cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some clarifications in the mathematical theory of electrophoresis

Abstract Some minor clarifications are made in the mathematical aspects of the theory of moving-boundary electrophoresis, mostly related to the property of mean-square asymptotic stability (or the mean-square uniqueness of a steady state that sets in very quickly). This property, which should be of some interest to those who use electrophoresis as a tool, is proven for a simple reacting system (as well as for a nonreacting system) previously studied by John R. Cann of the University of Colorado Medical School. Here we assume that a certain reaction rate function is nondecreasing and some comments are made relative to properties of solutions. It is emphasized throughout that both boundary specifications and prescriptions of values on the boundary can be kept finite and can be prescribed in such a way that regular solutions exist. It is felt that this serves to make physical interpretations of solutions easier for empirical investigators.
PIKfyve Kinase and SKD1 AAA ATPase Define Distinct Endocytic Compartments ONLY PIKfyve EXPRESSION INHIBITS THE CELL-VACUOLATING ACTIVITY OF HELICOBACTER PYLORI VacA TOXIN

Abstract The mammalian phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns)- 5-P/PtdIns-3,5-P2-producing kinase PIKfyve and AAA ATPase SKD1, as their yeast counterparts, are implicated in the formation and function of multivesicular bodies/late endosomes. Point mutations inhibiting the enzyme activities convert PIKfyve and SKD1 into dominant-negative mutants (PIKfyveK1831E and SKD1E235Q), whose expression in cells of kidney origin induces a vacuolation phenotype. This phenotype closely resembles the changes in late endosomal-lysosomal morphology that occur following cell exposure to the vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA) from Helicobacter pylori. Here we have examined the possible functional relationship between PIKfyve and SKD1 as well as the role of these enzymes in the molecular mechanism of VacA-induced intracellular vacuolation. When co-expressed in COS cells, PIKfyveWT reduced SKD1E235Qdependent vacuole formation, whereas SKD1WT did not alter the vacuolation induced by PIKfyveK1831E. In addition, SKD1E235Q disrupted the normal distribution of PIKfyveWT. Expression of PIKfyveWT in COS and HEK293 cells inhibited vacuolation induced by subsequent intoxication with VacA, and microinjection of the PIKfyve lipid product PtdIns-3,5-P2 produced a similar inhibitory effect. In contrast, in COS cells expressing SKD1WT, VacA induced the formation of characteristic vacuoles with an efficiency similar to that in the control cells. These observations demonstrate that, although PIKfyve and SKD1 are functionally related, only PIKfyve regulates VacA action, and suggest that the inhibition of PIKfyve PtdIns-3,5-P2-producing activity is a key molecular event in VacA-induced cellular vacuolation.
Alkaline Earth Salts of Glutamic Acid and Optical Resolution of their Racemic Modifications

The solubilities of monocalcium and monomagnesium diglutamate and calcium, magnesium, barium and strontium glutamate in water were measured in respect to both the l-form and the dl-form to conjecture the constitution of the racemic modification of each salt. It was concluded from the result that only magnesium dl-glutamate among six saltsis a congromerate and the others except the barium salt are all racemic compounds. The conclusion was supported by results from measurements of the infrared spectra and the X-ray diffractions. As for barium glutamate, a definite conclusion could not be obtained, but its racemic form seems to be congromerate or a racemic compound with a weak affinity between the isomers. Optical resolution based on the inoculation method was tried for calcium, magnesium, barium and strontium dl-glutamate, and the selective crystallization of the active form from the supersaturated solutions of magnesium and calcium dl-glutamate proceeded, though the process was unstable in the latter case;...
Intergenerational Dynamics of Trauma

This article presents an analysis of the detrimental effects of intergenerational dynamics of trauma on infant psychoneurobiology. It examines how relationally impoverished environments disallow typical development of the right brain. There exists an advanced relationship based model of psychotherapy for the mother and her infant. This clinical approach uses interactive affect attunement to foster healthy psychobiological transactions and normal neurobiological maturation. The therapist's own affect regulation and attuned self-awareness give form to a new relationship between the mother and her infant. Mother infant psychotherapy repairs broken hearts and transforms intergenerational dynamics of trauma.
A multiperiod capacity planning model for backbone computer communication networks

The cost of transmission capacity constitutes a significant portion of the total investment cost of a backbone computer communications network. In this paper, we address the problem of deciding where, when and how much transmission capacity should be installed, over a multiperiod horizon, to meet increasing traffic requirements at minimum total discounted cost, while maintaining acceptable performance levels. The model allows traffic among existing nodes to increase, new nodes to be added to the network, and its topology to change, over time. It is formulated as an integer programming problem, and a Lagrangian relaxation based solution method is proposed. Capacity and routing decisions are made jointly over time in our multiperiod model. Furthermore, our method automatically provides numerical verification of solution quality through the Lagrangian lower bound. Computational experiments with several networks show that the method yields verifiably good solutions to this combinatorially explosive problem.
The effect of photoperiod on serum concentrations of luteinizing and follicle stimulating hormones in prepubertal heifers following ovariectomy and estradiol injection.

