cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shock‐induced prompt relativistic electron acceleration in the inner magnetosphere

We present twin Van Allen Probes spacecraft observations of the effects of a solar wind shock impacting the magnetosphere on 8 October 2013. The event provides details both of the accelerating electric fields associated with the shock and the response of inner magnetosphere electron populations across a broad range of energies. During this period, the two Van Allen Probes observed shock effects from the vantage point of the dayside magnetosphere at radial positions of L = 3 and L = 5, at the location where shock-induced acceleration of relativistic electrons occurs. The extended (~1 min) duration of the accelerating electric field across a broad extent of the dayside magnetosphere, coupled with energy-dependent relativistic electron gradient drift velocities, selects a preferred range of energies (3–4 MeV) for the initial enhancement. Those electrons—whose drift velocity closely matches the azimuthal phase velocity of the shock-induced pulse—stayed in the accelerating wave as it propagated tailward and received the largest increase in energy. Drift resonance with subsequent strong ULF waves further accentuated this range of electron energies. Phase space density and positional considerations permit the identification of the source population of the energized electrons. Observations detail the promptness (<20 min), energy range (1.5–4.5 MeV), energy increase (~500 keV), and spatial extent (L* ~3.5–4.0) of the enhancement of the relativistic electrons. Prompt acceleration by impulsive shock-induced electric fields and subsequent ULF wave processes therefore comprises a significant mechanism for the acceleration of highly relativistic electrons deep inside the outer radiation belt as shown clearly by this event.
Notes on Sconing and Relators

This paper describes a semantics of typed lambda calculi based on relations. The main mathematical tool is a category-theoretic method of sconing, also called glueing or Freyd covers. Its correspondence to logical relations is also examined.
Hyperestrinism in old women; report of a case with cortical and medullary hyperplasia of the ovaries and possible adrenal hyperactivity.

Abstract 1. 1. Postmenopausal hyperestrinism may be associated morphologically with hyperplasia and production of new cells of endocrine type in the ovaries. 2. 2. These cells, luteinized stromal cells and hilus (Leydig) cells, may be the manufacturers of estrogens in the postmenopausal ovary. 3. 3. The lutein cell nests may involute with the formation of scars. 4. 4. It is possible that the adrenal cortex can participate with the ovaries in the production of postmenopausal hyperestrinism, and that both glands are stimulated by the anterior pituitary in such cases. 5. 5. A case has been presented in which endometrial carcinoma and a pronounced estrogen effect in the vaginal smear of a 73-year-old woman were associated with ovarian cortical and medullary hyperplasia, production of luteinized stromal and hilus cells, and possible adrenal hyperactivity.
Improved arrival time detection for cardiac pulse transit sonomicrometry

Routine pulse transit sonomicrometry uses simple threshold detection to determine ultrasonic signal arrival time. An improved method uses the known shape of the signal's leading edge as a 1.5 to 3 /spl mu/sec template to find the arrival time with a cross-correlation matched energy estimator procedure. Over a sliding window in the received data, the template data and it's Hilbert transform are cross correlated with the received data. The cross correlation generates a likelihood estimate for all possible window position, each corresponding to an arrival time. Waterbath and animal transducer signals were collected using a conventional sonomicrometer connected to a digital oscilloscope and the data analyzed off-line to implement the algorithms. Likelihood estimators behaved as expected and peak detection used on the likelihood estimators gave arrival times uniformly within 100 ns of conventional threshold detection. Various amounts of noise were added to the received signal to evaluate robustness. Even with enough noise that the original signal was barely visible in a time plot, the new likelihood procedure yielded very close arrival times.
Tectonic Escape in the Evolution of the Continental Crust

The continental crust originated by processes similar to those operating today and continents consist of material most of which originated long ago in arc-systems that have later been modified, especially at Andean margins and in continental collisions where crustal thickening is common. Collision-related strike-slip motion is a general process in continental evolution. Because buoyant continental (or arc) material generally moves during collision toward a nearby oceanic margin where less buoyant lithosphere crops out, the process of major strike-slip dominated motion toward a 'free-face' is called 'tectonic escape'. Tectonic escape is and has been an element in continental evolution throughout recorded earth-history. It promotes: (1) rifting and the formation of rift-basins with thinning of thickened crust; (2) pervasive strike-slip faulting late in orogenic history which breaks up mountain belts across strike and may juxtapose unrelated sectors in cross-section; (3) localized compressional mountains and related foreland-trough basins.
Large‐scale quasiperiodic plasma bubbles: C/NOFS observations and causal mechanism

