that provides services to manage a system's configuration throughout its life-cycle, and is capable of resolving differences after identifying potential mis-configurations using conflict discovery and resolution modules.
Vulnerabilities leading to denial of services attacks in grid computing systems: a survey

Grid is designed with no security in mind at first. The complexity and scalability of grid architecture make easy for intruders to attack the system in several ways. In this paper, we discuss several possible or known vulnerabilities existing in each layer of the grid system. Attackers can take advantage of such vulnerabilities to break into grid systems and exploit grid resource to launch Denial of Service attack targeting servers located outside the grid such as mission critical web servers, or internal node inside the grid by shutting down one of important grid components.
Luminescent groups in very weakly degraded polystyrene

Abstract Unstabilized polystyrene samples from various producers, as well as carefully purified laboratory polymers, have been investigated by u.v.-absorption, fluorescence, phosphorescence and i.r. spectroscopy. The emission spectra of all samples indicate fluorescent and phosphorescent chromophores. In u.v.-absorption, the chromophores give rise to a long wavelength tail below the absorption edge of the phenyl groups. The phosphorescence spectrum is due to acetophenone-type end-groups of degraded polymer chains. Ultra-violet-fluorescence is due to monomeric styrene and trans -stilbene groups which probably can be formed at head-to-head sites of the polymer. Fluorescence in the blue spectral region may be due to chromophores formed by conjugated double bonds and phenyl groups. The chromophores are present in all commercial samples investigated and, at smaller concentrations, in the laboratory products also.
Mutagenic action of aflatoxin B1 on transforming DNA and inhibition of DNA template activity in vitro.

AFLATOXIN, the generic name for a mixture of metabolites of certain strains of Aspergillus flavus, is acutely hepatotoxic and among the most potent rat liver carcinogens known1,2. The B1 form (Fig. 1) is the most abundant and most biologically active component3. In vivo studies in mammalian cells and in bacteria have shown that afiatoxin inhibits DNA4,5, RNA6–8and protein1,7,9 synthesis between 50 and 90 per cent. Spectrophotometry and equilibrium dialysis show that it can bind to bihelical and single-stranded DNA6–9 and its high toxicity and carcinogenicity are considered to be correlated with such interaction with DNA.
Crystallization behavior of starch‐filled polypropylene

Starches of different granule sizes, including corn, rice, and amaranth starches, were used to prepare starch-filled polypropylene (PP) and the effect of starch granule size on crystallization behavior PP was investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy were used to monitor the energy changes of the crystallization of the melt and to characterize the morphology of PP/starch composites, respectively. Little interaction was observed between starch and PP despite the difference in starch granule size. The crystallization temperature of PP decreased with the addition of starch and this decrease became more apparent with increasing starch granule size. During nonisothermal crystallization, the dependency of the relative degree of crystallinity on time was described by the Avrami equation. The addition of starch decreased the overall crystallization rate of PP, which was attributed to an increase in the activation energy of crystallization under nonisothermal conditions according to the Kissinger equation. An increase in starch granule size of starch would increase the crystallization activation energy of PP and consequently decrease its crystallization rate. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 484–492, 2004
Modelling Survival Data to Examine Length of Treatment Effectiveness in a Clinical Trial

In some clinical trials where the experimental treatment is found to be effective in increasing survival, an important question is how long should the patient remain under treatment. Although the trial may not be designed to specifically answer this question, comparisons of the hazard curves among the treatment groups can yield some useful information. The survival data may be modelled using a flexible set of hazard functions and specific models are then chosen for further examination. This paper illustrates the approach using data from the Beta-Blocker Heart Attack Trial. Parametric and semi-parametric models are fitted and likelihood methods are used to assess length of treatment effectiveness.
The “common pool” problem in tourism landscapes