Abstract Eleven heifers, between 63 and 197 days of age, were exposed to 18 hr light/day (L) or natural photoperiods (N), beginning October 19, 1979. They were ovariectomized 8 weeks later. LH concentrations after ovariectomy were not affected by photoperiod, but the rate of increase of FSH after ovariectomy was greater (P
A donor–chromophore complex containing the polyazine bridging ligand 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine

Abstract The complex [(PTZpbpy) 2 Ru(dpp)](PF 6 ) 2 coupling a phenothiazine derived electron donor to a ruthenium complex with a polyazine bridging ligand dpp (PTZpbpy = 4-methyl-4′-(4-( N -phenothiazinato)pentyl)-2,2′-bipyridine, dpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine) has been synthesized and the redox, spectroscopic, and excited state properties elucidated. In the coupled electron donor system, the emission intensity from the Ru(dπ) → dpp(π ∗ ) 3 MLCT state is quenched by 94% of that of the analogous system [(bpy) 2 Ru(dpp)](PF 6 ) 2 (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) which lacks a coupled electron donor. Coupling a donor–chromophore unit to a bridging ligand will allow the expansion of the molecular architecture to form complex molecular assemblies which contain covalently attached electron donors.
Fair Trade and Free Entry: Can a Disequilibrium Market Serve as a Development Tool?

Abstract The Fair Trade (FT) coffee initiative attempts to channel charity from consumers to poor producers via increased prices. We show that the rules of the FT system permit this rent to be eliminated due to free entry and costly excess certification of output. Using data from an association of coffee cooperatives in Central America, we verify that expected producer benefits are close to 0 when we take into account the output that is certified but not sold as FT. Our results illustrate how free entry undermines the attempt at extending charity via a price distortion in an otherwise competitive market.
Can China learn from Hong Kong's experience in fighting corruption? 1

Widespread corruption in mainland China adversely affects the overall economy in general and international business in particular. Prior to the establishment of the Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) in 1974, corruption was also rampant in Hong Kong. The ICAC effectively cleaned corruption in Hong Kong within a short period of time. Hong Kong's success in this area has prompted the Chinese government to learn from Hong Kong's experience. This article reviews the factors that contributed to Hong Kong's success in fighting corruption and discusses whether China can learn from the Hong Kong experience. From this, we can conclude that, first, Hong Kong's experience demonstrates that a corruption‐prone culture can be changed in a relatively short period of time; second, in order for China to learn from Hong Kong's experience, there must be substantial changes in China's political and economic institutions.
On the angle restricted nearest neighbor problem

Abstract We present a simple and efficient O(N log2N) time divide-and-conquer algorithm for solving the all pairs angle restricted neighbors problem for a set of N sites in the plane under any Lp metric, 1 ⩽ p ⩽ ∞. Our method also leads to an O(N logd-1N) expected time algorithm for the d-dimensional all pairs angle restricted neighbors problem, for d ⩾ 2.
Factors influencing the crystal chemistry of chemically delithiated layered HxNi1-y-zMnyCozO2

Layered HxNi1−y−zMnyCozO2 oxides have been synthesized by chemically extracting lithium from the corresponding LiNi1−y−zMnyCozO2 with the oxidizer NO2BF4 in acetonitrile. Rietveld analysis of the X-ray diffraction data reveals that the structure of the delithiated HxNi0.5−yMn0.5−yCo2yO2 phases obtained from LiNi0.5−yMn0.5−yCo2yO2 synthesized at 900 °C changes from P3 type (in HxCoO2) to O1 type (in HxNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2) to O3 type (in HxNi0.5Mn0.5O2) with decreasing Co content. In addition, the tendency to form the P3 type phase instead of the O1 type phase in the case of HxNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2 increases as the synthesis temperature of the parent LiNi0.33Mn0.33Co0.33O2 decreases from 900 to 600 °C. A similar tendency to form the P3 type phase instead of the O3 type phase is also seen with the HxNi0.5Co0.5O2 system with decreasing synthesis temperature of LiNi0.5Co0.5O2. These observed variations in the type of phases formed are explained on the basis of (i) the differences in the chemical lithium extraction rate caused by the differences in the degree of cation disorder and surface area, and (ii) the proton content inserted during chemical lithium extraction.
Poems Shaped Like Maps: (Di)Versifying the Teaching of Geography, II

This paper is about poems shaped like maps. It presents a brief history of visual poetry, beginning with the ancient Greek technopaignia and culminating in the concrete and experimental map-poems of the latter half of the twentieth century. After outlining some resemblances between concrete poetry and maps generally, the paper focuses on nine works spanning nearly forty years: from “Geographica Europa” by Eugen Gomringer, a founder of concrete poetry (1960), to “Manhattan” by Howard Horowitz, a professional geographer and poet (1997). Because these poems are maps, and because visual poetry resembles cartography in its graphic form, these playful map-poems offer a delightfully eccentric way to teach how maps—like/as poems—are generalized, simplified, and selective views of the world. This paper will tell their stories.
The prevalence of renal cell carcinoma diagnosed at autopsy