[1] Large-scale periodic plasma bubbles are often observed by ionospheric radars and satellites. The seeding effect of atmospheric gravity waves has been widely used to explain the generation of periodic plasma bubbles. However, it has not been well understood where the seeding process occurs and how a series of plasma bubbles is triggered. In this study, we present the observations of equatorial plasma bubbles by the Communication/Navigation Outage Forecasting System (C/NOFS) satellite. We show examples of quasiperiodic plasma bubbles in the post-midnight sector, with nearly equal distance of 800–1000 km between adjacent bubbles, in 2008 under deep solar minimum conditions. The bubble chain covered a longitudinal range of ~7000 km between 00:00 and 04:00 LT. Quasiperiodic plasma bubbles were also measured by C/NOFS in the evening sector in 2011 during the ascending phase of the solar activity, and the longitudinal distance between adjacent bubbles was ~500 km. We propose a causal mechanism to explain the generation of quasiperiodic plasma bubbles. In this scenario, atmospheric gravity waves are generated near the sunset terminator and initiate the Rayleigh-Taylor instability there. The spatial (longitudinal) periodicity of plasma bubbles is determined by the temporal periodicity of the seeding gravity waves. A period of 15–30 min of the seeding gravity waves corresponds to a longitudinal separation of 500–1000 km between adjacent bubbles. This mechanism provides a reasonable explanation of the observed quasiperiodic plasma bubbles.
Minimizing risk in applying metrics on multiple projects

Using the author's own metrics validation methodology, he shows how this methodology can be used across dissimilar multiple projects. He shows how to reduce the risk of using metrics on multiple projects. He also shows that the choice of metrics and their values can have a significant effect on the quality of software that is achieved and on the cost and amount of inspection that is incurred on multiple projects. A multi-project example, emphasizing the discriminative power validity criterion in support of the quality control function, is presented. A metrics validation process is defined that integrates quality factors, metrics and quality functions. >
Risk Assessment of Neem Products: Environmental Implications

The evidence to date suggests that insecticides derived from the neem tree are unlikely to cause substantial environmental damage and these products appear to be safer than synthetic neurotoxins. However, pesticides derived from neem are poisons and thus should be treated as such. Certain organisms are particularly sensitive to neem and this should be taken into consideration when contemplating their use.
Spectroscopic Studies on Dyes VI. Cis‐Trans Isomerism of N,N′‐Dimethyl‐5,5′, 7,7′‐Tetrabromoindigo [l a]

The photochemical transcis isomerization of N,N′-dimethyl-5,5′,7,7′-tetrabromoindigo was studied by irradiation of a benzene solution of this dye with filtered red light (λ > 610 nm), followed by point-by-point determination of its spectral absorption at 10 nm intervals throughout the visible region of the spectrum. From these data it was possible to calculate the spectral absorption curve of the cis isomer. The data obtained were found to be consistent with preliminary results on N,N′-dimethylindigo [2] and in contradiction with those of Pummerer and Marondel [3] on these dyes.
Storage age of transfused platelets and outcomes after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between duration of platelet (PLT) storage, currently limited to 5 days, and surgical outcomes has not been established. We tested the hypothesis that PLT storage age was associated with adverse outcomes. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort of aortocoronary bypass (CABG) surgery patients from January 1996 to January 2005 receiving one or more PLT transfusions was selected for study. The composite primary (“short-term”) outcome was 30-day mortality or prolonged hospital stay. Secondary outcomes included complications and survival to annual follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression models and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis evaluated the association between PLT storage age and outcomes, expressed as an odds ratio (OR) or hazard ratio with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), respectively. RESULTS: PLT transfusion was administered to 3272 of 10,275 CABG patients and 2578 received units of known storage age, which ranged between 2 and 5 days (median, 4 days; 25th percentile, 3 days; 75th percentile, 5 days). The mortality rate for the 1637 patients receiving a single plateletpheresis transfusion was 3.8%, while 21.6% experienced a prolonged hospital stay or death. After adjusting for the number of PLT and red blood cell (RBC) units transfused, RBC storage age, and preoperative mortality risk, there was no association between PLT storage age and short-term outcome (OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.90-1.14), survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04; 95% CI, 0.96-1.13), or postoperative infections. CONCLUSIONS: PLT storage age was not associated with adverse short-term outcomes, decreased long-term survival, or infections after cardiac surgery.
Suppression of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 during induced differentiation of erythroleukemia cells.