Abstract Management of scenic and historic landscapes and other background tourism elements is problematic because they very frequently are what property rights theorists call “common pool” resources. They are characterized by susceptibility to overuse and resource damage and by lack of incentive for productivity-enhancing investment. Property rights theory describes three property rights regimes for managing such resources: privatization, management by government, and common property regimes. All three regimes are widely found in the case of tourism resources, and mixtures of regimes are frequently encountered. Common property regimes, which involve community control or reciprocal actions among individuals, appear to be the least common, yet such arrangements have interesting potential for addressing common pool problems.
Empirical data and regression analysis for estimation of infrastructure resilience, with application to electric power outages

Recent natural disasters have highlighted the need for increased planning for disruptive events. Forecasting damage and time that a system will be inoperable is important for disruption planning. The resilience of critical infrastructure systems, or their ability to recover quickly from a disruption, can mitigate adverse consequences of the disruption. This paper quantifies the resilience of a critical infrastructure sector through the dynamic inoperability input-output model (DIIM). The DIIM, which describes how inoperability propagates through a set of interdependent industry and infrastructure sectors following a disruptive event, includes a resilience parameter that has not yet been adequately assessed. This paper provides a data-driven approach to derive the resilience parameter through regression models. Data may contain different disruption scenarios, and regression models can incorporate these scenarios through the use of categorical or dummy variables. A mixed-effects model offers an alternate approach of accounting for these scenarios, and these models estimate parameters based on the combination of all scenarios (fixed effects) and an individual scenario (random effects). These regression models are illustrated with electric power outage data and a regional disruption that uses the DIIM to model production losses in Oklahoma following an electric power outage.
A Simple Continuous Review Deterministic One-Warehouse N-Retailer Inventory Problem

A one-warehouse N-retailer deterministic inventory system is examined. The objective is to determine the stocking policy which minimizes average system cost per unit time over the infinite time horizon. Necessary properties of an optimal policy are derived, and optimal solutions for the one-retailer and N identical retailer problems are given. Heuristic solutions for the general problem are suggested, tested against analytical lower bounds and, on the basis of these tests, found to be near optimal.
RADIATION SHIELDING FOR AN MP TANDEM ACCELERATOR INSTALLATION.

Abstract The efficacy of the radiation shielding for the Yale University Model MP Tandeḿ Van de Graaf Accelerator has been studied. The accelerator was used to produce 10 and 25 μA proton beams at 19.2 and 15 MeV respectively which were then allowed to strike a thick, water-cooled aluminum target. Neutron and γ-ray dose rates and neutron energy spectra were measured at various locations throughout the accelerator building; the shielding was found to be satisfactory.
PILOT, the NBS multicomputer system

At The National Bureau of Standards (NBS), a new large-scale digital system has been designed for carrying out a wide range of experimental investigations that are of special importance to the Government. The system can be utilized for investigating new or stringent applications of these general types: 1. data-processing applications, in which the system can be used for performing accounting and information-retrieval operations for management purposes; 2. mathematical applications, in which the system, can be used for performing mathematical calculations for scientific purposes, including scientific data-reduction; 3. control applications, in which the system can be used for performing realtime control and simulation operations, in conjunction with analog computer facilities or in conjunction with other instrument installations, remotely located if necessary; and 4. network applications, in which the system can be used in conjunction with other digital computer facilities, forming an interconnected communication network in which all the machines can work together collaboratively on large-scale problems that are beyond the reach of any single machine.
Photochemical Reactions and Phototoxicity of Sterols: Novel Self‐perpetuating Mechanism for Lipid Photooxidation