OBJECTIVE To compare the rate of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) detected only at autopsy, from two periods, to determine if the apparent recent increase in RCC in the USA is a true increase or mainly a result of improved imaging techniques, as a true increase in the clinical incidence of RCC should not affect the number of previously undiscovered RCC found only at autopsy. PATIENTS AND METHODS We identified all individuals who underwent autopsy in two periods, 1955–60 (3307) and 1991–2001 (2938), and who were indentified with renal tumour either before or after death. Information was obtained on age, sex, histological type and size of tumour, and whether the tumour was identified before or only after death. All cases of RCC detected at autopsy were reviewed for this analysis by one pathologist (L.D.). RESULTS Between 1955–60 and 1991–2001 there was a 55% reduction in the mean annual number of autopsies. The proportion of malignant renal masses (RCC) did not change significantly (35.4% to 32.8%). The rate of previously unsuspected RCC detected only at autopsy did not change significantly (0.91 vs 0.72 per 100 autopsies). CONCLUSION The number of renal masses, both benign and malignant, discovered only at autopsy is declining, possibly because of better detection before death. However, the rate of occult kidney cancer per 100 autopsies did not change significantly between the two periods, suggesting a true increase in the frequency of clinically detected kidney cancer.
Pseudopod Projection and Cell Spreading of Passive Leukocytes in Response to Fluid Shear Stress

Recent evidence suggests that circulating leukocytes respond to physiological levels of fluid shear stress. This study was designed to examine the shear stress response of individual leukocytes adhering passively to a glass surface. Human leukocytes were exposed to a step fluid shear stress with amplitude between 0.2 and 4 dyn/cm2 and duration between 1 and 20 min. The response of the cells was determined in the form of projected cell area measurements by high-resolution observation before, during, and after fluid shear application. All cells selected initially had a round morphology. After application of fluid shear many cells projected pseudopodia and spread on the glass surface. The number of leukocytes responding with pseudopod projection and the extent of cell spreading increased with increasing amplitude and duration of fluid shear stress. Pseudopod projection after exposure to a step fluid shear occurs following a delay that is insensitive to the shear stress amplitude and duration. Leukocytes that did not project pseudopodia and spread in response to low shear stress could be shown to respond to a second shear step of higher amplitude. The spreading response requires an intact actin network and activated myosin molecules. Depleting the cell glycocalyx with protease treatment enhances the spreading response in sheared leukocytes. These results indicate that passive leukocytes respond to fluid shear stress with active pseudopod projection and cell spreading. This behavior may contribute to cell spreading on endothelium and other cells as well as to transendothelial migration of leukocytes in the microcirculation.
Pancreatic ultrasound following blunt abdominal trauma.

Ten patients with suspected pancreatic injury from blunt abdominal trauma were evaluated by ultrasound. One examination performed on the day of the trauma was nondiagnostic. Nine examinations were performed between 6 days and 9 months following the trauma and revealed a pseudocyst in 3, and pancreatic enlargement in 2 patients. The remaining 4 examinations were normal and helped to exclude pancreatic injury.
Secondary Flow Induced by a Transverse Resonant Acoustic Field in a Circular Duct

Finite amplitude standing transverse resonant acoustic field effects upon flow behavior of viscous fluid in cylindrical enclosure to acoustically model combustion instability
The coupling of biologically active molecules to insoluble polymers: antibody on cellulose.

Antibody globulin coupled to diazotized aminoaryl derivative of carboxymethyl-cellulose to form immunoadsorbent for extracting antigens
The carcinogenicity of dietary di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in Fischer 344 rats and B6C3F1 mice.

Groups of 50 male and female Fischer 344 rats and male and female B6C3Fl mice were fed diets containing 6000 or 12,000 (rats) or 3000 or 6000 (mice) mg di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)/kg feed for 103 consecutive wk. Concurrent controls (50 of each sex and species) were fed diet without the addition of DEHP. Treatment with DEHP did not affect survival rates for rats or mice, nor did it alter the amount of food consumed. Mean body weight gains of treated male rats (6000 and 12,000 mg/kg), female rats (12,000 mg/kg), and female mice (3000 and 6000 mg/kg) were less than those of the corresponding controls. Seminiferous tubular degeneration and hypertrophy of cells in the anterior pituitary were observed in male rats at 12,000 mg/kg, and chronic inflammation of the kidney and seminiferous tubular degeneration were observed in male mice at 6000 mg/kg. Neither clinical signs of toxicity nor nonneoplastic lesions were detected in the other treated groups at incidences greater than in the corresponding controls....
Mediating Piety: Technology and Religion in Contemporary Asia

Mediating Piety: Technology and Religion in Contemporary Asia, edited by Francis Khek Gee Lim, Brill: Leiden and Boston, 2009, xii + 240pp. ISBN 978 90 04 17839 7, US$117 (hbk) As the global media ...
Phase transformations in lipids follow classical kinetics with small fractional dimensionalities.

