cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy-Neutral Communication Protocol for Very Low Power Microbial Fuel Cell Based Wireless Sensor Network

A major challenge faced by wireless sensor networks (WSNs) for monitoring purposes is their energy supply. Renewable energy sources are useful for sustainable monitoring, but still very limited today due to various implementation constraints. Fortunately, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) provide a renewable power source, which can be integrated into terrains, wetlands, and some civil structures for environmental monitoring. However, as MFCs may only provide ultralow and dynamic power, an energy-neutral communication protocol is crucial for MFC-powered WSNs. Herein a duty-cycle-based energy-neutral communication protocol is proposed for MFC-powered WSNs. Mathematical models for optimal duty-cycling that minimize the probe packet reception time are first proposed. Then, an energy-neutral joint scheduling and routing protocol in multihop MFC networks is introduced. Finally, a MATLAB-based simulation tool is developed to evaluate the protocol performance. Simulation results show that WSNs adopting the proposed protocol can achieve sustainable network operations. It is also demonstrated that the protocol enables reliable data transmission when using ultralow and time-varying MFC power inputs.
Phagocytic tumour cells.

In two patients, one with carcinoma of the lung and the other with carcinoma of the breast, bone marrow aspirates contained tumour cells in the cytoplasm of which were red cells. Special stains were used to confirm this observation. A review of 99 other bone marrow aspiates containing metastatic tumour cells failed to reveal other examples of this phenomenon.
Grid accounting service: state and future development

During the last decade, large-scale federated distributed infrastructures have been continually developed and expanded. One of the crucial components of a cyber-infrastructure is an accounting service that collects data related to resource utilization and identity of users using resources. The accounting service is important for verifying pledged resource allocation per particular groups and users, providing reports for funding agencies and resource providers, and understanding hardware provisioning requirements. It can also be used for end-to-end troubleshooting as well as billing purposes. In this work we describe Gratia, a federated accounting service jointly developed at Fermilab and Holland Computing Center at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Open Science Grid, Fermilab, HCC, and several other institutions have used Gratia in production for several years. The current development activities include expanding Virtual Machines provisioning information, XSEDE allocation usage accounting, and Campus Grids resource utilization. We also identify the direction of future work: improvement and expansion of Cloud accounting, persistent and elastic storage space allocation, and the incorporation of WAN and LAN network metrics.
SUPPRESSION OF INSULIN RECEPTOR ACTIVATION BY OVEREXPRESSION OF THE PROTEIN-TYROSINE PHOSPHATASE LAR IN HEPATOMA CELLS

Abstract Protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) play an essential role in the regulation of reversible tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins that mediate insulin action. In order to explore the potential role of the transmembrane PTPase (LAR) in insulin receptor signal transduction, we overexpressed the full-length LAR protein in McA-RH7777 rat hepatoma cells and found that modest increases in the abundance of LAR protein expression downregulated a number of insulin-stimulated cellular responses closely related to the activation of the receptor kinase. An increase in LAR protein of 2.4-fold over the level in control cells caused a 40% reduction in insulin receptor autophosphorylation in intact cells, without an alteration in insulin receptor mass or a change in the insulin-stimulated receptor kinase activity measured with partially purified receptors in vitro. In addition, insulin-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of the endogenous insulin receptor substrates IRS-1 and Shc were decreased to 57% and 73% of control, respectively, and IRS-1 associated phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase activity was reduced to 47% of control of the cells overexpressing LAR. The present results, taken with our recent data demonstrating that reducing the abundance of LAR by expression of antisense mRNA enhances insulin receptor signal transduction (Kulas D. T., et al. J. Biol. Chem. 270:2435, 1995), supports the hypothesis that LAR acts as a physiological modulator of insulin action in insulin-sensitive hepatoma cells.
The effect of women's schooling on fertility.

Abstract This study investigates the effect of women's schooling on fertility in the United States. Particular attention is given to the issue of whether women's schooling can be legitimately treated as an exogenous determinant of fertility.
reCAPTCHA: Human-Based Character Recognition via Web Security Measures

CAPTCHAs (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) are widespread security measures on the World Wide Web that prevent automated programs from abusing online services. They do so by asking humans to perform a task that computers cannot yet perform, such as deciphering distorted characters. Our research explored whether such human effort can be channeled into a useful purpose: helping to digitize old printed material by asking users to decipher scanned words from books that computerized optical character recognition failed to recognize. We showed that this method can transcribe text with a word accuracy exceeding 99%, matching the guarantee of professional human transcribers. Our apparatus is deployed in more than 40,000 Web sites and has transcribed over 440 million words.
Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanofiber based Biosensor Platform for Glucose Sensor