Abstract Differentiation of murine erythroleukemia cells induced by hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA) is associated with accumulation of underphosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRB) and an increase in retinoblastoma (RB) gene expression. Here we show that HMBA causes a rapid decrease in the level of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (cdk4) protein. This decrease results from decreased stability of the protein, while the rate of synthesis of the protein is not affected by HMBA. The decrease in the level of cdk4 protein is followed by suppression of the pRB kinase activity associated with cdk4. Cyclin D3, which can bind and activated cdk4, is increased in HMBA-induced cells and is found in complex with pRB and the transcription factor E2F. In uninduced cells cyclin D3 complexes with pRB and E2F are barely detected. At the later stages of differentiation, MEL cells become arrested in G1 and cdk2 kinase activity is suppressed; this is accompanied by a decrease in the level of cyclin A and cdk2 proteins. Cells transfected with cdk4, which continue to overexpress cdk4 protein during culture with HMBA, are resistant to HMBA-induced differentiation. In contrast, overexpression of cdk2 protein does not inhibit induced differentiation. These findings suggest that suppression of cdk4 is a critical event in the pathway leading to terminal differentiation of erythroleukemia cells.
tert‐Butyl Chloromethyl Ether

[40556-01-2] C5H11ClO (MW 122.59) InChI = 1S/C5H11ClO/c1-5(2,3)7-4-6/h4H2,1-3H3 InChIKey = CIACLSGBPZWWNK-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent for introducing an acid-labile alcohol- or an imidazole-protecting group1) Physical Data: decomposes upon attempted isolation. Solubility: sol CH2Cl2, CHCl3, CCl4. Form Supplied in: generated immediately prior to use. Analysis of Reagent Purity: 1H NMR (CCl4, δ 5.61 or 5.42 (2H, s), 1.2 (9H, s)). Preparative Methods: chlorination of tert-butyl methyl ether using NCS,1 treatment of tert-butyl methylthiomethyl ether with sulfuryl chloride,2 or cleavage of tert-butyl methoxymethyl ether with BCl3.4 Handling, Storage, and Precautions: solutions in CH2Cl2 appear to remain unchanged upon standing at rt for several days.2 Concentration apparently leads to decomposition. The structurally similar Chloromethyl Methyl Ether is a putative carcinogen.
Dynamics of open chemical systems and the algebraic structure of the underlying reaction network

Abstract While there has been a longstanding interest in stability of non-isothermal reactors there has only recently developed a comparable interest in the dynamics of open isothermal reactors with complex chemical reaction networks. In the recent literature there has been paid particular attention to the study of biological reaction systems which might exhibit sustained oscillations (biological clocks) or bistability (biological switches). Results are presented which bear upon the relationship between the algebraic structure of the underlying reaction network and the extent to which reactors might give rise to such “exotic” dynamics.
Parallel synthesis of indolylquinones and their cell-based insulin mimicry.

A synthetic route to bis-indolyldihydroxybenzoquinones was adapted for parallel organic synthesis. The route involves selective conjugate addition of an indole to dichlorobenzoquinone promoted by Bronsted acid, followed by a Lewis acid-promoted conjugate addition of a second indole and a final hydrolysis. Methods for high-throughput purification of the products of this synthesis were also developed. Using these methods, we prepared a library whose structures are based on asterriquinone natural products, which have a wide range of biological activities. In this report, the activities of the library members in activation of the insulin receptor on mammalian cells were examined. Novel compounds were discovered that fall outside earlier developed structure-activity relationships for insulin mimics, supporting the value of systematic investigation (inspired by Nature) for the discovery of novel biologically active molecules.
Arrhythmogenicity of long-chain fatty acids for cultured rat heart myocytes