The kinetics of the gel-to-crystal phase transformation have been studied dilatometrically for lipid dispersions of 1,2-palmitoyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC). A new crystallization procedure is introduced in which the sample is first briefly quenched to form a small population of nuclei followed by jumping to temperatures at which negligible nucleation takes place but at which growth of nuclei occurs. Kinetic data obtained this way fit the classical Kolmogorov-Avrami relation very well over all measured times, up to 95% crystallization, but the effective dimensionality of the growing domains is only n=1.0--1.3. For the same system, differential scanning calorimetry shows that the data for the crystal-to-gel phase transformation are well fit with n\ensuremath{\sim}1.1 and the data for the gel-to-ripple phase transformation are well fit with n\ensuremath{\sim}0.8. Among the different possible causes of the small value of n for the two transformations involving the gel and crystal phases, the most viable focuses upon circular domains growing within each bilayer and the finite-size effects present in particular geometry of lipid dispersions. The fact that the gel-to-ripple transformation has a pronounced one-dimensional character accounts for its n value being even smaller.
Calcium compartments in brain.

Excellent progress has been made toward understanding the physiology and pharmacology of specific calcium-related cellular processes of the brain, but few studies have provided an integrated view o...
Efficient sampling for three-dimensional atom probe microscopy data

The best calculation of concentration profiles, isoconcentration surfaces or Gibbsian interfacial excesses from three-dimensional atom-probe microscopy data requires a compromise between spatial positioning error and statistical sampling error. For example, sampling from larger spatial regions decreases the statistical error, but increases the error in spatial positioning. Finding the appropriate balance for a particular calculation can be tricky, especially when the three-dimensional nature of the data presents an infinite number of degrees of freedom in defining surfaces, and when the statistical error is changing from one region of a sample to another due to differences in collection efficiency or atomic density. We present some strategies for approaching these problems, focusing on efficient algorithms for generating different spatial samplings. We present a unique double-splat algorithm, in which an initial, fine-grained sampling is taken to convert the data to a regular grid, followed by a second, variable width splat, to spread the effective sampling distance to any value desired. The first sampling is time consuming for a large dataset, but needs only be performed once. The second splat is done on a regular grid, so it is efficient, and can be repeated as many times as necessary to find the correct balance of statistical and positioning error. The net effect is equivalent to a Gaussian spreading of each data point, without the necessity of calculating Gaussian coefficients for millions of data points. We show examples of isoconcentration surfaces calculated under different circumstances from the same dataset.
A study of the volumetric and phase behavior of binary systems. Part II. Vapor‐liquid equilibria and azeotropic states of propane‐perfluorocyclobutane mixtures

Measurement of vapor-liquid equilibria and azeotropic states of propane-perfluorocyclobutane mixtures are reported. The propane-perfluorocyclobutane system exhibits positive azeotropic behavior which persists in the critical region of the system. The prediction of vapor-liquid equilibria and of the locus of azeotropic points using an extended corresponding states principle is also reported. The predictions require information obtained solely from a study of the critical states of the system. 11 refs.
PDGF-β Receptor Expression in the Dorsocaudal Brainstem Parallels Hypoxic Ventilatory Depression in the Developing Rat

The temporal trajectory of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-β receptor activation within the dorsocaudal brainstem parallels that of the mild hypoxic ventilatory depression (HVD) seen in adult rats. We hypothesized that enhanced PDGF-β receptor activity may account for the particularly prominent HVD of developing mammals. To study this issue, 2-, 5-, 10-, and 20-d-old rats underwent hypoxic challenges (10% O2 for 30 min) after pretreatment with either vehicle (Veh) or the selective PDGF-β receptor antagonist CGP57148B (intraperitoneal 100 mg/kg). The developmental characteristics and magnitude of the peak hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) were not modified by the PDGF-β receptor blocker. However, HVD was markedly attenuated by CGP57148B, and such effect, although still present, gradually abated with increasing postnatal age [p < 0.001, analysis of variance (ANOVA)]. Hypercapnic ventilatory responses were not affected by CGP57148B. The expression of PDGF-β receptor in the dorsocaudal brainstem was assessed by immunoblotting and confirmed progressively decreasing expression with maturation. We conclude that PDGF-β receptor activation during hypoxia is an important contributor to HVD at all postnatal ages but more particularly in the immature rat.
Combination rule for redundant information in reaction time tasks with divided attention

Five choice reaction time experiments were conducted to investigate the redundant-signals effect in letter identification. In two experiments, displays were large letters formed by small letters. Three experiments used simple two-letter displays with different spatial arrangements. Data were analyzed by the measurement model of variable criterion theory. In all experiments, throughout the RT distributions, the strength of the redundant signals condition was an extremely precise linear function of the sum of the strengths of the separate components. Each stimulus component contributed about one-half of its strength. The form of the distribution was entirely determined by this additive relation. However, the superiority of the redundant-signals condition is not produced by this summation, but by an additive constant present throughout the distribution. It is suggested that this represents a decrement produced by a distractor in a relevant location in single-target conditions. The results strongly favor strength theory as opposed to separate activation models that account for the redundant-signals effect by statistical facilitation. Additional information provided concerns the global precedence effect and S-R compatibility.
Hormonal regulation of myocardial adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