Vertically aligned carbon nanofibers (VACNFs) have recently become an important tool for biosensor design. Carbon nanofibers (CNF) have excellent conductive and structural properties with many irregularities and defect sites in addition to exposed carboxyl groups throughout their surfaces. These properties allow a better immobilization matrix compared to carbon nanotubes and offer better resolution when compared with the FET-based biosensors. VACNFs can be deterministically grown on silicon substrates allowing optimization of the structures for various biosensor applications. Two VACNF electrode architectures have been employed in this study and a comparison of their performances has been made in terms of sensitivity, sensing limitations, dynamic range, and response time. The usage of VACNF platform as a glucose sensor has been verified in this study by selecting an optimum architecture based on the VACNF forest density.
Laminated TaS2/polymer nanocomposites through encapsulative precipitation of exfoliated layers

Several TaS2/polymer nanocomposites prepared through the encapsulative precipitation method are described. Namely, the encapsulation of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO), polyethylene imine (PEI), and poly(vinylpyrrolidinone) (PVP) into TaS2 was examined in detail, and the nanocomposites were characterized by a wide variety of techniques. The nanocomposites disperse in water and are easily cast into free-standing films. The flexible metallic TaS2/polymer nanocomposite films display bulk superconductivity. In addition, in this work the exfoliation properties of LixTaS2 were systematically explored, and it was found that material prepared from controlled lithiation with 0.2 equiv of LiBH4 exfoliates well in water and has high affinity for various polymers. The likely conformation of PEO molecules sandwiched between the TaS2 slabs was explored with analysis of the X-ray diffraction patterns of a highly oriented Lix(PEO)yTaS2 nanocomposite films. The one-dimensional electron density maps, obtained for Lix(PEO)yTaS2,...
Impact of an online self-paced lecture to teach primary literature evaluation to second professional year students

Abstract Background An introductory primary literature evaluation lecture (drug information [DI] lecture) was historically presented with a traditional in-class lecture during a pharmacotherapy course. During a 2009 semester, the DI lecture was available online only. This study sought to determine whether online lecture use correlated with student performance and/or contributed to knowledge retention. Methods Students viewed the online lecture, completed four assignments, and answered questions on course examinations. Lecture viewing time was analyzed in relation to examination, homework, and final course grades. Students were surveyed with regard to their opinions on the online lecture. A knowledge inventory was given at the beginning of the subsequent semester to determine retention of DI lecture knowledge. Examination and knowledge inventory scores were compared with a historical control group. Results Little correlation was found between minutes viewed and examination 1 ( r = 0.149), examination 2 ( r = 0.185), examination 3 ( r = 0.062), final examination ( r = −0.05), course grade ( r = −0.0148), and homework assignments ( r = 0.0114) ( n = 101). Examination grades were higher in the 2009 group versus the control group ( p = 0.04). The knowledge inventory revealed that the 2009 students outperformed the control group on 80% of questions. Seventy-three percent of students rated the online lecture as very or extremely helpful with homework, and 46% reported it similarly for examination preparation. Conclusion Online lecture viewing time did not correlate with student performance on homework, examinations, or course grades. Spring 2009 students did outperform the historical control group on examination questions and on 80% of inventory questions. Overall, students rated the online lecture favorably.
Diquark Correlations from Nucleon Charge Radii

We argue that precise measurements of charge and magnetic radii can meaningfully constrain diquark models of the nucleon. We construct properly symmetrized, nonrelativistic three-quark wave functions that interpolate between the limits of a pointlike diquark pair and no diquark correlation. We find that good fits to the data can be obtained for a wide range of diquark sizes, provided that the diquark wave functions are close to those that reduce to a purely scalar state in the pointlike limit. A modest improvement in the experimental uncertainties will render a fit to the charge radii a more telling diagnostic for the presence of spatially correlated quark pairs within the nucleon.
Processing of magnesia-pyrochlore composites for inert matrix materials

Abstract Inert matrix (IM) materials for nuclear fuel in light water reactors must meet several critical requirements that include high temperature stability, good irradiation behaviour, high thermal conductivity, and hot water corrosion resistance. MgO possesses all of the necessary requirements for an ideal IM candidate, except hot water corrosion resistance. A composite approach is being investigated in order to improve the corrosion resistance of MgO, while simultaneously taking advantage of the high thermal conductivity of MgO and its ability to be reprocessed in nitric acid. MgO–pyrochlore composite compositions are fabricated based on neutronic property simulations for assessment as potential IM materials. The selected pyrochlore compositions are synthesized by both sol gel and solid state processing, and how composite processing affects the microstructure will be discussed. Among the multiple composite processing approaches investigated, ball milling produces the most homogeneous and consistent microstructures.
Scott Soames: Understanding Truth

Scott Soames has written a valuable book. It is unmatched in its clear expositions and evaluations of the theories of truth of Tarski, Kripke, and Strawson, and much other formal and philosophical work on truth. It also incorporates ideas from several of Soames' published papers on the subject. Its centerpiece, however, is the application of a theory of partial definitions to the liar paradox and the problem of vagueness. Most of my discussion will focus on this important contribution. I close with an examination of Soames' discussion of T-sentences.
On the ultimate sharpness of the ECC cusp