Sterols are important lipid components that may contribute to phototoxicity. We have found that phototoxic response in earthworms is related to sterols extractable with lipophilic solvents. The photochemically active compounds in worm lipids are 5,7,9(11),22-ergostatetraen-3 beta-ol (9-DHE) and 5,7,9(11)-cholestartien-3 beta-ol (9-DDHC), respectively. Human skin lipids are known to contain 9-DHE. We have also found 9-DDHC in human skin, which is reported here for the first time. In the presence of an excess of the corresponding 5,7-dienes (ergosterol of 7-dehydrocholesterol), these photoactive sterols constitute a self-regenerating source of singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) during irradiation in vivo or in vitro with UVA (315-400 nm). The quantum yield for photosensitization of 1O2 by 9-DHE was estimated to be 0.09. The 1O2 is scavenged by the dienes and the rate constant for 1O2 quenching by ergosterol was found to be 1.2 x 10(7) M-1 s-1 in methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE). This scavenging ultimately leads to the production of 5,8-endoperoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Photochemically induced superoxide radical was also produced on irradiation of sterol 5,7,9-trienes and trapped with the spin trap 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). The production of singlet oxygen, peroxides and radicals by the sterols may be significant in the cell damaging and tumor promoting action of UVA light on skin.
Deformation Response of Unsymmetrically Laminated Plates Subjected to Inplane Loading

This paper discusses the out-of-plane deformation behavior of unsymmetric cross-ply composite plates compressed inplane by displacing one edge of the plate a known amount. The plates are assumed to be initially flat and several boundary conditions are considered. Geometrically nonlinear behavior is assumed. The primary objectives are to study the out-of-plane behavior as a function of increasing inplane compression and to determine if bifurcation behavior and secondary buckling can occur. It is shown that, depending on the boundary conditions, both can occur, though the characteristics are different than the pre and post-buckling behavior of a companion symmetric cross-ply plate. Furthermore, while a symmetric cross-ply plate can postbuckle with either a positive or negative out-of-plane displacement, the unsymmetric cross-ply plates studied deflect out-of-plane only in one direction throughout the range of inplane compression, the direction again depending on the boundary conditions
Secretion of prorenin by a virilizing ovarian tumor.

Abstract A-53-year-old normotensive, normokalemic female presented with a 6-month history of virilization. Estradiol, LH, FSH, urinary-free cortisol, and DHEA-S levels were normal. Pelvic ultrasound and computerized tomography were also within normal limits. Her serum testosterone (551 ng/dl; nl, 20–70) and plasma prorenin (124 ng A 1 /ml/hr; nl,
Exacerbated and prolonged inflammation impairs wound healing and increases scarring

Altered inflammation in the early stage has long been assumed to affect subsequent steps of the repair process that could influence proper wound healing and remodeling. However, the lack of explicit experimental data makes the connection between dysregulated wound inflammation and poor wound healing elusive. To bridge this gap, we used the established rabbit ear hypertrophic scar model for studying the causal effect of dysregulated inflammation. We induced an exacerbated and prolonged inflammatory state in these wounds with the combination of trauma-related stimulators of pathogen-associated molecular patterns from heat-killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa and damage-associated molecular patterns from a dermal homogenate. In stimulated wounds, a heightened and lengthened inflammation was observed based on quantitative measurements of IL-6 expression, tissue polymorphonuclear leukocytes infiltration, and tissue myeloperoxidase activity. Along with the high level of inflammation, wound healing parameters (epithelial gap and others) at postoperative day 7 and 16 were significantly altered in stimulated wounds compared to unstimulated controls. By postoperative day 35, scar elevation of stimulated wounds was higher than that of control wounds (scar elevation index: 1.90 vs. 1.39, p < 0.01). Moreover, treatment of these inflamed wounds with Indomethacin (at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1, and 0.4%) reduced scar elevation but with adverse effects of delayed wound closure and increased cartilage hypertrophy. In summary, successful establishment of this inflamed wound model provides a platform to understand these detrimental aspects of unchecked inflammation and to further test agents that can modulate local inflammation to improve wound outcomes.
Selective Cu2+/Ascorbate‐Dependent Oxidation of Alzheimer's Disease β‐Amyloid Peptides