Cultures of beating rat heart myocytes were exposed for 1 h to stearic, oleic, linoleic or arachidonic acid (5 x 10(-5) M at a 2 : 1 or 6 : 1 FFA/albumin ratio) in hypoxic or normoxic medium with or without glucose. After the 1 h exposure the medium was changed again to normoxic medium without FFA but with an "equivalent" amount of albumin. The grade of arrhythmia was determined at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 h after addition of the medium containing FFA. Hypoxia during FFA exposure was not required for arrhythmogenesis although linoleic and arachidonic acids were less and stearic acid was more arrhythmogenic during initial hypoxia than during initial normoxia. Glucose slowed arrhythmogenesis produced by the unsaturated FFA during hypoxia and completely reversed arrhythmogenesis by stearic acid after 16 h with most treatments. Arrhythmogenesis resulting from unsaturated FFA was minimally affected by the FFA/albumin ratios used.
Systolic pressure measurement in the ascending aorta: Augmentation at the aortic cannula sideport

To assess whether arterial blood pressure measured at the sideport of the aortic cannula mirrors that measured within the ascending aorta, the two pressures were compared in 10 consecutive patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean arterial pressures (MAP) were equal both before and after bypass, but the sideport systolic arterial pressure (SAP) was 6.0 ± 0.8 mm Hg higher than the aortic SAP before bypass and 9.1 ± 0.5 mm Hg higher than the aortic SAP after bypass (P < 0.001). Hematocrit, blood temperature, cardiac output, and heart rate did not correlate with the differences in SAP, suggesting that the higher SAP seen at the sideport was generated within the tube connecting the oxygenator to the aorta. This theory was investigated by decreasing the tube length distal to the sideport in three patients in this group who had sideport SAPs higher than their aortic SAPs, a measure that decreased the SAP difference between the two sites. At the end of cardiopulmonary bypass in 20 other consecutive patients, the effect of shortening the aorta-oxygenator tube from 1.8 to 0.25 m was tested. The SAP in the sideport decreased by 4 to 12 mm Hg in 12 of the 20 patients, while the MAP was unaffected by this maneuver. It is concluded that the MAP measured at the sideport of the aortic cannula closely reflects the MAP in the ascending aorta, whereas the SAP measured at the sideport does not reflect the aortic SAP. Thus, when aortic pressure is measured at the sideport to confirm an artificially low radial arterial pressure, systolic amplification at the sideport might simulate or exaggerate radial artery hypotension.
The 1H(n,n)1H scattering observables required for high-precision fast-neutron measurements

The purpose of this paper is to provide the best possible values of the free n-p scatteringtotal cross sections, differential cross sections, and polarization, for neutron energies between 100 keV and 30 MeV. These are extremely important numbers because they are used as standards for most fast-neutron cross-section measurements above 2 MeV and are frequently used at much lower energies. The relevant n-p and p-p data, much of which has not been used in previous evaluations of the n-p cross sections, will be discussed. It is shown that the differential cross sections below 10 MeV do not possess the isotropy frequently assumed. In fact, the cross-section ratios, σ(180°)/σ(90°), are approximately 1.023 at 7 MeV, 1.011 at 3 MeV, and 1.004 at 1 MeV. These ratios, minus 1.000, are higher than the values predicted by the Gammel formula by factors of about 2 at 7 MeV, 5 at 3 MeV, 8 at 2 MeV, and 18 at 1 MeV. In addition, it will be shown that the shape of the differential cross section is far from symmetric about 90°, the 0° cross section, in fact, being less than the 180° cross section for all energies below 30 MeV. The cross sections given here differ significantly from previous estimates based only upon n-p data up to 30 MeV. The present results are derived from calculations using phase shifts obtained by the Yale N-N Interaction Group. Comparisons have been made with the results obtained from calculations employing the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory (LRL) and Dubna phase shifts. In all cases, the general features of large anisotropy and nonsymmetry are verified.
Diffusion and reaction of multicomponent gas mixtures in isothermal porous catalysts

Abstract Exact (numerical) and approximate semi-analytical solution procedures are developed to investigate the problem of multicomponent diffusion accompanied by multiple reactions in porous catalyst pellets. Examples are presented to illustrate the application of the proposed procedures and to compare exact and approximate solutions. In certain circumstances it is found that reactants can diffuse in the direction in which their concentration increases.
Relationship between trabecular bone structure and articular cartilage morphology and relaxation times in early OA of the knee joint using parallel MRI at 3 T.