Abstract A simple, sensitive, and specific method for measuring changes in adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) has been applied to the investigation of hormonal control of myocardial cyclic AMP in the rat ventricular slice. Catecholamines have been demonstrated to produce a 100% increase in cyclic AMP levels. Insulin had no effect on cyclic AMP levels and did not alter the catecholamine-induced rise. The presence of Ca2+ in the extracellular fluid was not essential for the production of cyclic AMP, nor was it required for the catecholamine-induced rise in cyclic AMP. Neither glucagon, triiodothyronine or ouabain had any significant effect on cyclic AMP levels in the rat-heart slice.
New method to measure control performance of dust palliatives on unpaved roads at federal facilities

Military training activities often produce significant dust emissions from unpaved travel surfaces. Because failure to comply with environmental regulations could adversely affect training operations, prudent use of chemical palliatives for control of dust from unpaved surfaces enhances the Army's land-based training capability, mission, and combat readiness. This article describes a new, more efficient method to determine the control effectiveness of palliatives on roads at Army facilities. Rather than attempting to quantify “absolute” emission rates, the “mobile sampler” described in this article relies on relative measures. As compared to the methods used in previous field studies, the mobile sampler is not only more efficient in terms of time and labor required, it also provides greater reproducibility and relieves many of the restrictions placed on acceptable test sites when using test methods for absolute emission levels. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Purification, physicochemical characterization, and immunohistochemical localization of a major 11.7 S glycoprotein from the jelly coats of the anuran Lepidobatrachus laevis

Abstract Embryos of the frog Lepidobatrachus laevis are encased by a fertilization envelope and two jelly layers, termed J 1 (innermost) and J 2 (outermost). From preparations of total jelly solubilized from cleavage-stage embryos by a solution of alkaline β-mercaptoethanol we have purified one jelly coat glycoprotein to homogeneity via FPLC gel permeation chromatography on Superose 6H. The purified glycoprotein was 94% protein and 6% carbohydrate, had an s 20,w 0 of 11.7 S, with a molecular weight of 245,000 measured by sedimentation equilibrium and 263,000 by gel permeation chromatography. SDS—PAGE revealed that the glycoprotein is composed of a single subunit near 29,700 molecular weight; thus we propose that eight of these subunits comprise the native molecule. Amino acid analysis of the glycoprotein indicated a high content of Glx + Asx (32.4 mole%), a low content of basic amino acids (Arg + Lys = 12.2 mole%), and a single cysteine residue per subunit. The N-terminal amino acid was threonine and the sequence of the first twenty amino acids was determined. Monospecific antisera to the glycoprotein were prepared in rabbits and were used to immunohistochemically localize the glycoprotein throughout the matrix of both jelly layers. Antiserum against the glycoprotein had virtually no effect on the fertilizability of jellied eggs in vitro ; thus we hypothesize that the glycoprotein fulfills a structural role in both jelly layers.
In situ arsenic removal in an alkaline clastic aquifer

Abstract In situ removal of As from ground water used for water supply has been accomplished elsewhere in circum-neutral ground water containing high dissolved Fe(II) concentrations. The objective of this study was to evaluate in situ As ground-water treatment approaches in alkaline ground-water (pH > 8) that contains low dissolved Fe ( 2 , Fe(II), and HCl were added to water and injected into the two aquifers to form Fe-oxide and lower the pH to remove As. Cycles of injection and withdrawal involved varying Fe(II) concentrations in the injectate. The As concentrations in water withdrawn from the two aquifers were as low as 1 and 6 μg/L, with greater As removal from the aquifer containing As(V). However, Fe and Mn concentrations increased to levels greater than US drinking water standards during some of the withdrawal periods. A balance between As removal and maintenance of low Fe and Mn concentrations may be a design consideration if this approach is used for public-supply systems. The ability to lower As concentrations in situ in high-pH ground water should have broad applicability because similar high-As ground water is present in many parts of the world.
Correlation of CO2 Exchange with Moisture Regime and Light in Some Wyoming Subalpine Meadow Species

Multiple regression analysis showed that CO2 exchange of shoots subalpine meadow plants, as determined by field measurements, was correlated with light and some aspect of moisture regime (either leaf relative turgidity or soil moisture), but not with temperature. See full-text article at JSTOR
Structure, topological electron density analysis and aromaticity of 4‐heterosubstituted methylenecyclopropenes: X XCH2, NH, O, SiH2, PH and S

The structures of a series of heterosubstituted methylenecyclopropenes and methylenecyclopropanes were optimized at the HF/6–31G* level. All methylenecyclopropenes are planar except for the silicon analogue, which is bent at both C-3 and Si. The planar silicon structure is a transition state. The relative aromaticity of these compounds were evaluated using the C-1C-3 bond length, the integrated charge on C-3 and the heteroatom, and delocalization energy. Second-row systems have slightly larger delocalization energies than their first-row counterparts, owing to their larger polarizability. Using these criteria, methylenecyclopropene and the silicon analogue are not aromatic and the N, O, P and S analogues are moderately aromatic. The planar silicon analogue is antiaromatic and bends from planarity to reduce this antiaromaticity.
Strong electric field effect on weak localization