Abstract In electron capture to the continuum (ECC) the distribution of scattered electrons is sharply peaked when the velocity of the electron ve matches the velocity of the projectile vp. We discuss the significance of this cusp and present a closed form expre this cusp in the fully peaked strong potential Born approximation (SPB-FP). This cusp diverges at ve = vp for scattering with unscreened Coulomb potentials. In reality this divergence is removed by various effects, including screening of Coulomb potentials in atomic collisions.
Geologic History of the Polar Regions of Mars Based on Mars Global Surveyor Data: I. Noachian and Hesperian Periods

During the Noachian Period, the south polar region of Mars underwent intense cratering, construction of three groups of volcanoes, widespread contractional deformation, resurfacing of low areas, and local dissection of valley networks; no evidence for polar deposits, ice sheets, or glaciation is recognized. South polar Hesperian geology is broadly characterized by waning impacts, volcanism, and tectonism. Emplacement of the polar Dorsa Argentea Formation (DAF) occurred during the Hesperian Period. Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter topographic data and Mars Orbiter Camera images elucidate stratigraphic, morphologic, and topographic relations, permitting the dividing of the DAF into eight members, which surround and underlie about half of the Amazonian south polar layered deposits. The lobate fronts and lack of typical volcanic-flow morphology of the six plains units indicate that they may be made up of debris flows. We think that these flows, tens of meters to 200 m thick, may have originated by the discharge of huge volumes of slurry fluidized by ground water or liquid CO2, perhaps triggered by local impacts, igneous activity, or basal melting beneath polar deposits. The cavi and rugged members include irregular depressions that penetrate the subsurface; some of the pits have raised rims. The depressions may have formed by collapse due to expulsion of subsurface material in which local explosive activity built up the raised rims. Further, smaller eruptions of volatile-rich material may have resulted in narrow, sinuous channel deposits within aggrading fine-grained unconsolidated material perhaps produced by gaseous discharge of subsurface volatiles; preferential erosion of the latter material could have produced the Dorsa Argentea-type sinuous ridges associated mainly with the DAF. Alternatively, the ridges may be eskers, but the lack of associated glacial and fluvial morphologies casts doubt on this interpretation. The knobby, degraded materials forming Scandia Colles may represent the only Noachian geologic record exposed in the north polar region. Most of the north polar region was buried by water- or debris-ocean sediments during the Hesperian Period, originating from uplands areas and perhaps knobby terrains in the northern plains. The sediments either mantle or were deformed by wrinkle ridges radial and concentric to Utopia basin and concentric to northern Tharsis. Sources of stress probably included sediment loading in the northern plains and regional magmatic and loading activity at Tharsis. Polar layered deposits began piling up during the Early Amazonian or later.
914-68 SDZ GPI 562, an Oral Peptidomimetic Inhibitor of the Platelet GpIIbIIIaAbolishes Epinephrine and Shear Induced Cyclic Flow Reductions in Stenosed Monkey Carotid Arteries

Aspirin (ASA) is the only oral agent approved as an anti platelet agent (AA) to prevent platelet mediated thrombosis (PMT) myocardial infarction, strokes and reocclusion after thrombolysis or angioplasty. However, animal and human platelets inhibited with ASA can be reactivated to produce PMT with elevated plasma epinephrine levels or increased shear stress. In 7 anesthetized monkeys (M), mechanical carotid artery stenosis (MCAS) 70% diameter reduction with intimal damage was produced and blood flow measured (EMF probe). Cyclic flow reductions (CFR's) occurred due to acute PMT followed by embolization to the brain, ASA, 5 mg/kg IV, abolished the CFR's in all M but they returned with Epinephrine (E), 0,2 μ/kg given IV, or increase in MCAS to 85%, due to shear induced aggregation. In 8 M with 70% MCAS, after 30 minutes of CFR's, 1–2 mg/kg of the drug SDZ GPl562 was given by stomach tube. Eighty-five ± 22 min after SDZ GPI 562, the CFR's were abolished in all 8 M. Template bleeding time increased from a control of 2.3 ± 1.0 min to 4.1 ± 1.2 min (p l 0.05) Ex vivo whole blood platelet aggregation (collagen stimulus) decreased by 76 ± 8% (p l 0,0001) and by 83 ± 10% (p l 0.0001) to ADP after SDZ GPI 562, The CFR's due to periodic acute PMT were not renewed by E, 0.2 μ/kg/min given IV for 20 minutes and/or by increased stenosis from 70% to 85% diameter reduction which increases shear from 144 ± 15 Pa to 266 ± 22 Pa (p l 0.005). CFR's due to acute PMT have been observed in patient coronary arteries at the time of angioplasty inspire of pretreatment with aspirin and heparin but could be abolished with c7E3, a monoclonal antibody inhibitor of the platelet Gpllbilia which is available only for IV use. SDZ GPI 562 is likely to be a superior AA because it is available in oral or IV form, it blocks the final step in platelet activation by blocking the platelet GpII b III a , thus protecting against platelet activation by elevated E and shear stress produced by very severe stenosis. It is also likely to be more effective than ASA for reducing the platelet contribution to atherosclerosis preventing coronary thrombosis and fatal or non fatal myocardial infarction and early and late PMT after angioplasty or atherectomy procedures.
Kindling with clozapine: behavioral and molecular consequences.

