cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Contain the Wealthy and Patrol the Magistrates: Restoring Elite Accountability to Popular Government

Modern republics neglect to establish formal institutions that prevent wealthy citizens from exerting excessive political influence and they abandon extra-electoral techniques traditionally employed to keep office-holders accountable. Inspired by Guicciardini's and Machiavelli's reflections on the Roman, Venetian, and Florentine constitutions, this article highlights three forgotten practices that facilitate popular control of both economic and political elites: magistrate appointment procedures combining lottery and election, offices or assemblies excluding the wealthy from eligibility, and political trials enlisting the entire citizenry in prosecutions and appeals. I present a typology of regimes that evaluates the wealth containment potential of various magistrate selection methods, and propose a hypothetical reform supplying the U.S. Constitution with a “Tribunate” reminiscent of elite-accountability institutions in pre-eighteenth-century popular governments.
Validation of High Displacement Piezoelectric Actuator Finite Element Models

The paper presents the results obtained by using NASTRAN(Registered Trademark) and ANSYS(Regitered Trademark) finite element codes to predict doming of the THUNDER piezoelectric actuators during the manufacturing process and subsequent straining due to an applied input voltage. To effectively use such devices in engineering applications, modeling and characterization are essential. Length, width, dome height, and thickness are important parameters for users of such devices. Therefore, finite element models were used to assess the effects of these parameters. NASTRAN(Registered Trademark) and ANSYS(Registered Trademark) used different methods for modeling piezoelectric effects. In NASTRAN(Registered Trademark), a thermal analogy was used to represent voltage at nodes as equivalent temperatures, while ANSYS(Registered Trademark) processed the voltage directly using piezoelectric finite elements. The results of finite element models were validated by using the experimental results.
New Process to Simultaneously Measure, Quantify, and Model Energy Efficient Performance

The term Energy Efficient Performance has been used for over a decade to describe high performance at optimized power levels. While power characterization methods and formal performance assessment techniques are well established and utilized, no standard exists to quantify both metrics simultaneously as a means to establish energy efficient performance. As energy budgets continue to shrink and the expectation for increased performance remains, the need for a process that simultaneously models power versus performance tradeoffs becomes ever more critical. This paper describes a new process developed, prototyped, and implemented in Intel's client post-Si validation labs that is actively being used to measure, process, and model energy efficient performance. The paper will describe methods that simultaneously acquire power and performance measurements, post-process that power data into energy measurements, and model multi-dimensional energy vs. performance tradeoffs. It will also demonstrate how the process is actively being applied to isolate negative energy efficient performance outliers for debug and to tune for best energy efficient performance across multiple product segments.
Computational Insights Into Cytoskeletal Rheology

Cytoskeletal rheology is critical in the interaction of cells with their environment. It influences cell migration, mechanotransduction, and the ability of the cell to transmit externally applied forces. Models for cell mechanics have progressed considerably in recent years, and are now capable of simulating the effects of thermal fluctuations, cross-linking, and stresses generated by motor activity, all thought to be important determinants of cytoskeletal viscoelastic behavior. At the same time, model systems such as reconstituted actin gels have been used to gain insight into the factors that give rise to the unique cytoskeletal behavior. Of interest in this regard are: (i) the unique power-law rheology observed in the linear stress regime, (ii) nonlinear strain stiffening, (iii) fluidization that occurs above some critical level of stress, beyond which the modulus falls precipitously, and (iv) the role of prestress on cell stiffness. Here we present results from recent models that address each of these phenomena. We show through modeling that (i) thermal fluctuations of actin filaments are important only at low levels of prestress and small values of the ratio of persistence length to distance between cross-links, (ii) power-law rheology appears to emerge as a consequence of motor-induced prestress and cross-links, (iii) in the strain-stiffening regime, prestress is the primary determinant of network modulus, (iv) cross-link rupture rather than unfolding accounts for network remodeling and stress relaxation behavior, (v) motor activity generates prestress, but also has a strong influence on network morphology and the formation of stress fibers. [Support from the Sumsung Scholarship Program (to TYK) and the NIH (GM076689) is gratefully acknowledged.]
A new assay and solubilization procedure for steroid 17,20-lyase from rat testes

We report an assay for testicular 17,20-lyase which depends on the use of [21-14C]progesterone as a substrate. The method is made possible by a simplified procedure for the synthesis of [21-14C]progesterone. A chromatographic separation of the unreacted substrate and the 2-carbon by-product on mini silica gel columns permitted a quantitative assay of the lyase activity. The lyase complex from rat testes has been solubilized by treatment with Triton CF-54 detergent. The solubilized enzyme complex catalyzes the formation of androstenedione (4-androstene-3,17-dione) from progesterone without equilibrium with added 17-hydroxyprogesterone and the solubilized enzyme complex responds to the presence of cytosol activator. Both of these characteristics are similar to the properties of the intact microsomes. Thus, solubilization with this detergent preserves the special properties of the microsome bound enzyme complex.
Electron-Beam Written Multilevel Resist Process Applied To GaAs FET Gate Fabrication