The influence of an electric field on weak localization is studied by a recently proposed generalized quantum Langevin equation approach to the conductivity problem. A general formula for the memory function of the non-interacting electron gas, in the presence of high order impurity scattering and an arbitrary electric field, is derived. In the low field case, a scale and frequency dependent conductivity is obtained, which reduces to the well known scale dependent conductivity in the static limit. In the high field case, the conductivity is field dependent through the drift velocity. It is shown that the presence of strong electric fields tends to delocalize the one and two dimensional electron systems if one adopts the electron heating model. However, if the electron gas does not heat up, the conductivity will be field independent.
Multiplier-free bandpass channelizer for undersampled applications

Today, there is a strong motivation to increase the digital content of low-power wireless transceivers. Direct data conversion is often not possible, or practical, at high radio frequencies. In such instances, undersampling analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are often used to alias information, residing above the ADC's Nyquist frequency, down to baseband as a set of nonoverlapping subbands. In this paper a low-complexity, programmable, band-selectable channelizer (a.k.a., digital downconverter) is presented that can efficiently access specific subbands from an undersampled signal space.
Overexpression of Apolipoprotein F Reduces HDL Cholesterol Levels In Vivo

Objective— Apolipoprotein F (ApoF) is a protein component of several lipoprotein classes including HDL. It is also known as lipid transfer inhibitor protein (LTIP) based on its ability to inhibit l...
The relation between erythropoiesis and plasma erythropoietin levels in normal and genetically anaemic mice during prolonged hypoxia or after whole-body irradiation.

Summary When normal mice (B6D2F1, WBB6F1- +/+ and WCB6F1- +/+) are exposed to constant hypoxia, they respond with a steady increase of PCV for about 3 weeks. Plasma erythropoietin increases sharply for the first 1 or 2 days only, then falls to control levels, with occasional temporary increases through the next 30–40 days. Genetically anaemic mice (WBB6F1-W/Wv and WCB6F1-Sl/Sld) respond differently. The W/W mice show an increase of PCV, and Sl/Sld mice do not, but both respond with large increases of plasma erythropoietin levels which persist, except for some temporary falls, through 16–40 days. The response to hypoxia of chimeric W/W mice, their anaemia cured by implantation of +/+ marrow cells, resembles that of normal +/+ mice much more than that of anaemic W/W mice. Although normal WBB6F1- +/+ mice recover after 200 R whole-body irradiation at rates similar to those of other normal mice, anaemic WBB6F1-W/W mice show delayed onset of haemopoietic recovery in spite of significant production of erythropoietin. Exogenous erythropoietin injected into mice disappears more slowly from the plasma of anaemic W/W mice than from the plasma of normal +/+ mice, and erythropoietin which has been passed through WBB6F1- +/+ normal mice is not thereby made as effective in anaemic W/W mice as it is in normal mice. These findings are consistent with the view that although both W/W and Sl/Sld anaemic mice can produce large amounts of erythropoietin over prolonged periods, W/W mice remain anaemic because of a genetic defect in RBC precursors, and Sl/Sld mice remain anaemic because of a genetic defect in some part of the internal environment in which the RBC must develop. WBB6F1-W/W anaemic mice, when exposed to hypoxia, excrete erythropoietin in their urine. When these mice have their kidneys removed and they are exposed to hypoxia for a short time there is no significant production of erythropoietin. The suggestion is made that some genetically anaemic large domestic animals, if they could be found, might be useful and needed sources of erythropoietin.
Clustering techniques for coarse-grained, antifuse FPGAs

In this paper, we present area and performance-driven clustering techniques for coarse-grained, antifuse-based FPGAs. A macro logic cell in this class of FPGAs has multiple inputs and multiple outputs. Starting with this macro cell, a library of small logic cells can be generated and a target network was mapped with the library. For the minimum-area clustering, our algorithm minimizes the number of required macro logic cells to cover a network. Two linear equations were set up and we found the optimal mapping solution by using the equations. For the performance-driven clustering, the number of macro logic cells on the critical path is minimized by using the extension of Lawler's algorithm. The results show that the area-driven clustering algorithm reduced the number of macro logic cells by 12.29% and the performance-driven clustering reduced the maximum depth by 44.75% compared to a commercial tool.
Load shared integrated networks

Fourth generation networks lead to multiple distributed wireless networks, including cellular networks of different generations, frequencies and cell sizes; wireless LAN and PAN networks, and potentially satellite and other networks. Existing studies on hierarchical networks, integrated networks, and dual mode studies show how higher efficiency can be achieved in a distributed cellular super-network. Load sharing, in distributed operating systems, strives to assist overloaded resources by overflowing tasks between systems. We consider how 3G/4G wireless networks can load share traffic using vertical handovers. This study integrates and builds upon simulation studies of hierarchical and integrated networks, and in addition, considers the impact of overflowing sessions to potentially multiple components.
Linear discriminant analysis for face recognition

Face is the most common biometric identifier used by humans. During the past thirty years, a number of face recognitign techniques have been proposed, all of these methods focus on image-based face recognition that use a still image as input data.
Multi-site incorporation of bioactive matrices into MEMS-based neural probes