Clozapine is an 'atypical' neuroleptic that improves symptoms of many patients with schizophrenia whose illness is resistant to treatment with other neuroleptics. Unlike the 'typical neuroleptics (chlorpromazine, haloperidol), clozapine does not induce extrapyramidal symptoms such as Parkinsonism and tardive dyskinesia in humans or catalepsy in the rat. However, clozapine frequently causes epileptiform EEG changes and causes seizures in 3-5% of patients treated with this drug in therapeutic doses. Clozapine also induces dose dependent myoclonus in the partially restrained rat. In the experiments reported here, partially restrained rats were administered repeated alternate day or weekly low, fixed doses of clozapine (1 mg/kg). This dose initially caused no behavioral change. Following the third and subsequent administrations, the same dose elicited an increasing number of myoclonic seizure-like jerks reaching 140/h following the 15th injection in rats receiving the same low dose of clozapine on alternate days and 160/h following the 9th injection in animals that received the same dose once weekly. These effects are consistent with kindling, i.e. a progressive increase of brain excitability following repeated administration of a fixed subconvulsive dose of an excitatory agent. Clozapine kindled animals exhibited a significantly different pattern of early gene expression in ventral tegmental area, origin of the mesolimbic-mesocortical dopamine system and in the anterior thalamic nuclei, compared with saline treated controls subjected to exactly the same recording conditions. The evidence of central nervous system excitation with clozapine may be important to the unique therapeutic effect of this atypical antipsychotic in the treatment of symptoms, especially the deficit symptoms, of schizophrenia.
Anisotropic Band Gap in a 2D Acoustic Metamaterial

A two-dimensional (2D) metamaterial possessing an effective anisotropic mass is investigated. This metamaterial is a composite material in the form of an internal mass connected in two directions to the host medium. A 2D mass-in-mass lattice model is used to characterize the dynamic behavior of the metamaterial. If modeled as an effective spring-mass lattice system, the metamaterial may possess a frequency-dependent effective mass. Moreover, if an equivalent homogenous elastic continuum is used to represent the metamaterial, an anisotropic mass density may result and may assume negative values for wave frequencies that are near the local resonance frequency of the internal mass. In fact, it was found that negative mass density occurs in the band-gap of the metamaterial. Unusual wave motion arises from the anisotropic band gap structure. In the present study, wave propagation in the representative continuum model for the metamaterial is studied in order to understand the unusual features of the dynamic behavior of the metamaterial.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
FUTURE DIRECTIONS FOR PEDIATRIC RHEUMATOLOGY AS AN ACADEMIC SPECIALTY: A SURVEY OF PEDIATRIC DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSONS

National manpower needs, length and clinical/research mix of fellowships, and incentives to attract residents to PR training, and trainees to faculty positions are important issues. We surveyed 142 American and Canadian pediatric chairpersons for their attitudes, and departmental clinical, research and economic needs related to rheumatology. A 28 item questionnaire utilized an educational psychologist, and a bio-statistician, to ensure optimal content clarity, completion speed, and statistical design. The response rate was 77% (1110/142). 71 departments had a PR, with 75% full- and 25% part-time. The chairs recruiting priority for a new full-time PR was “moderate-high” in 38%. Department size was: 15-25 MD and PhD faculty-24%; 26-40 faculty-26%; 41-75 faculty-34%; ≤76-16%; 39 Departments had 0-10% grant support of faculty salaries; 34 had 12-25%; 23 had 26-50%, and 5 had 51-80%. “Acute” disease trained chairpersons were less than half as likely to support having a PR, when compared to a chronic disease chair 65% of chairs believed an allergist/immunologist could provide rheumatic disease care only 0-25% of the time; 69% felt a rheumatologist gave a needed chronic disease/rehabilitation focus. Of interest, 54% of chairs stated that fellowships should be 3 years; another 17% preferred 4 years; all 71% desired a 50% research commitment: 31% of chairs would full/partial fund a rheumatology fellow to fill a faculty need, and 57% would provide 30-100% of initial faculty salaries (2-3 years). This survey reflects concerns about pediatric subspecialty manpower, training and research issues.
Water conservation in fasting northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris).