Summary Objective To evaluate trabecular bone structure in relationship with cartilage parameters in distal femur and proximal tibia of the human knee at 3Tesla (3T) using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with parallel imaging. Method Sixteen healthy controls and 16 patients with mild osteoarthritis (OA) were studied using a 3T magnetic resonance (MR) scanner and an eight-channel phased-array knee coil. Axial 3D GeneRalized Autocalibrating Partially Parallel Acquisition (GRAPPA)-based phase cycled Fast Imaging Employing Steady State Acquisition (FIESTA-c) images were acquired in order to quantify the trabecular bone structure. For assessing cartilage morphology (thickness, volume), sagittal high-resolution 3D spoiled gradient echo (SPGR) images were acquired. In a subset of the subjects, sagittal images were acquired for measuring T1ρ and T2 relaxation times, using 3D T1ρ and T2 mapping techniques. Results Good measurement reproducibility was observed for bone parameters, the coefficients of variations (CVs) ranging from 1.8% for trabecular number (app. Tb.N) to 5.5% for trabecular separation (app. Tb.Sp). Significant differences between control and OA groups were found for bone volume fraction bone volume over total volume (app. BV/TV) and app. Tb.Sp in all compartments. Significantly increased values in T1ρ and T2 were demonstrated in OA patients compared with controls at the femur, but not at the tibia. T1ρ was negatively correlated with app. BV/TV, app. Tb.N and app. Tb.Sp both at the medial femoral condyle (MFC) and lateral tibia (LT), while T2 was only correlated at the LT. Also, medial tibia (MT) T1ρ was negatively correlated with app. BV/TV ( R 2 =−0.49, P R 2 =−0.42, P Conclusion At this early stage of OA, an overall decrease in bone structure parameters and an increase in cartilage parameters (T1ρ, T2) were noticed in patients. Trabecular bone structure correlated with articular cartilage parameters suggesting that loss of mineralized bone is associated with cartilage degeneration.
Cell cycle: Retinoblastoma, a trip organizer

The retinoblastoma protein is essential for accurate DNA replication, and its loss is commonly associated with cancer. It emerges that this protein also regulates another stage of the cell cycle.
Multilevel thresholding using edge matching

Abstract Thresholding is an effective method for simplifying images of solid objects on a solid background. Multiple thresholds are needed when thresholding images containing several objects of different brightness or reflectivity. Also, to account for variations of grey levels due to nonuniform illumination, it is often necessary to allow the thresholds to vary across the image. We describe a technique called edge matching , which provides a direct method of adjusting multiple thresholds so that the edges of the thresholded image closely match the edges of the original grey-tone image. The result is a threshold image that preserves the shape and geometrical structure of the objects in the image.
Proof Without Words: Every Fourth Power Greater than One Is the Sum of Two Nonconsecutive Triangular Numbers

(2006). Proof Without Words: Every Fourth Power Greater than One Is the Sum of Two Nonconsecutive Triangular Numbers. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 79, No. 1, pp. 44-44.
Prevalence of Anemia in Children Presenting with Apparent Life-threatening Events