Methods are presented to incorporate polymer-based bioactive matrices into micro-fabricated implantable microelectrode arrays. Using simple techniques, hydrogels infused with bioactive molecules are deposited within wells in the substrate of the device. This method allows local drug delivery without increasing the footprint of the device. In addition, each well can be loaded individually, allowing spatial and temporal control over diffusion gradients in the microenvironment of the implanted neural interface probe. In vivo testing verified the following: diffusion of the bioactive molecules, integration of the bioactive molecules with the intended neural target and concurrent extracellular recording using nearby electrodes. These results support the feasibility of using polymer gels to deliver bioactive molecules to the region close to microelectrode shanks. This technique for microdrug delivery may serve as a means to intervene with the initial phases of the neuroinflammatory tissue response to permanently implanted microelectrode arrays.
Regulation of Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein Expression in MCF-7 Breast Carcinoma Cells by Estrogen and Antiestrogens☆

Abstract Expression of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in breast carcinoma is a frequent cause of the paraneoplastic syndrome of hypercalcemia. In response to treatment with estrogen or tamoxifen, some breast cancer patients also develop a transient hypercalcemia. Therefore, the effect of 17β-estradiol (E2), tamoxifen, or its more potent metabolite, 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OH-tamoxifen), on PTHrP expression in an estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast carcinoma cell line (MCF-7) was evaluated. E2increased PTHrP mRNA levels in MCF-7 cells and stimulated PTHrP(1-86) release in a dose-dependent fashion (10−10–10−6M). Tamoxifen and OH-tamoxifen also stimulated PTHrP release in a concentration-dependent fashion that paralleled their relative ER binding affinities (10−6or 10−8–10−6M, respectively). Combined treatment with the partial estrogen agonist, OH-tamoxifen, and E2decreased E2-stimulated PTHrP secretion in MCF-7 cells to the levels seen with OH-tamoxifen treatment alone. These results suggest that transient estrogen- or tamoxifen-induced hypercalcemia in patients with breast carcinoma may be a PTHrP-mediated effect that is a marker of ER positivity.
Multi-agent-based reconfiguration for restoration of distribution systems with distributed generators

Restoration involves supplying the loads that lose power in the process of fault isolation. This process entails the development of a plan consisting of opening or closing of switches, the process called reconfiguration. Existing methods, based on centralized restoration schemes, which require a powerful central computer, may lead to a single point of failure. This paper proposes a decentralized scheme based on agents. The large-scale introduction of Distributed Generation (DG) in distribution systems has made it increasingly necessary to develop restoration schemes that consider DG. When a portion of the system isolated from the utility is fed by DGs, an island occurs. Load shedding may be the only option to maintain the island when conditions are so severe they require correction by restoration schemes. In this paper, a fast and efficient service restoration with load shedding method has been designed for land-based and ship systems, considering priority of customers. The load-shedding algorithm with the service restoration algorithm performs load shedding and restores the loads for systems with and without DG.
INTERACTION OF VITAMIN C AND IRON

Food iron is absorbed by the intestinal mucosa from two separate pools of heme and nonheme iron. Heme iron, derived from hemoglobin and myoglobin, is well absorbed and relatively little affected by other foods eaten in the same meal. On the other hand, the absorption of nonheme iron, the major dietary pool, is greatly influenced by meal composition. Ascorbic acid is a powerful enhancer of nonheme iron absorption and can reverse the inhibiting effect of such substances as tea and calcium/phosphate. Its influence may be less pronounced in meals of high iron availability--those containing meat, fish, or poultry. The enhancement of iron absorption from vegetable meals is directly proportional to the quantity of ascorbic acid present. The absorption of soluble inorganic iron added to a meal increases in parallel with the absorption of nonheme iron, but ascorbic acid has a much smaller effect on insoluble iron compounds, such as ferric oxide or ferric hydroxide, which are common food contaminants. Ascorbic acid facilitates iron absorption by forming a chelate with ferric iron at acid pH that remains soluble at the alkaline pH of the duodenum. High cost and instability during food storage are the major obstacles to using ascorbic acid in programs designed to combat nutritional iron deficiency anemia.
Spike train decoding without spike sorting

We propose a novel paradigm for spike train decoding, which avoids entirely spike sorting based on waveform measurements. This paradigm directly uses the spike train collected at recording electrodes from thresholding the bandpassed voltage signal. Our approach is a paradigm, not an algorithm, since it can be used with any of the current decoding algorithms, such as population vector or likelihood-based algorithms. Based on analytical results and an extensive simulation study, we show that our paradigm is comparable to, and sometimes more efficient than, the traditional approach based on well-isolated neurons and that it remains efficient even when all electrodes are severely corrupted by noise, a situation that would render spike sorting particularly difficult. Our paradigm will also save time and computational effort, both of which are crucially important for successful operation of real-time brain-machine interfaces. Indeed, in place of the lengthy spike-sorting task of the traditional approach, it involves an exact expectation EM algorithm that is fast enough that it could also be left to run during decoding to capture potential slow changes in the states of the neurons.
Temporal dynamics of decision-making during motion perception in the visual cortex