SUMMARY Prolonged terrestrial fasting is a key element in the life history of elephant seals. While on land seals typically fast without access to fresh water, and thus must maintain positive water balance by reductions in water loss such that they can subsist primarily on metabolic water production (MWP). The terrestrial apnea demonstrated by seals may reduce respiratory evaporative water loss (REWL) to levels that allow seals to make a net gain of water from MWP. We empirically measured REWL in 13 fasting northern elephant seal pups and determined the effects on water conservation of a breathing mode that incorporates a regular pattern of apneas, of ≥1 min in duration, followed by eupneic recovery, compared with a breathing mode with no apneas longer than 20 s and resembling typical breathing patterns in other mammals (normative breathing). Overall REWL fell 41% from 0.075±0.013 g min -1 (mean ± s.d.) during normative breathing to 0.044±0.006 g min -1 during apneic breathing. The decline in REWL is attributed to a decrease in overall ventilation rate, made possible by a decline in metabolic rate along with an increase in oxygen extraction that would occur during apneic breathing. Data on the range of ambient humidity conditions at the local breeding site were collected and used to bound the range of environmental conditions used in laboratory measurements. Our data showed that the observed variations in ambient humidity had no significant effect on REWL. A combination of apneic breathing and the complex nasal turbinates allows fasting elephant seals to reduce REWL well below the rate of MWP so that they can maintain water balance during the fast.
ROUTING PROFILE UPDATING STRATEGIES FOR ONLINE HYBRID DYNAMIC TRAFFIC ASSIGNMENT OPERATION

An online routing profile updating automaton (ORPUA) approach is introduced as a principal mechanism for operating an online hybrid dynamic traffic assignment (DTA) system for real-time route guidance in a traffic network. The hybrid DTA approach integrates the centralized and the decentralized DTA frameworks by partitioning the set of guided users into two classes according to an initial routing profile (IRP). One class receives the centralized DTA guidance, while the other follows the decentralized DTA routing. ORPUA takes the a priori IRP and updates the guidance supplied to vehicles in a real-time fashion according to the unfolding network conditions and relative performance of the two classes of users. It does not anticipate the future network conditions; instead, it reacts to them and optimizes the overall system performance by improving the performance of the underperforming class of vehicles. Simulation experiments illustrate ORPUA's potential in maintaining desirable system performance and robustness in most of the demand-supply scenarios considered.
Visual measurements of short pulses of direct current

Abstract Within recent years, engineering applications using pulses of direct current as short in duration as a microsecond and repeated several thousand times per second have become important. Such pulses may have amplitudes that are greater than 100 amperes. This paper discusses the techniques and precautions which are essential for oscillographic observations of such pulses. Particular consideration is given to the problem of determination of the bandwidths required for measurements of such pulses, of the construction and the calibration of resistors for metering such currents, and of properly terminating the coaxial transmission line used for connecting the metering element to the oscillograph.
Use of social knowledge in tacit coordination: Social focal points

Abstract Social focal point theory predicts that, in matching, people search for a shared characteristic that makes one decision option salient whereas, in mismatching, they search for complementary characteristics that make different options salient for each of the coordinating parties. In two studies, participants learned about a partner’s activity preferences and then tried to either match or mismatch choices on a series of pictures that were remotely associated with one of these preferences. Being the same on a relevant preference facilitated matching whereas being different facilitated mismatching. In the second study, participants also used overall perceived similarity to supplement specific trait information. Coordination performance also affected interpersonal impressions: successful matching increased interpersonal attraction whereas successful mismatching did not. These downstream effects were obtained even when participants had considerable prior social information about their partners. Tacit coordination is compared with mimicry and synchrony, and the implications for coordinated team performance are discussed.
Rrepresentations of trauma in infancy: Clinical and theoretical implications for the understanding of early memory

Comprendre la nature de l'experience interne du nourrison est crucial pour delimiter les effets d'un traumatisme precoce sur le developpement. De plus, dans la mesure ou les representations internes d'un traumatisme peuvent etre tracees au fil du temps, les experiences traumatiques presentent des opportunites uniques pour l'etude de la memoire precoce. Cette etude decrit des vignettes de cas d'enfants qui ont vecu un traumatisme durant la periode preverbale et qui, ulterieurement, ont presente des evidences de formes de souvenirs de leur traumatisme. Conjointement avec la documentation clinique, les recherches en matiere de developpement portant sur les sortes de souvenirs precoces decrits seront discutes. Les donnees cliniques, renforcees par les resultats de recherche, indiquent que les enfants preverbaux, meme durant leur premiere annee, peuvent etablir et retenir une forme de representation interne d'un evenement traumatique, et ceci pendant de grandes periodes. La specificite et la nature durable des representations internes suggerent que des interventions therapeutiques specifiques allant bien au dela d'un simple reconfort seront necessaires a la recuperation maximale du nourrisson apres un traumatisme. Les resultats cliniques sont importants pour certains problemes faisant actuellement l'objet d'un debat dans le domaine de la memoire du nourrisson, dont par exemple le role des rappels dans la retention de la memoire, la nature des systemes de la memoire precoce, et le developpement de la memoire autobiographique.
Aqueous–membrane partitioning of β-substituted porphyrins encompassing diverse polarity