Background: Anemia has been associated with apparent life-threatening events (ALTEs) in children. However, the nature of the association has not been well described. Objectives: This study was conducted to determine how often anemia occurs in children presenting with ALTEs. Specifically, the authors sought to prospectively describe hemoglobin (Hb) levels and mean corpuscular volumes (MCVs) in children presenting with either a single ALTE or recurrent events, and to compare the values with those of an age-matched control population. Patients who had recurrent events were compared with those who had single events because it was hypothesized that patients who were anemic would be more likely to have recurrent events. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study set in an urban, tertiary care emergency department of a large children's hospital. Children presenting with ALTEs and an age-matched control population were included. The mean Hb level, mean MCV, mean value for the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), and proportion of patients found to be anemic were measured. Results: Of 128 patients evaluated during the two-year study period, 108 were eligible for study and were age-matched to 108 control patients. Overall, the ALTE and control patients were similar with regard to age, gender, and race. However, the ALTE patients with recurrent events (37/108, 34.3%) were older (3.0 months vs. 1.6 and 2.1 months, p = 0.018) and had a lower mean Hb level (11.6 g/dL vs. 13.1 and 12.9 g/dL, p = 0.013), a lower MCH (30.3 fL vs. 33.1 and 32.4 fL, p < 0.001), and a lower MCV (88.4 pg vs. 96.6 and 93 pg, p < 0.01) than did the patients with a single event and the control patients, respectively. The rate of anemia in the ALTE patients with recurrent events was 21.6%, as compared with 16.9% of the patients with a single event (p = 0.13) and 9.3% of the control patients (p = 0.049). Conclusions: Anemia is common in pediatric patients with recurrent ALTEs. Patients with recurrent ALTEs are older and have lower Hb, MCH, and MCV values than patients with a single ALTE and age-matched control patients. Significantly lower MCH and MCV values in patients with recurrent ALTEs suggest that iron deficiency may be associated with the recurrence of events.
Changes in carotenoid and oil content during maturation of peanut seeds

To understand the changes in the color of peanut oil during maturation of the seeds, measurements were made of carotenoid and oil contents per kernel and carotenoid concentration of extracted peanut oil between the 4th and 12th weeks from pegging. Initially carotenoid concentration in the oil declined rapidly followed by a 50% decline between the 6th and 12th week. Changes in the carotenoid content and oil content of the peanut kernel indicated that the decrease in carotenoid concentration was due to a dilution produced by the rapid increase in oil content. Evidence is presented to indicate that the carotenoids are in areas separated from the oil containing spherosomes of the peanut kernel.
Effects of CSF Properties on Brain Response Under Impact Loading

In the central nervous system, the subarachnoid space is the interval between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater. It is filled with a clear, watery liquid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The CSF buffers the brain against mechanical shocks and creates buoyancy to protect it from the forces of gravity. The relative motion of the brain due to a simultaneous loading is caused because the skull and brain have different densities and the CSF surrounds the brain. The impact experiments are usually carried out on cadavers with no CSF included because of the autolysis. Even in the cadaveric head impact experiments by Hardy et al. [1], where the specimens are repressurized using artificial CSF, this is not known how far this can replicate the real functionality of CSF. With such motivation, a special interest lies on how to model this feature in a finite element (FE) modeling of the human head because it is questionable if one uses in vivo CSF properties (i.e. bulk modulus of 2.19 GPa) to validate a FE human head against cadaveric experimental data.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Effect of Argentine ant invasions on ground-dwelling arthropods in northern California riparian woodlands

Although the Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) is a widespread invasive species that displaces native ants throughout its introduced range, the effects of these invasions on arthropods other than ants remain poorly known. This study documents the consequences of Argentine ant invasions on ants and other ground-dwelling arthropods in northern California riparian woodlands. Baits and unbaited pitfall traps were used to sample different components of the arthropod communities at five pairs of uninvaded and invaded sites. Sites occupied by Argentine ants supported almost no native epigeic ants except for the winter-active Prenolepis imparis. Sites with Argentine ants averaged four to ten times more ant workers than did sites with native ants, but ant worker biomass did not differ between uninvaded and invaded sites. Argentine ants recruited to baits in invaded areas, on average, in less than half the time of native ants in uninvaded areas. Despite the loss of epigeic native ants, higher Argentine ant worker abundance, and faster recruitment by Argentine ants at invaded sites, pitfall trap samples from uninvaded and invaded areas contained similar abundances and diversities of non-ant arthropods. These findings suggest that Argentine ants and the native ants they displace interact with the ground-dwelling arthropods of these habitats in a similar manner.
Phonon-induced increase in the energy gap of superconducting films

We have observed large increases in the critical current of Josephson junctions under 10-GHz phonon excitation. Eliashberg has predicted that absorption of microwaves in a superconducting film will increase the energy gap by creating a nonthermal quasiparticle distribution. We modify this theory for phonon absorption and calculate the increase in the critical current of a Josephson junction corresponding to the increase in the energy gap. We obtain good agreement between our data and the modified Eliashberg theory. We conclude that absorption of phonons of energy $\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}l2\ensuremath{\Delta}(T)$ increases the superconducting energy gap.
Efficient analysis of passive microstrip elements in MMICs

A new full-wave, space-domain moment method implementation is developed for the analysis and circuit-characterization of passive microstrip elements (in an open environment) at microwave frequencies. The computational time and memory requirements are significantly reduced by filling the moment matrix efficiently utilizing closed-form Green's functions and symmetries in the problem formulation, such that a circuit of moderate electrical size can be analyzed in reasonable time on a personal computer. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons. Inc.
Neuritic plaque amyloid in Alzheimer's disease is highly racemized.