This review summarizes tandem mass spectrometric investigations on the selectivity of metal-catalyzed oxidation of beta-amyloid peptide (betaAP) and related sequences. A remarkable feature of the Cu(2+)/ascorbate-dependent oxidation of these peptides is the switch from predominantly His oxidation in the neurotoxic peptide betaAP1-40 to predominantly Tyr oxidation in the nonneurotoxic reverse sequence betaAP40-1. Within betaAP1-40, His(13) and His(14) of the high-affinity Cu(2+)-binding site are most sensitive to oxidation. Eventually, the oxidation of one or both of these His residues could result in a less redox-active betaAP-Cu(2+) complex, lowering the incidence of betaAP-Cu(2+)-dependent Fenton-type reactions for the benefit of surrounding biological tissue.
Entanglement between light and matter

Two projects in progress will be presented: the generation and detection of quantum superpositions of a tiny optical mirror, and the optical study of artificial atoms and simple molecules
Pathogenesis of Menière's disease

While endolymphatic hydrops is a characteristic pathologic feature of Meniere's disease, there are exceptions to this rule. There is evidence that hydrops develops as a result of malabsorption of endolymph. This implies dysfunction of the endolymphatic sac and duct, which normally absorb endolymph. In approximately 20% of cases of Meniere's disease, a specific pathologic condition in the temporal bone can be associated as a cause of endolymphatic hydrops. Syphilis, fractures of the temporal bone, otosclerosis, and preceding chronic otitis media are some of the more commonly encountered pathologic conditions so associated. Hypoplasia of the mastoid air-cell system and of periaqueductal air cells, and especially displacement medially but also anteriorly of the sigmoid (lateral) sinus are commonly observed in patients with Meniere's disease. Evidence is available to substantiate the etiologic bases of Meniere's disease as including multifactorial inheritance (1). The clinical symptoms and findings result from both chemical and physical mechanisms. Pathogenesis appears to be due to malabsorption of endolymph in the environment of the endolymphatic sac, primarily affecting longitudinal flow. The possible role of such processes as autoimmune reactions and viral inflammation, especially in the endolymphatic sac, should be further investigated in the future.
Patterns of Contact and Cooperation Between Juvenile Probation Officers and Parents of Youthful Offenders

This study documents patterns of contact between juvenile probation officers and parents and examines factors associated with officer judgments about parental cooperation. Data for the study was derived from a Web-based survey of probation officers (N = 308) who reported their use of probation strategies with specific youths identified from their caseloads. Results showed that parent contacts were predicted by parent and youth drug use, parent and youth cooperation, and officer attitudes favoring punishment. Parental cooperation with probation processes was predicted by youth and parent drug use problems, parent offending history, youth cooperation, and race. Results of this study point to the need for evidence-based strategies to promote parental involvement for high risk and high need families.
Ca2+ Permeation of AMPA Receptors in Cerebellar Neurons Expressing Glu Receptor 2

AMPA receptors in cultured cerebellar neurons were characterized by whole-cell electrophysiological studies and single cell PCR-based quantitation of subunit mRNA expression. Purkinje neurons consistently expressed high levels of Glu receptor 2 (GluR2) mRNA and AMPA receptors with low but nonzero Ca2+ permeability. Other cerebellar neurons expressed AMPA receptors with a wide range of Ca2+ permeability and of fractional GluR2. These properties correlated on a cell-by-cell basis. Their relationship was well fit by a model that assumed stochastic assembly of subunits and GluR2 dominance in controlling divalent cation permeation, suggesting that AMPA receptor properties in individual neurons may be determined primarily by relative levels of subunit transcription. A fraction of receptors, lacking GluR2, can contribute a highly Ca2+-permeable component to AMPA receptor responses, even in cells expressing GluR2.
Improved Low-Complexity Fusion Receivers for Synchronous DS-CDMA Sensor Networks