Quarter-micron GaAs FET gate lithography is feasible with high throughput using a 0.25 micron electron beam system and a high sensitivity negative e-beam resist recently introduced by Shipley. The multilevel resist process described here has been used to fabricate microwave MODFETs with 280 mW/mm output power and 6 dB gain at 40 GHz, and microwave ICs with typical MESFET performance of 420 mW/mm output power and 6 dB gain at 18 GHz. Advantages of the described process are: 1) Good linewidth control with a 0.25 micron beam; 0.25 +/- 0.05 microns is routinely achieved based upon SEM photos and electrical measurements. 2) Only one evaporation step is required prior to gate metal deposition; a thin layer of evaporated gold eliminates charging during the e-beam writing and also serves as a plating base for a plated transfer layer. 3) The transfer layer is made of low stress plated nickel, which has very low dry etch rates in chlorine and fluorine based plasmas. This provides good linewidth control throughout gate processing. 4) The material used for the planarizing layer can be selected depending upon the application; PMGI, PMMA and cured novolac resist have been evaluated.
Sampling To Predict Fungal Epizootics in Cotton Aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae)

We monitored prevalence of Neozygites fresenii (Nowakowski) Batko in populations of cotton aphids, Aphis gossypii Glover, during a 3-yr period and used these data to develop sampling strategies for predicting aphid population decline caused by disease. Aphid populations began to decline when average fungal prevalence (percentage of fungus-killed aphids) reached approximately 15%. Populations declined to low levels 5-16 d later. Declines were more rapid in fields with higher initial densities of aphids. Fungus-killed aphids were detectable up to 10 d before prevalences reached approximately 15%. Detection at this early stage required (theoretically) the examination of 70-150 leaves per field (95% probability of detection). However, a sample size of only 4-5 leaves was required for detection after prevalence reached 4%, which would be expected to occur approximately 4 d before initial decline of aphid populations. With microscopic examination of 100 aphids per leaf, detection of fungus-infected aphids (95% probability) required between 9 and 17 leaf samples 10 d before decline of aphid populations, but only 1 sample was required 4 d before decline of aphid populations. During early stages of epizootics (prevalences <15%), fungal prevalences were greater on leaves 6 nodes below terminals, compared with leaves at the 1st or 2nd positions below terminals. During this time, fungal prevalences were correlated in subsamples collected 2 m apart. In samples collected 100 m apart during the very early stages of epizootics (prevalences <1%), distributions of infected aphids were clumped in 1 of 3 sample fields. These results underscore the importance of representative sampling of cotton fields if the goal is early prediction of epizootics.
Sway Reduction on Quay-side Container Cranes Using Delayed Feedback Controller: Simulations and Experiments

Traditionally, a container crane is modeled as a simple pendulum with either a flexible or a rigid hoisting cable, and a lumped mass at the end of the cable. However, in the case of quay-side container cranes, the actual configuration of the hoisting mechanism is significantly different; it consists typically of a set of four hoisting cables. The cables are hoisted from four different points on a trolley and are attached on the load side to four points on a spreader bar used to lift containers. A controller design based on the actual model will most likely result in a response superior to those based on simple pendulum models. In this paper, we develop a mathematical model of the actual quay-side container crane. A simplified model is then used to obtain the gain and time delay for a delayed feedback controller, which will be used for the control of payload sway oscillation. Performance of the controller is simulated on a 1/10th scale computer model of a 65 ton container crane using the full model. Simula...
Identification of complex genomic breakpoint junctions in the t(9;11) MLL-AF9 fusion gene in acute leukemia

The MLL gene at chromosome 11, band q23, is involved in translocations with as many as 40 different chromosomal bands. Virtually all breakpoints occur within an 8.3 kb BamHI fragment and result in 5' MLL fused to partner genes in a 5'-3' orientation. The translocation t(9;11)(p22;q23), which results in the fusion of MLL to AF9, is the most common of the 11q23 chromosomal abnormalities observed in de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML), in therapy related leukemia (t-AML), and rarely in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We have studied 24 patients with a t(9;11) and an MLL rearrangement, including 19 patients with AML, four with t-AML, and one with ALL. To understand the mechanisms of this illegitimate recombination, we cloned and sequenced the t(9;11) translocation breakpoint junctions on both derivative chromosomes from one AML patient and from the Mono Mac 6 (MM6) cell line, which was derived from a patient with AML. Two different complex junctions were noted. In the AML patient, both chromosome 11 and 9 breaks were staggered, occurred in Alu DNA sequences, and resulted in a 331 bp duplication. In the MM6 cell line, breaks in chromosomes 11 and 9 were also staggered, but, in contrast to the finding in the AML patient, the breaks did not involve Alu DNA sequences and resulted in a 664 bp deletion at the breakpoints. Using reverse transcriptase (RT-) PCR, we analyzed 11 patient samples, including the two just described, for MML-AF9 fusions. The fusion occurred in six of seven AML patients, two of two t-AML patients, one patient with ALL, and in the MM6 cell line. Interestingly, all of the breaks within the AF9 gene in AML patients occurred in the central AF9 exon, called Site A by others, whereas in the single ALL patient the breakpoint mapped to a more 3' region of the AF9 gene. Our data, when combined with those of others, suggest that the fusion point within the AF9 gene, and thus the amount of AF9 material included in the MLL-AF9 fusion gene product, may influence the phenotype of the resulting leukemia. This further supports the proposal that the MML translocation partner genes play a critical role in the leukemogenic process.
DNA electrophoresis in uncross-linked polyacrylamide solution, studied by epifluorescence microscopy