: Neuritic plaque core amyloid protein in Alzheimer's disease brain tissue was investigated for the extent of amino acid racemization. Long-lived human proteins exhibit racemization of certain amino acids over the course of a human lifetime. Purified core amyloid was found to contain relatively large proportions of D-aspartate and D-serine, suggesting that neuritic plaque amyloid is derived from a long-lived precursor protein. Alternatively, racemization of protein amino acids may be abnormally accelerated in Alzheimer's disease.
Neisseria gonorrhoeae Virulence Factor NG1686 Is a Bifunctional M23B Family Metallopeptidase That Influences Resistance to Hydrogen Peroxide and Colony Morphology

Symptomatic gonococcal infection, caused exclusively by the human-specific pathogen Neisseria gonorrhoeae (the gonococcus), is characterized by the influx of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to the site of infection. Although PMNs possess a potent antimicrobial arsenal comprising both oxidative and non-oxidative killing mechanisms, gonococci survive this interaction, suggesting that the gonococcus has evolved many defenses against PMN killing. We previously identified the NG1686 protein as a gonococcal virulence factor that protects against both non-oxidative PMN-mediated killing and oxidative killing by hydrogen peroxide. In this work, we show that deletion of ng1686 affects gonococcal colony morphology but not cell morphology and that overexpression of ng1686 does not confer enhanced survival to hydrogen peroxide on gonococci. NG1686 contains M23B endopeptidase active sites found in proteins that cleave bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan. Strains of N. gonorrhoeae expressing mutant NG1686 proteins with substitutions in many, but not all, conserved metallopeptidase active sites recapitulated the hydrogen peroxide sensitivity and altered colony morphology of the Δng1686 mutant strain. We showed that purified NG1686 protein degrades peptidoglycan in vitro and that mutations in many conserved active site residues abolished its degradative activity. Finally, we demonstrated that NG1686 possesses both dd-carboxypeptidase and endopeptidase activities. We conclude that the NG1686 protein is a M23B peptidase with dual activities that targets the cell wall to affect colony morphology and resistance to hydrogen peroxide and PMN-mediated killing.
Navier-Stokes Computations and Experimental Comparisons for Multielement Airfoil Configurations

A two-dimensional unstructured Navier-Stokes code is utilized for computing the flow around multielement airfoil configurations. Comparisons are shown for a landing configuration with an advanced-technology flap. Grid convergence studies are conducted to assess inaccuracies caused by inadequate grid resolution. Although adequate resolution is obtained for determining the pressure distributions, further refinement is needed to sufficiently resolve the velocity profiles at high angles of attack. For the advanced flap configuration, comparisons of pressure distributions and lift are made with experimental data. Here, two flap riggings and two Reynolds numbers are considered. In general, the trends caused by variations in these quantities are well predicted by the computations, although the angle of attack for maximum lift is overpredicted.
Improvement of the Molar Tube Bond Durability with Preheated Orthodontic Adhesive

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of preheated orthodontic adhesives and thermal cycling on the bond strength of molar tubes. One hundred sixty molar tubes were bonded to acid-etched bovine incisors using a conventional orthodontic adhesive (Transbond XT), two microhybrid (Wave and Permaflo), and a nanofilled (Filtek Z350) flowable composite resins, at room temperature or preheated at 60°C. Transbond XT primer and Single Bond 2 adhesive system were used in association with Transbond XT and the flowable composites, respectively. The specimens were stored in water (37°C) for 24 h, and half of the sample was subjected to thermal cycling for 6000 cycles. Ashear bond strength (SBS) test was performed, followed by the appraisal of the adhesive Remnant Index (ARI). Three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the Tukey test were performed at a significance level of 95% (P < .05). Samples bonded with preheated adhesives showed higher SBS regardless of the aging method. Only samples bonded with preheated conve...
Mid-Infrared Quantum Cascade Lasers With Electrical Control of the Emission Frequency