We present two new low-complexity Bayesian-fusion linear receiver structures for synchronous non-orthogonal DS-CDMA wireless sensor networks. The first receiver treats the underlying hypothesis as a system parameter and estimates it to arrive at a global decision. The second receiver is similar to the MMSE multiuser detector, except that it accounts for the covariance between the sensors' transmitted bits in the system model. Both receivers correctly exploit the covariance among the local decisions to achieve improved performance. We evaluate the receivers' performance in the presence of local-sensor and channel errors due to multiple-access interference (MAI), Rayleigh fading, and noise and show that their performance exceeds that of all of the suboptimal receivers proposed in S.K. Jayaweera (Jan 2005).
CALCINATION OF TOPAZ ORE IN A ROTARY KILN

Reports have indicated that calcined topaz might be useful as substitute material for Indian kyanite in high aluminous, mullite-type refractories. Tests were conducted to determine the value of calcining and defluorinating raw topaz. Fifteen tons of minus 1-in. topaz ore were calcined in a 25-ft. rotary kiln of 20-in. in inside diameter, at 2600° to 2950°C., with feed rate of 200 to 400 1b. per hour and feed retention in the kiln of 70 to 120 minutes. The best operating conditions were found to be 2700°F. and a feed rate of 300 1b. per hour at 0.90 r.p.m. of kiln rotation. The average fluorine content was 0.24% and the apparent porosity was 19%. A dust loss of 11% occurred during calcination, but no serious reduction in particle size occurred from the heat-treatment. It seems to be practicable, therefore, to calcine and defluorinate raw topaz in a rotary kiln and to obtain a product suitable for the manufacture of mullite-type refractories.
Effects of Growth Conditions on Secondary Phases in CZTSe Thin Films Deposited by Co-evaporation

High temperature multi-source co-evaporation has been the most successful approach to fabricate record efficiency Cu(InGa)Se2 devices, yet many groups have been unable to replicate this success when transferring these methods to the Cu2ZnSnSe4 system. The difficulties stem from the dramatic differences in the thermochemical properties which result in decomposition and loss of volatile species, such as Zn and SnSe, at temperatures needed for growth. In co-evaporation, decomposition and element loss must be managed throughout the entire growth process, from the back contact interface to the final terminating surface of the film. The beginning and ending phases of deposition encompass different kinetic regimes suggesting a phased approach to growth may be helpful. A series of depositions with different effusion profiles were used to demonstrate the effects of decomposition during different stages of growth. Secondary phase detection can be challenging in CZTSe, but a combination of SEM imaging and thin cross-section depth profile by EDS were found to best identify and locate the secondary phases that occur during different phases of growth for co-evaporated Cu2ZnSnSe4 films. Deposition with a uniform incident flux followed by shuttered vacuum cool-down yielded films with a ZnSe phase at the absorber/Mo interface and Cu-rich composition at the surface of the exposed film. Devices from these absorber layers never exceeded conversion efficiencies of 1%. Decomposition at the surface could be prevented by continuing effusion of Se and Sn during the cool-down of the substrate. Resulting films demonstrated more faceted grains as well as significantly improved device performance. Secondary phases that traditionally form at the back contact during the beginning of growth were minimized by decreasing the substrate temperature to 300°C during the initial stages of deposition which reduced the ZnSe formed at the Mo interface. The thermochemical origin of the secondary phases will be discussed and the performance of representative devices will be presented.
Onchocerca retinol- and ivermectin-binding protein activity.