Abstract Electrophoresis of human DNA fragments (approximately 1 · 1010 to 1 · 107 bases in size) was conducted in a solution of uncross-linked polyacrylamide contained in a horizontally mounted 1 mm diameter glass tube and monitored by epifluorescence microscopy. In presence of the polymer, molecular conformations described as a “trailing network” of DNA and a globular “head” were observed. The migration velocity varies between species differing in the size of the “head”, and in the ratio between the size of the “head” and that of the trailing “network”. By contrast, in pure buffer, λ phage DNA migrates in a globular form at a mobility consistent with known macroscopic data. When electrophoresis in the polymer solution of an agarose plug preparation of Schizosaccharomyces pombe DNA was carried out after melting at 70°C, a migrating DNA-agarose complex was observed. The complex was not fully dissociated by an agarose-hydrolyzing enzyme (Gelase).
Leg Strength Declines With Advancing Age Despite Habitual Endurance Exercise in Active Older Adults

Age-associated loss of muscle mass (sarcopenia) and strength (dynapenia) is associated with a loss of independence that contributes to falls, fractures, and nursing home admissions, whereas regular physical activity has been suggested to offset these losses. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of habitual endurance exercise on muscle mass and strength in active older adults. A longitudinal analysis of muscle strength (≈4.8 years apart) was performed on 59 men (age at start of study: 58.6 ± 7.3 years) and 35 women (56.9 ± 8.2 years) who used endurance running as their primary mode of exercise. There were no changes in fat-free mass although body fat increased minimally (1.0-1.5%). Training volume (km·wk, d·wk) decreased in both the men and women. There was a significant loss of both isometric knee extension (≈5% per year) and knee flexion (≈3.6% per year) strength in both the men and women. However, there was no significant change in either isokinetic concentric or eccentric torque of the knee extensors. Our data demonstrated a significant decline in isometric knee extensor and knee flexor strength although there were no changes in body mass in this group of very active older men and women. Our data support newer exercise guidelines for older Americans suggesting resistance training be an integral component of a fitness program and that running alone was not sufficient to prevent the loss in muscle strength (dynapenia) with aging.
CHEMICAL STUDIES ON HOST-VIRUS INTERACTIONS : I. THE EFFECT OF BACTERIOPHAGE ADSORPTION ON THE MULTIPLICATION OF ITS HOST, ESCHERICHIA COLI B WITH AN APPENDIX GIVING SOME DATA ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE BACTERIOPHAGE, T2.

The addition of active or irradiated T2 bacteriophage and T4 bacteriophage to E. coli B stops bacterial multiplication. The respiratory rate and respiratory quotient of the inhibited bacteria remained at the values observed just before infection. A respiratory rate decrease which occasionally appears can be roughly correlated with change of turbidity of the suspension. An intracellular inhibitor of multiplication appears to be liberated into lysates. A similar substance has been separated from normal E. coli B after sonic disintegration. These bacteriostatic preparations contain cytoplasmic granules with lactic acid dehydrogenase activity. The relationship of these phenomena to the interference effect in this system and others has been considered.
Glacial erosion at the fjord onset zone and implications for the organization of ice flow on Baffin Island, Arctic Canada

Abstract Organized conduits of fast ice flow at the fringe of present and past ice sheets move the majority of ice from ice sheet interior to periphery. These relatively narrow corridors play a critical role in feedbacks between landscape evolution and ice sheet dynamics. Here we combine bedrock 10 Be concentrations with distribution of lakes on Baffin Island, Arctic Canada, to constrain the pattern of glacial modification at a fjord onset zone — the region of increasing relief from the continental interior to the fjord head. High lake density and a lack of 10 Be inheritance in the valley bottom indicate significant glacial scouring for some duration of the last glacial cycle. In contrast, 10 Be inheritance and a lack of lakes at higher elevations indicate a lack of glacial scour and only slight glacial modification despite the entire region being covered by the Laurentide Ice Sheet during the last glaciation. This pattern of glacial erosion at the fjord onset zone is similar to what is found in the outer fjords ∼ 100 km toward the last glacial maximum ice margin, and indicates that ice flow becomes organized well inland from the fjorded coast. The relief-generating process of selective linear erosion occurs at the fjord onset zone and was responsible for evolving Baffin Island fjords even in the late Quaternary.
An algebra of probability over finite product spaces, with applications

Abstract An algebra is developed for manipulating data in the form of a collection of probability distributions each member of which is defined on a Cartesian product of finite sets. This algebra is applied to problems of probabilistic database management and to problems of decision making under partial uncertainty. Examples are presented.
Self-disclosure patterns of the nonobviously stigmatized.