How does the brain make decisions? Speed and accuracy of perceptual decisions covary with certainty in the input, and correlate with the rate of evidence accumulation in parietal and frontal cortical ‘‘decision neurons”. A biophysically realistic model of interactions within and between Retina/LGN and cortical areas V1, MT, MST, and LIP, gated by basal ganglia, simulates dynamic properties of decision-making in response to ambiguous visual motion stimuli used by Newsome, Shadlen, and colleagues in their neurophysiological experiments. The model clarifies how brain circuits that solve the aperture problem interact with a recurrent competitive network with self-normalizing choice properties to carry out probabilistic decisions in real time. Some scientists claim that perception and decision-making can be described using Bayesian inference or related general statistical ideas, that estimate the optimal interpretation of the stimulus given priors and likelihoods. However, such concepts do not propose the neocortical mechanisms that enable perception, and make decisions. The present model explains behavioral and neurophysiological decision-making data without an appeal to Bayesian concepts and, unlike other existing models of these data, generates perceptual representations and choice dynamics in response to the experimental visual stimuli. Quantitative model simulations include the time course of LIP neuronal dynamics, as well as behavioral accuracy and reaction time properties, during both correct and error trials at different levels of input ambiguity in both fixed duration and reaction time tasks. Model MT/MST interactions compute the global direction of random dot motion stimuli, while model LIP computes the stochastic perceptual decision that leads to a saccadic eye movement. 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Morally relevant potential

Fetuses and infants are said to warrant protecting because of their potential. But valuing potential supposedly leads to absurdities like protecting cells that could be technologically altered to develop into persons. This can be avoided by recognising that morally relevant potential is determined by what is presently healthy development (proper functioning) for an organism. The only interests of mindless organisms are in the flourishing that necessarily depends upon their healthy functioning. They can be harmed when those interests are frustrated. We criticise McMahan for claiming that harm is instead a function of the degree of psychological ties to the future.
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel human 5'-deoxy-5'-methylthioadenosine phosphorylase (MTAP) substrates.

Abstract The structure-based design, chemical synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel MTAP substrates are described. These compounds incorporate various C5′-moieties and are shown to have different k cat / K m values compared with the natural MTAP substrate (MTA).
Experimental flow studies in exact-replica phantoms of atherosclerotic carotid bifurcations under steady input conditions.

Extensive flow studies are conducted in two carotid bifurcation flow phantoms. These phantoms exactly replicate the lumen of the plaque excised intact from two patients with severe carotid atherosclerosis. The input flow into the phantom's common carotid artery is steady. Novel scanning techniques for flow visualization and particle image velocimetry are used. In addition, a novel boundary treatment technique is employed in velocimetry to extract first order accurate velocity gradients at walls. The data show that the flow fields are highly three-dimensional. Numerous separation and recirculation zones dominate the flow domain, except at the lowest Reynolds numbers. The separation regions are often so severe that highly directed internal jets form. At high Reynolds numbers, the flows become unsteady and chaotic, even though the input flow is steady. Flow fields have large regions of energetic flow and almost stagnant recirculation zones. These recirculation zones range in size from the full size of the arteries to zones within crevasses smaller than 1 mm. Velocity field and streamline patterns conform well to the lumen geometry. The streamlines are highly tortuous. Stagnation points correlate well with the topological features of the stenosis. Vorticity snaps confirm the highly complex and three dimensional nature of the flow. Wall shear stresses at the stenoses are estimated to be on the order of 10 Pa. These studies conclusively show that the nature of the flow in the diseased bifurcation is primarily dictated by the lumen geometry.
Stabilization of oscillator phase using a fiber-optic delay-line

The authors describe an electronic oscillator phase stabilizer based on a fiber-optic delay-line. Excellent agreement between calculated and first experimental results was obtained for this fiber-optic stabilized electronic oscillator (FOSO) at 100 MHz and 7.8 GHz. Expressions are derived for the FOSO phase noise performance and optimum fiber length, based on the noise contributions of the various components. The predicted performance of the FOSO expected with improved system components is also calculated. The FOSO is tunable over an extremely wide frequency range, with phase noise performance rivaling that of good resonant-cavity stabilized oscillators, which are constrained to narrowband operation. >
Effect of Altered Sterol Composition on Growth Characteristics of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The function of sterols in mitochondrial structures of yeast was examined. Sterol mutant strains were employed to examine the effects of altered sterolic content on optimal and permissive growth temperatures in respiring and fermenting cultures. Although fermentative growth was unaffected by sterol composition, a definite decrease in both the optimal and the permissive growth temperatures of respiring cultures was observed when ergosterol was replaced by Delta(8(9), 22)-ergostadiene-3beta-ol. In vitro studies showed a similar decrease in membrane phase transition temperatures of the mitochondrial enzyme S-adenosylmethionine: Delta(24)-sterol methyltransferase in the mutant strains. Increased sterol and methyltransferase levels were detected in strains incapable of synthesizing ergosterol. A possible control function governing sterol synthesis is proposed for ergosterol.