Understanding the partitioning of organic molecules between aqueous solution and lipid membranes is critical to problems in fields ranging from drug design to environmental science to studies of the origin of life. Here, six β-substituted porphyrins of diverse polarity were examined for partitioning between the membranes of phosphatidylcholine vesicles and aqueous solution. The porphyrins include uroporphyrin I (number of carboxylic acid substituents = 8), heptacarboxylic acid porphyrin I (7), hexacarboxylic acid porphyrin I (6), coproporphyrin I (4), mesoporphyrin IX (2) and etioporphyrin I (0). The porphyrins were examined individually and collectively. In each case, size-exclusion chromatography was used to separate a porphyrins/vesicles fraction and a porphyrins/aqueous fraction. Each fraction was analyzed quantitatively by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorescence detection or by UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy to give partition coefficients. The partition coefficients for the six porphyrins also were calculated (clog P) using seven software programs: ACD/Labs, ALOGPS 2.1, Chemdraw, Molinspiration, KowWin, MarvinSketch, and XLOGP3. For perspective, clog P values for seven other porphyrins and 18 non-porphyrins also were calculated. Wide variation among programs was observed for almost all of the porphyrins and non-porphyrins of similar molecular weight. The dearth of porphyrins with requisite substituent patterns for experimental examination and the unreliability of calculation preclude definitive predictions concerning partitioning of unknown porphyrins; however, the results afford heuristics to predict aqueous–membrane partitioning of diverse β-substituted porphyrins.
On unsymmetrically impinging jets

Two impinging two-dimensional incompressible inviscid fluid jets of known widths and velocities produce two outgoing jets. The speeds of the outgoing jets are readily determined from the Bernoulli equation. Their two widths and two directions (four quantities) are related by conservation of mass and conservation of two components of momentum (three relations). Because these three conservation relations do not suffice to determine the four unknowns, Milne-Thomson (1968) states on p. 302 that ‘a unique solution is, in general, not possible’. He incorrectly attributes this indeterminateness to disregard of ‘the initial conditions from which this steady motion is supposed to arise’.
Cooperative Avoidance Control for Multiagent Systems

The objective of this paper is to present a methodology for designing cooperative control laws for individual agents that guarantee collision avoidance in multiagent systems. The proposed avoidance control laws are easy to design and implement, and may be directly appended to the optimal control laws of the individual agents within the cooperation framework. The avoidance control laws are computed using value functions that resemble the behavior of barrier functions in the static optimization theory. The most attractive feature of the proposed optimization scheme is the fact that the avoidance laws are active only in the bounded sensing regions of each individual agent, and they do not interfere with the agents' individual optimal control laws outside of these regions.
Selectivity in rhodopsin-phospholipid interactions

Abstract This series of experiments systematically evaluated the effect of phospholipid headgroup structure on the interaction between rhodopsin and phospholipids. Two types of experiments were reported. First, ESR experiments involving spin-labeled phosphatidylserine, phosphatidic acid, and phosphatidylcholine demonstrated that, in the fluid-isotropic phase of dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC)-rhodopsin membranes, the relative order of rhodopsin-induced immobilization was phosphatidic acid > phosphatidylcholine > phosphatidylserine. Second, the effect of rhodopsin incorporation on the dimyristoylphosphatidylserine (DMPS) gel to liquid-crystalline phase transition was analyzed with ESR techniques. A partial, binary phase diagram for the DMPS-rhodopsin system at pH 7.0 was constructed by studying the partitioning of Tempo between polar and hydrophobic domains as a function of temperature and system composition. A main result of this analysis was the finding that rhodopsin broadens and reduces the amplitude of the DMPS phase transition to a much smaller extent than it does the DMPC phase transition. When interpreted in terms of theoretical treatments of integral protein-lipid interactions, this indicates that rhodopsin has a lower affinity for DMPS than DMPC.
The destruction of cytoplasmic basophilia with mineral acids.

Cytoplasmic basophilia may be selectively destroyed by the mineral acids, HNO3, HCl and H2SO4. Their specificity is similar to that of ribonuclease. The optimal conditions for their use are 3°C. for 16 hours at 2M concentrations. Removal of cytoplasmic basophilia as with ribonuclease, malt diastase and perchloric acid is most effective on sections prepared from tissues fixed in solutions containing no chromates. Under the conditions herein reported the mineral acids appear to be a satisfactory and economical substitute for ribonuclease or perchloric acid.
Bactericidal potency and mechanistic specificity of neutrophil defensins against bovine mastitis pathogens.