Summary.-Self-revelation patterns of epileptics who had their seizures under clrug control were examined with questionnaire and interview procedures. Parents were found to be the clearly preferred targets for self-disclosure generally and for health-related information in particular. As expected, all respondents chose not to reveal rheir stigmatized condition to at least some persons significant to their life space, although as a group they varied in rheir openness to others. Negative attitudes on the part of parents toward epilepsy and toward revelation of the condition ourside the family were seen to encourage a sense of secretiveness and social withdrawal. The term "stigma" has been used in recent sociological (Goffman, 1963), social psychological (Kleck, et dl., 1966), and anthropological (Gussow & Tracy, 1968) literature to refer ro any attribute of a person which discredits him in some way. Goffman (1963) identifies three general categories of persons who are different from others in an "undejirable way": (1) the physically deviant; - (2 ) chose suffering aberrations of character or personality; and (3 ) those whose race, religion, or nationalicy is negatively valued by the society in which they live. Jn Goffman's analysis of the social-psychological implications of stigma an important aspect of a stigma condition concerns its visibility to others. The problems faced by the person who has a visible failing and those faced by the individual whose failing car be easily hidden are quite different. In the former, the central problem the individual confronts in interacting with others is that of managing the tension that may be created by the negative information which his "normal" interactancs have about him. However, for the person who is able to choose to conceal his condirion, i.e., pass as normal, the central problem becomes one of management of information rather than of rension. He must decide to whom, if anyone, he will reveal his stigma and under what conditions he will disclose himself. When interacting wich those he chooses not to reveal his condition to, he must carefully monitor the information that is exchanged such chac he does not inadvertently disclose his failing. Since any information disclosed about the self may lead by necessity or accident to the revelation of the discrediting characteristic this eventuality may be defended against by inhibiting self-disclosure or avoiding intimate social interaction generally. The less time spent with another and the less personally involving the interaction is, the less likely it is that disclosure of che stigmatizing information wiU take place.
Self-Learning Neural controller for Hybrid Power Management using Neuro-Dynamic Programming

A supervisory controller strategy for a hybrid vehicle coordinates the operation of the two power sources onboard of a vehicle to maximize objectives like fuel economy. In the past, various control strategies have been developed using heuristics as well as optimal control theory. The Stochastic Dynamic Programming (SDP) has been previously applied to determine implementable optimal control policies for discrete time dynamic systems whose states evolve according to given transition probabilities. However, the approach is constrained by the curse of dimensionality, i.e. an exponential increase in computational effort with increase in system state space, faced by dynamic programming based algorithms. This paper proposes a novel approach capable of overcoming the curse of dimensionality and solving policy optimization for a system with very large design state space. We propose developing a supervisory controller for hybrid vehicles based on the principles of reinforcement learning and neuro-dynamic programming, whereby the costto-go function is approximated using a neural network. The controller learns and improves its performance over time. The simulation results obtained for a series hydraulic hybrid vehicle over a driving schedule demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed technique.
Employment Growth through Labor Flow Networks

It is conventional in labor economics to treat all workers who are seeking new jobs as belonging to a labor pool, and all firms that have job vacancies as an employer pool, and then match workers to jobs. Here we develop a new approach to study labor and firm dynamics. By combining the emerging science of networks with newly available employment micro-data, comprehensive at the level of whole countries, we are able to broadly characterize the process through which workers move between firms. Specifically, for each firm in an economy as a node in a graph, we draw edges between firms if a worker has migrated between them, possibly with a spell of unemployment in between. An economy's overall graph of firm-worker interactions is an object we call the labor flow network (LFN). This is the first study that characterizes a LFN for an entire economy. We explore the properties of this network, including its topology, its community structure, and its relationship to economic variables. It is shown that LFNs can be useful in identifying firms with high growth potential. We relate LFNs to other notions of high performance firms. Specifically, it is shown that fewer than 10% of firms account for nearly 90% of all employment growth. We conclude with a model in which empirically-salient LFNs emerge from the interaction of heterogeneous adaptive agents in a decentralized labor market.
Conversion of Ag Nanowires to AgCl Nanowires Decorated with Au Nanoparticles and Their Photocatalytic Activity