The presence of retinol-binding protein (RBP) activity in Onchocerca cervicalis adult worms and interaction with ivermectin has been studied using high pressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC). Four distinct peaks of [ 3 H]-retinol incorporation were obtained corresponding to approximate molecular weights of 150, 67, 19.7 and 4.6 kDa, the 2 smaller M r peaks accounting for most of the binding activity. Competition for binding using non-labelled retinol at 200-fold molar excess indicated that specific binding of retinol occurred only to the 19.7 kDa fraction. Competition by ivermectin also inhibited binding of [ 3 H]-retinol to the third peak. Following incubation with [ 3 H]-ivermectin 4 peaks of similar molecular weights were also detected by HPSEC in soluble adult worm homogenate, However, in this case the 150 kDa fraction was most prominent. Both non-labelled ivermectin and non-labelled retinol at 200-fold molar excess reduced binding of [ 3 H]-ivermectin to all 4 fractions. These data indicate that the putative Onchocerca RBP has an approximate molecular weight of 19.7 kDa, that retinol also binds to 3 additional fractions non-specifically, that the pattern of binding of ivermectin to adult worm material is quantitatively and qualitatively different from the binding exhibited by retinol, and that ivermectin interferes with the binding of retinol to the 19.7 kDa Onchocerca protein.
Gain without Inversion: An Approach for THz Quantum Cascade Laser?

Using a microscopic theory based on the Maxwell-semiconductor Bloch equations, we investigate the possibilities of optically driven QCLs. We show that in a four level cascaded-emission scheme, quantum coherence effects can yield gain without inversion
Ensuring control integrity of critical systems subjected to electromagnetic disturbances: problem overview

An assessment process for verifying the control integrity of critical flight systems in adverse, as well as nominal, operating environments is currently under development at the NASA Langley Research Center. The assessment process involves a combination of analysis, simulation and tests, and it addresses: 1) closed-loop operation of the controller under test, 2) real-time dynamic detection of controller malfunctions, and 3) the resulting effects on the aircraft relative to the stage of flight, flight conditions, and required operational performance. Closed-loop high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF) effects experiments were performed on a fault tolerant flight control computer. This paper presents an overview of the problem of ensuring the integrity of critical control systems operating in harsh electromagnetic environments, and an approach for the assessment of these systems. A description of the closed-loop HIRF experiments and closed-loop effects on the simulated flight of the aircraft are also presented.
Experimental Study of Electrostatic Aerosol Filtration at Moderate Filter Face Velocity

Aerosol collection efficiency was studied for electrostatically charged fibrous filters (3M Filtrete™, BMF-20F). In this study, collection efficiencies at moderate filter face velocities (0.5–2.5 m/s) representative of some high volume sampling applications was characterized. Experimental data and analytical theories of filter performance are less common in this flow regime since the viscous flow field assumption may not be representative of actual flow through the filter mat. Additionally, electrostatic fiber charge density is difficult to quantify, and measurements of aerosol collection efficiency are often used to calculate this fundamental parameter. The purpose of this study was to assess the relative influence of diffusion, inertial impaction, interception, and electrostatic filtration on overall filter performance. The effects of fiber charge density were quantified by comparing efficiency data for charged and uncharged filter media, where an isopropanol bath was used to eliminate electrostatic cha...
On generating tests to cover diverse worst-case timing corners

With process variations, timing behavior may vary from chip to chip. This paper investigates the problem of generating test patterns to cover potentially diverse worst-case timing corners. We focus the work on a specific problem formulation where the delay of a path can be affected by k aggressors. We demonstrate that the search space for such a problem can be quite complex. We study various methods to guide the test generation. We show that with different chips having different worst-case corners, it may not be affordable to search for the tests to expose all these corners. Experimental results are presented to explain the problem formulation, the test generation methods, and the limitation on what we can achieve for solving the problem.
Packaging of high-density fiber/laser modules using passive alignment techniques

A novel method for packaging a laser-fiber module is explored in which the critical laser-fiber alignment is carried out not with the usual active means, i.e., with the laser activated, but by a passive method based on the registration principles of photolithography. The novel method relies on an index scheme in which fiducial marks are lithographically placed on the laser chip and on a fiber carrier. At 850 nm, using the index technique with cleaved multimode fibers, it has been possible to achieve the same laser-fiber coupling efficiency as attained by active alignment; with cleaved single-mode fibers about 80% of the active-alignment coupling efficiency was achieved. Details of the novel index-alignment method are discussed, and a brief description of an improved computer-controlled version of the apparatus is given. >