Abstract Two neutrophil defensins, rabbit peptides NP-1 and NP-5, were examined for their in vitro antibacterial activity against a panel of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms isolated from mastitic cows. Incubation for 60 minutes with 5 μg/ml of NP-1 in 10 mM sodium phosphate buffer resulted in substantial killing (> 95%) of all organisms tested. Although NP-5 was virtually inactive under these same conditions, supplementation of the incubation mixture with dilute nutrient media sensitized otherwise resistant organisms to this defensin. For both NP-1 and NP-5, bactericidal activity was dependent on time and concentration. Our findings demonstrate that the spectrum of defensin bactericidal activities include clinically important bovine pathogens. Further, the data demonstrate that NP-1 and NP-5, peptides which are homologous in 18 of their 33 residue positions, possess distinct mechanisms of action.
Chronology of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis in poeciliid fishes

Analysis by autoradiography after a single pulse label with 3H-thymidine was used to mark the chronology of cell progression through spermatogenesis and spermatid differentiation in the ovoviviparous teleost fish, Poecilia sphenops, the aquarists' “black molly.” A minimum of 21 days was required from initiation of meiotic prophase to the development of mature, aggregated sperm. An additional two weeks elapsed during transport of sperm through testicular ducts, so that shed spermatophores with labeled sperm were found only after 35 or more days following isotope injection. Time estimates for various stages of spermiogenesis were independently confirmed by assessment of the duration of elapsed time using frequency of occurrence of particular stages within the total population of testicular crypts as an index of relative elapsed time.
Topological phases and phase transitions on the square-octagon lattice

We theoretically investigate a tight-binding model of fermions hopping on the square-octagon lattice which consists of a square lattice with plaquette corners themselves decorated by squares. Upon the inclusion of second-neighbor spin-orbit coupling or non-Abelian gauge fields, time-reversal symmetric topological ${Z}_{2}$ band insulators are realized. Additional insulating and gapless phases are also realized via the non-Abelian gauge fields. Some of the phase transitions involve topological changes to the Fermi surface. The stability of the topological phases to various symmetry-breaking terms is investigated via the entanglement spectrum. Our results enlarge the number of known exactly solvable models of ${Z}_{2}$ band insulators and are potentially relevant to the realization and identification of topological phases in both the solid-state and cold atomic gases.
Correlation of rapid on-site evaluation with final diagnosis in the evaluation of renal lesions

Introduction Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) increases adequacy and diagnostic yield of cytology procedures and provides information for rapid clinical decisions. Cytology procedures with ROSE (fine-needle aspiration [FNA] and touch preparation with core biopsy [TP + CB]) are used to evaluate renal lesions, especially prior to concomitant ablation. Materials and methods Consecutive image-guided procedures of FNA and TP + CB of renal lesions with ROSE were reviewed for a ten year period. ROSE diagnoses were correlated with final diagnoses and clinical course. Diagnoses were considered in five categories: positive, atypical/suspicious, nonspecific (including adequate, lesional, cellular, and oncocytic descriptors), negative, and nondiagnostic. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test. Results A total of 209 procedures with 226 ROSE (73 FNA, 119 TP + CB, 17 FNA + TP + CB) were performed. FNAs had more nondiagnostic specimens than CBs by both ROSE and final diagnosis (19 of 90 versus 7 of 136 for ROSE [ P = 0.0004], 15 of 90 versus 5 of 136 for final [ P = 0.0013]). More FNAs than CBs were positive by ROSE (33 of 90 versus 23 of 136, P = 0.0009), with no difference in positive final diagnoses (66 of 90 versus 106 of 136, P = 0.43). Treatment following diagnosis included ablation (67, with 42 concomitant after ROSE), surgical resection (50), chemotherapy/radiation (42), re-biopsy (5), serial imaging (15), no treatment/other (15), and lost to follow up (15). Conclusions All lesions with positive ROSE had positive final diagnoses. For cases with positive final diagnoses, ROSE diagnoses were relatively evenly distributed among positive, atypical/suspicious, and nonspecific. TP + CB had higher adequacy than FNA by both ROSE and final diagnosis, although FNAs more often had positive ROSE diagnoses.
HLA Associations and Ancestry in Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada Disease and Sympathetic Ophthalmia

A strong association with HLA antigens DR4, DRw53, and Bw54 has previously been reported among Japanese patients with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease (VKH) and sympathetic ophthalmia (SO). In the United States, no firm association between HLA-A or -B loci and VKH has been found previously; testing for HLA-DR loci has not been performed to date. The authors performed HLA typing of 23 American patients with VKH and 8 patients with SO. When VKH patients were compared with racially matched controls without disease and patients with other types of uveitis, strong associations with HLA-DR4 and HLA-DRw53 were found. The strongest associations observed in this sample were with HLA-DQw3, an antigen which is in positive linkage disequilibrium with DR4, and with the HLA-DR4/DQw3 haplotype. The small number of patients with SO precluded statistical analysis; however, similar HLA associations were noted. The patients also were questioned regarding their ancestry. The anecdotal association of VKH with American Indian ancestry was confirmed. It appears that the ethnoracial association may be explained by HLA type. One possible explanation for identical HLA associations in two diseases with different precipitating events yet similar ocular manifestations is development of an altered immune response to exogenous microbial antigen with subsequent autoimmunity. Further definition of the genetic susceptibility to VKH and SO may help define the pathophysiology of both diseases and allow the prediction of which patients are at increased risk for SO.
Logging of Rare Rosewood and Palisandre (Dalbergia spp.) within Marojejy National Park, Madagascar