A two-step approach has been developed to synthesize AgCl nanowires decorated with Au nanoparticles by using Ag nanowires as chemical templates. In the first step, the Ag nanowires are oxidized with FeCl3 followed by a simultaneous precipitation reaction between Ag+ and Cl− ions at room temperature, resulting in conversion of the Ag nanowires to AgCl nanowires as well as reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+ ions. In the second step, the Fe2+ ions generated in the first step reduce Au precursors (e.g., NaAuCl4) to deposit Au nanoparticles on the surfaces of the AgCl nanowires, resulting in the formation of AgCl:Au composite nanowires. Because of strong surface plasmon resonance and chemical inertness of Au nanoparticles, the as-synthesized AgCl:Au nanowires exhibit enhanced absorption coefficient in the visible region and enhanced chemical stability to prevent them from degradation and aggregation. These unique properties enable the AgCl:Au nanowires to be used as a class of promising plasmonic photocatalysts driven ...
Damage Identification of a Composite Beam Using Finite Element Model Updating

The damage identification study presented in this paper leveraged a full-scale sub-component experiment conducted in the Charles Lee Powell Structural Research Laboratories at the University of California, San Diego. As payload project attached to a quasi-static test of a full-scale composite beam, a high-quality set of low-amplitude vibration response data was acquired from the beam at various damage levels. The Eigensystem Realization Algorithm was applied to identify the modal parameters (natural frequencies, damping ratios, displacement and macro-strain mode shapes) of the composite beam based on its impulse responses recorded in its undamaged and various damaged states using accelerometers and long-gage fiber Bragg grating strain sensors. These identified modal parameters are then used to identify the damage in the beam through a finite element model updating procedure. The identified damage is consistent with the observed damage in the composite beam.
Effect of temperature fluctuations on ice-crystal growth in frozen potatoes during storage

Abstract Temperature fluctuation during storage and distribution of frozen foods has been a major concern for frozen food manufacturing industry. The fluctuation of temperature results in thawing and recrystallization of ice crystals, which is the main cause of frozen food quality degradation during storage. The effect of temperature fluctuations on ice recrystallization in frozen potatoes was investigated. Using micro computed tomography, growth in pore area due to increase in ice crystal sizes was determined. Four treatments (constant at −80 °C; and fluctuations between −17 to −16 °C, –17 to −11 °C and −17 to −7 °C) were used to observe their effect on pore size distribution. The growth of ice crystals with the increase in amplitude of temperature fluctuations resulted in damaging the microstructure of frozen potatoes. The damage pore solid walls resulted in reduction of the number of pores and increase in the size of pores.
Black Men and the Decision to Marry

The purpose of this descriptive study is to understand the decision to marry among a sample of 52 married Black men. Qualitative inquiry was used to explore this issue. The men noted five factors that encouraged marriage: wife's characteristics, spirituality, desire to be together, readiness to marry, and encouragement from others. Five barriers to marriage were personal reservations, perceived loss of freedom, disapproval from others, prior relationship experiences, and finances. If they had to make the choice to marry again, 44% reported they would marry at the same time, 30% would opt to marry later, and 23% would select to marry earlier. Three percent of men would not choose to marry again. Implications are discussed.
Nonlinear waves on a rotating viscous fluid with a cylindrical free surface

An asymptotic theory is developed for the study of nonlinear wave motion of a rotating viscous fluid with a cylindrical free surface. The method used here is based upon a multiple-parameter singular perturbation scheme within the framework of long-wave approximation. Wave speed and a set of asymptotic evolution equations are derived, and a criterion for the instability of the wave motion is defined.
Lunar Dust and the Gegenschein

OF the four possible explanations of the gegenschein which have been proposed, not one so far has explained satisfactorily the meagre observational data concerning this phenomenon. The Glyden–Moulton hypothesis1, which suggests a concentration of meteoric material at a libration point of the Sun–Earth system, seems incapable of explaining all the luminosity of the gegenschein. The zodiacal light hypothesis2, which claims that the glow opposite the Sun results from a phase-function for the interplanetary dust layer which produces such a brightening, fails to explain the fact that the gegenschein usually lies approximately 3° west of the anti-solar point3. The gaseous tail hypothesis4,5, in explaining the light as the result of excitation of Earth-escaped gases by the interplanetary plasma, does not account for the fact that the colour of the gegenschein is slightly redder than that of the Sun6. Finally, the dust tail hypothesis7, although explaining the facts in a qualitative way, at least, requires a large and continuous source of dust particles in Earth's neighbourhood.
Diabetes, mitocondrias y ejercicio

El ejercicio produce efectos beneficiosos en la salud general de los individuos, y es indiscutible el papel que desempena en el tratamiento y la prevencion de la resistencia a la insulina y la diabetes tipo 2. Una sesion aguda de ejercicio o contraccion muscular aumenta la captacion de glucosa en el musculo esqueletico a traves de vias independientes de la insulina, y ello conduce a mejorias en la homeostasis corporal total de la glucosa. La actividad fisica regular induce cambios adaptativos en el musculo esqueletico a traves de modificaciones de la expresion de genes metabolicos. Estos cambios consisten en aumentos de las mitocondrias y modificaciones de la distribucion de los tipos de fibras musculares. Un objetivo importante de la investigacion sobre el ejercicio es el estudio de las senales moleculares que son inducidas por la actividad muscular y regulan los procesos metabolicos y transcripcionales clave en el musculo esqueletico. En esta revision, presentamos una breve panoramica general de la investigacion sobre el ejercicio en el campo metabolico, describiendo diversas senales moleculares que subyacen en esos procesos. En este campo dinamico de investigacion, se esta realizando una busqueda de otras proteinas de senalizacion estimuladas por el ejercicio. Los estudios que se realizan para aclarar en mayor medida las vias influidas por el ejercicio que intervienen en el transpo rte de glucosa, el tipo de fibra muscular y la biogenesis mitocondrial, permitiran comprender mejor como se producen los efectos favorables del ejercicio, mejorar nuestro conocimiento sobre los mecanismos patologicos de las enfermedades metabolicas como la diabetes tipo 2 e identificar nuevas dianas farmacologicas para el tratamiento.
Friction and wear properties of polymer, metal, and ceramic prosthetic joint materials evaluated on a multichannel screening device

A 12-channel wear screening device was used to compare the wear properties of a variety of prosthetic joint materials. Two types of tests were run: (1) Ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene bearing against metal or ceramic counterfaces and (2) various polymers bearing against 316 stainless steel as a standard counterface. Wear was quantified by weighing the polymer specimens, with presoaking and control-soak specimens used to minimize the error due to fluid absorption. The specimens were lubricated with bovine blood serum. Friction and polyethylene wear was very low with each of the metals (316 stainless steel, cobalt-chrome alloy, multiphase alloy, and titanium 6-4 alloy) such that the differences in wear rate would not be significant in terms of choosing a material for clinical application. However, titanium 6-4 alloy was found to be especially susceptible to abrasive wear by particles of acrylic cement. Nitrided titanium 6-4 counterfaces were impervious to acrylic abrasion. Polyethylene wear against highly polished, fully dense ceramics (Sialon, Alumina, Macor, and pyrolytic graphite) was as low as that with the metal counterfaces. Wear increased slightly with increasing ceramic surface roughness. The coefficient of friction of polyethylene against pyrolytic graphite was two to three times higher than with the metals or other ceramics. All of the alternate polymers underwent more wear than UHMW polyethylene. Teflon and polyester, two polymers that have proven unsuccessful in prior clinical use, had wear rates 1,600 and 830 times greater than polyethylene, respectively, an indication that the laboratory wear test provided a quantitative prediction of the behavior of the materials in vivo. However, it was difficult to assess the clinical significance of the less extreme wear rates since the ability of the tissues encapsulating a prosthesis to accomodate wear debris is not known on a quantitative basis.
Relationships among nutrient inputs, water nutrient concentrations, primary production, and yield of Oreochromis niloticus in ponds

Abstract Experiments were run to assess the physical, chemical, and biological processes leading to increased production of fertilized fish ponds in Thailand for approximately 5 months during wet season 1984 and wet and dry seasons 1985. Eight or 12 ponds (250 m 2 ) were stocked with male Nile tilapia at 1 fish/m 3 . Ponds received fertilizer according to three different schemes: (1) low input inorganic (0.27 kg triple superphosphate, equalling 0.12 kg P ha −1 d −1 ); (2) high input organic (71.4 dry kg chicken manure ha −1 d −1 ); and (3) high input inorganic (14.3 kg triple superphosphate ha −1 d −1 and 4.3 kg urea ha −1 d −1 ). Treatments 2 and 3 yielded identical loadings of 2 kg N ha −1 d −1 and 3.2 kg P ha −1 d −1 . Ponds receiving high fertilizer inputs had higher nutrient concentrations in water, higher primary production, and higher fish production than ponds treated with low fertilizer inputs. At high fertilizer inputs, chlorophyll a content and primary production were similar for all ponds, but fish growth and adult yield were significantly greater in organically rather than inorganically fertilized ponds. This was attributed to increased heterotrophy by fish in ponds treated with organic fertilizer. Regression analysis indicated only marginally predictive relationships between total inorganic nitrogen or total phosphorus concentration in the water and primary production. Secchi disk depth was a reasonable predictor of both primary production and chlorophyll a ( r 2 =0.67). Diel temperature stratification was low, but correlated with air temperature, solar radiation, rainfall, and wind velocity. Diel oxygen stratification was more pronounced with inorganic fertilization, probably due to greater water clarity and more even distribution of primary production in organically fertilized ponds. Yield of stocked fish was correlated with rainfall and primary production.
School Socioeconomic Classification, Funding, and the New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA)

This study examines the relationship between educational effectiveness, as measured by the New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA), and funding of school districts based on socioeconomic classification. Results indicate there is a strong relationship between performance in HSPA, socioeconomic classification, and the different sources of funding. Total cost per student for lower socioeconomic schools is not significantly different from that for higher socioeconomic schools. Higher socioeconomic status, however, leads to lower per student cost for administration, for operations, and for food services. Higher socioeconomic status also leads to higher per student cost for extracurricular activities and salaries.
The Weissenbacher-Zweymüller syndrome: possible neonatal expression of the Stickler syndrome.