Illegal logging of precious wood has emerged as one of the most severe threats to Madagascar’s northeastern rainforests. Thousands of logs, worth millions of dollars, have recently been confiscated at ports of Vohemar, Antalaha, and Toamasina. This report details the logging of rare, endemic rosewood and palisandre ( Dalbergia baronii , D. louveli , and D. madagascariensis ) within the eastern and northeastern portions of Marojejy National Park, Madagascar. Harvesting these heavy hardwoods is a labor intensive activity requiring coordination between localresidents who manually cut the trees, but receive little profit, and a criminal network of exporters, domestic transporters, and corrupt officials who initiate the process and reap most of the profits. Structured interviews of residents identified three major perceived causes: decline in value of the local vanilla cash crop, extremely high value of rosewood, and local poverty. The impacts of such selective logging include violating local taboos as well as ecological consequences such as increased likehood of fire, invasive species, impaired habitat, and loss in genetic diversity. Recommendations include listing D. louveli under CITES Appendix III, increasing the involvement of thejudicial system, no future authorizations for the gathering of precious wood, reforestation, and extensive monitoring along strategic roadways.
Time course of metabolic findings in coronary occlusion and reperfusion and their role for assessing myocardial salvage

The techniques currently used to assess myocardial infarction are limited in their ability to determine the amount of viable myocardium after a temporary ischemic event. Blood flow and segmental function may not necessarily demonstrate salvage, whereas metabolic parameters will determine cell survival. In an open chest dog model, short occlusion times of 20 min and subsequent reperfusion using C-11 palmitate as an index of fatty acid metabolism showed depression of fatty acid oxidation, which recovered after 3 hours of reperfusion, indicating the partial reversibility of the ischemic condition. In more extensive studies, using positron emission tomography (PET) and, as an indicator of glucose metabolism, fluoro-F-18-deoxyglucose (FDG); N-13 ammonia in addition to C-11 palmitate for the determination of blood flow; and ultrasonic crystals to measure shortening in the reperfused and control territories, the duration of occlusion was 3 h. Metabolic studies were repeated 24 h, 1 week, and 4 weeks after the ischemic injury. Reperfused viable myocardium exhibited residual glucose metabolism with FDG, whereas fatty acid oxidation remained impaired for a longer period. Gradual metabolic recovery during a 4-week period was associated with the prolonged recovery of regional function, whereas a lack of residual metabolic activity indicated that little change in function was likely to occur. Increased FDG uptake and impaired C-11 palmitate turnover are characteristic of reversibly injured tissue. Therefore, PET studies may offer a unique potential for the evaluation of therapeutic measures such as thrombolysis and early revascularization.
Sensitivity of sonoluminescence to experimental parameters.

Light-scattering measurements have enabled us to determine that the transition to sonoluminescence is characterized by a bifurcation in the dynamics of a trapped pulsating bubble. These experiments also reveal that in the sonoluminescence (SL) state, changes in bubble radius of only 20% are associated with factors of 200 in the intensity of emitted light. This sensitivity of SL suggests that it originates from the kind of singular behavior that arises from the implosion of a shock wave. Theoretical extrapolations of this model to energy scales for fusion are discussed.
Size effects in the distribution for strength of brittle matrix fibrous composites

Abstract This paper addresses the effects of size (both length and width) on the probability distribution for strength of a composite consisting of brittle fibers aligned in a brittle matrix. The failure process involves quasi-periodic matrix cracking, frictional sliding of the fibers in fiber break zones, and fiber bridging of matrix cracks in a global load-sharing framework. The fiber strength follows the usual Poisson-Weibull model of random flaws along the length. We first consider a composite cross-section, and develop the probability distribution for its strength in terms of certain characteristic fiber strength and length scales and the number of fibers in the cross-section. This strength distribution turns out to be a Gaussian distribution. We also calculate refined estimates of its mean and standard deviation, taking advantage of some new results based on an exact closed form solution for fragmentation of fibers in a single filament composite. We then consider the strength of a composite having a length orders of magnitude greater than the characteristic fiber length. We develop predictions for the scaling of the strength vs composite length based on certain results from the statistical theory of extremes in Gaussian processes. For this we develop an estimate of the covariance between the strengths of two nearby cross-sections of the composite. We also develop results based on a weakest-link analysis in terms of composite links of a certain length somewhat shorter than the characteristic fiber length. We then favorably compare our analytical results to numerical results from a Monte Carlo simulation of the composite failure process. This Monte Carlo model is free of various assumptions made in the analysis. The comparison suggests that predictions of a composite strength are possible for composite lengths orders of magnitude beyond what Monte Carlo simulation programs can currently handle.