The Robin anomaly is a recognized presenting manifestation of the Stickler syndrome, an autosomal dominantly inherited disorder originally termed “hereditary progressive arthroophthalmopathy.” We report an infant with the Robin anomaly, myopia and dumbbell-shaped femora and humeri in a family with the Stickler syndrome. This observation suggests that the Weissenbacher-Zweymuller syndrome is in fact a variant of the Stickler syndrome.
A genome scale metabolic network for rice and accompanying analysis of tryptophan, auxin and serotonin biosynthesis regulation under biotic stress

Background: Functional annotations of large plant genome projects mostly provide information on gene function and gene families based on the presence of protein domains and gene homology, but not necessarily in association with gene expression or metabolic and regulatory networks. These additional annotations are necessary to understand the physiology, development and adaptation of a plant and its interaction with the environment. Results: RiceCyc is a metabolic pathway networks database for rice. It is a snapshot of the substrates, metabolites, enzymes, reactions and pathways of primary and intermediary metabolism in rice. RiceCyc version 3.3 features 316 pathways and 6,643 peptide-coding genes mapped to 2,103 enzyme-catalyzed and 87 protein-mediated transport reactions. The initial functional annotations of rice genes with InterPro, Gene Ontology, MetaCyc, and Enzyme Commission (EC) numbers were enriched with annotations provided by KEGG and Gramene databases. The pathway inferences and the network diagrams were first predicted based on MetaCyc reference networks and plant pathways from the Plant Metabolic Network, using the Pathologic module of Pathway Tools. This was enriched by manually adding metabolic pathways and gene functions specifically reported for rice. The RiceCyc database is hierarchically browsable from pathway diagrams to the associated genes, metabolites and chemical structures. Through the integrated tool OMICs Viewer, users can upload transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic data to visualize expression patterns in a virtual cell. RiceCyc, along with additional species-specific pathway databases hosted in the Gramene project, facilitates comparative pathway analysis. Conclusions: Here we describe the RiceCyc network development and discuss its contribution to rice genome annotations. As a case study to demonstrate the use of RiceCyc network as a discovery environment we carried out an integrated bioinformatic analysis of rice metabolic genes that are differentially regulated under diurnal photoperiod and biotic stress treatments. The analysis of publicly available rice transcriptome datasets led to the hypothesis that the complete tryptophan biosynthesis and its dependent metabolic pathways including serotonin biosynthesis are induced by taxonomically diverse pathogens while also being under diurnal regulation. The RiceCyc database is available online for free access at http://www.gramene.org/pathway/.
The Imitation of One Form of Life by Another—Biomimesis

I would like first to place bionics in a broader framework because there are several fields of interest which surround it on all sides. I therefore pick for my title “The Imitation of One Form of Life by Another—Biomimesis.” There is nothing new in biomimesis. It is so important in avoiding enemies and catching prey that it is determined in the genes of many insects: the walking stick, the velvet ant, and so on. It has been of enormous importance; it has given us the images of our gods and the costumes of our witch doctors. It has given us, since the wings of Daedalus, all sorts of transportation. We have mimicked and mimicked. There are a few things of which we can boast, like the wheel and the seeking of power from indirect sources—first from the sun by eating each other, so to speak, and then from steam engines and what not—all one way or another from the sun until we got fission and now fusion. But aside from sources of power, and from the wheel, most of what we have done has been an imitation. The imitation used to be primarily for our muscular chores:to pump out a mine, to carry material from one place to another, and so forth. The first major deviation from that, curiously enough, was in the steam engine itself. It was not the replacement of the boy who used to push the slide valve by a stick; the boy still did that. That gave us the regenerative cycle. It was by replacement of the boy at the throttle, the boy who controlled the rate at which the steam was admitted to the slide valve, that the first major deviation from doing mere mechanical work came about. I would like to start from that point with what seems to me the major problem we have to face in bionics, as opposed to cybernetics.
Development of a radiation hardened NPN bipolar transistor for a 64 K CMOS fusible-link PROM

A 1.2 /spl mu/m CMOS production process was adapted to produce a 64 K CMOS fusible-link Programmable Read-Only memory (PROM) for space applications. The circuit requirement of less than 50 ns access time combined with the need for 9 volt single pulse programming of the fusible links and radiation tolerance to levels over 300 krad(Si) made close collaboration between design engineering, reliability engineering, and device engineering essential for a successful project. A vertical NPN bipolar transistor was integrated into a standard CMOS process to be used for programming and reading the fuses. The device characteristics were carefully matched to the product speed and programmability requirements. The NPN device was optimized for radiation performance. Successful development required extensive use of process and device modeling, test structure design and measurement, and experimental design methods. >
Imaging columns with GPR

Most imaging algorithms and CPR hardware designs assume data collection along planar interfaces. We derive imaging algorithms for cylindrical interfaces and describe the hardware modifications used to improve data quality by improving antenna coupling along the curved surface. Our forward model accurately describes travel times and interference features of targets observed in measured data. Diffraction summation migrates data using the forward model for a point diffractor in a cylindrical column. We take a novel mathematical approach to diffraction summation by convolving the data with a kernel to perform the summations. This approach provides an efficient and simple imaging algorithm development from the forward model. Physical data sets of known targets in concrete columns demonstrate the utility of the imaging algorithm designed for cylindrical interfaces.
Implementation and performance issues in an object-oriented orchestration architecture

Orchestration refers to the specification and management of a multimedia presentation's life-cycle. Once synonymous with synchronization, this broader interpretation is analogous to the performance of a symphony orchestra, which in itself is more than just a set of musicians playing at the same time; rather, it is a well choreographed collection of instruments played together according to a set arrangement. Orchestrating a multimedia presentation involves specifying its content, spatial and temporal structure, coordinating data retrieval, decoding and synchronization, as well as displaying the decoded media to the user. It is this coordinated management which constitutes the orchestration process. The problem is therefore to define an architecture that addresses each stage this life-cycle so that the semantics of the presentation and each of its component media are preserved. Such an architecture must be open to examination and modification at different points in order to provide a self-regulating system that evaluates and adapts its behaviour throughout the presentation. Consequently, an object-oriented approach to both implementation and performance management enables a system to dynamically respond to changing needs and environmental conditions in both a well-mannered and well-instrumented fashion.
Language and systems of symbols.

In D. Premack's thought-provoking Perspective on language and intelligence (“Is language the key to human intelligence?” 16 Jan., p. 318), I was a bit taken aback by the first sentence, in which he writes that humans have invented four systems of symbols. Written language and arabic numerals are
An Efficient Algorithm for Soft-Decision Decoding of the (24, 12) Extended Golay Code

An efficient algorithm for soft-decision decoding of the (24, 12) extended Golay code is described. Results obtained for white Gaussian noise are presented which show that performance is only a few tenths of a decibel away from that of an ideal correlator.
Prostate cancer genomics: progress and promise.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignancies affecting men in the Western world. It is a clinically heterogeneous disease and develops in the background of diverse genetic and epigenetic changes. Although clinically localized PCa can be treated effectively, metastatic disease is invariably incurable and leads to death. Until the beginning of the last decade, progress in identifying new biomarkers and oncogenic targets for PCa was slow. The pioneering studies by Huggins and Hodges [1] showed the role of androgen in PCa growth, and their studies led to the development of antiandrogens as a treatment option for aggressive PCa, with various levels of success. Although most patients benefit initially from androgen deprivation therapy, aggressive prostate tumors invariably develop into castration-resistant PCa. Prostatespecific antigen (PSA) is a routine screening test for PCa in men >40 yr of age. However, there is growing concern that PSA screening leads to overdiagnosis, which results in excessive treatment of indolent PCa without significant clinical benefit. The American Urological Association recently changed its guidelines for PSA screening and currently recommends against testing men 40 yr. Identification and validation of novel diagnostic and prognostic molecular biomarkers of PCa as well as causative oncogenic therapeutic targets are of critical importance for the early detection, management, and cure of PCa. During the last 15 yr, new tools and high-throughput technologies such as gene expression profiling, copy number analysis, and, more recently, next-generation sequencing have accelerated the molecular characterization of PCa and led to the identification of tumor-specific signatures and oncogenic targets in PCa. The discovery effort was also aided by bioinformatics integration of disparate molecular data generated from expression profiling; whole-transcriptome, exome, and genome sequencing; and assays to detect copy number variation. These studies have provided genomic and transcriptomic landscapes for PCa. In addition, these investigations have helped researchers understand tumor heterogeneity as well as causative events in tumor initiation, progression, and therapy resistance. They have also aided in the molecular subclassification of PCa.
Foliar Nitrogen Responses to the Environmental Gradient Matrix of the Adirondack Park, New York

Maps derived from remote sensing of canopy nitrogen (N) provide a potential avenue to make spatially explicit, regional-scale predictions of the vital forest ecosystem services that are coupled to the cycling of N and carbon. Yet, to fully use canopy N maps in this capacity, it is necessary to understand how canopy species with differing resource strategies will adjust foliar N in response to environmental variability. In this study, we relate a regional survey of foliar N data from a diverse set of forest tree species in the Adirondack Park, New York, to a holistic matrix of environmental gradients thought to control spatial variability of foliar N. Stepwise multiple regression models developed for each species indicate that neighboring species and abiotic gradients of resource availability play a lesser role, and anthropogenic influences (caused by historic disturbances and atmospheric N deposition) are the strongest drivers of spatial variability in foliar N. Moreover, we find that the plasticity of th...