We discuss the design of mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers in which the emission frequency can be rapidly modulated by applied bias voltage. The devices are based on integrating a layer with voltage-variable refractive index, based on Stark-tunable inter-sub-band transitions, below the laser active region. A three-terminal configuration is used to independently bias the laser active region and the refractive index variation layer. The ultimate performance of the proposed scheme is analyzed theoretically and proof-of-principle devices are demonstrated experimentally. Experimentally, λ ≈ 10 μm lasers demonstrate up to 4.5-GHz frequency tuning at a temperature of 80 K.
PROBABILISTIC MULTI-OBJECTIVE OPTIMAL DESIGN OF SEISMIC-RESISTANT BRACED STEEL FRAMES USING ARMA MODELS

The objective of this paper is to develop a probabilistic multi-objective optimal design method for concentrically braced steel frames, including the design earthquake via a dynamic ARMA (Auto-Regressive Moving Average) model. The features of this design method are: (i) to make it possible to incorporate inherent uncertain features of design earthquakes into the design process itself through the dynamic ARMA model, (ii) to provide a simplified design formula for a preliminary design of concentrically braced steel frames based upon the concept of decomposed stiffness design, and (iii) to facilitate the formulation of a new probabilistic multi-objective optimal design problem aimed at finding the design with the minimum level of designer's dissatisfaction. In this optimal design problem, constraints and objectives are handled in a unit&i manner after a feasible design is obtained. Two design examples are presented to demonstrate the validity of this design method. Finally, the generality and practicality of the design method are assessed.
Exact demonstration of eta pairing in the ground state of an attractive-U Hubbard model.

We show that the recently discovered {eta}-pairing scheme combined with the Nagaoka-Thouless picture for itinerant ferromagnetism leads to a new type of superconductivity in the attractive-{ital U} Hubbard model in the sector 0{lt}({ital N}{sub {up arrow}}{minus}{ital N}{sub {down arrow}})/({ital N}{sub {up arrow}}+{ital N}{sub {down arrow}}){much lt}1, where {ital N}{sub {up arrow}} and {ital N}{sub {down arrow}} are the occupation numbers of up and down spins. This results holds for all dimensionalities {ital d}{ge}2.
Egon Schiele's Treescapes. Work and world: unframing the autonomous landscape

An Austrian Expressionist known primarily for his portraits and self-portraits, Egon Schiele was also a prolific landscape painter. Focusing on the Kantian notions of autonomy and disinterested pleasure, this article considers a series of treescapes painted between 1911 and 1913 in which Schiele systematically undermines the processes of framing which make possible not only the modern landscape but the work of art as an object of aesthetic contemplation. Challenging the frame's capacity to delineate neatly between work and world, these images refuse the retreat into aestheticization demanded of the independent landscape and insist instead on the fluidity of the relationship between painting and beholder. Conforming therefore to a Nietzschean notion of passionate spectatorship, the treescapes should also be considered in the context of Vienna's notorious Sprachkrisis, which posited the failure of language to express the unsayable. The essay proposes that Schiele's disintegration of the frame's integrity by calling attention to its usually invisible mechanisms may be seen as an attempt to establish an image-based system of communication when language has become suspect as a viable means of interchange.
Modeling the Performance of Flattened Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell

In this paper, we develop a computational model to predict the electrical performance of the flattened tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) designed by Siemens Westinghouse Corporation. This design is an improvement over the conventional cylindrical SOFC and allows higher power densities. We modeled the current transport in a cross section of the cell for a given cell operating voltage and local Nernst voltage. We solved the resulting system of simultaneous nonlinear equations using n-dimensional Newton-Raphson algorithm. The output gives the current density distribution and also the total current at the cross section, which is used to obtain the total cell current (and power) for the given voltage. The results of the model are in good agreement with the experimental performance reported in literature. fDOI: 10.1115/1.1842783g
Inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase activity decreases polyamines and suppresses DNA synthesis in human colonic lamina propria lymphocytes.

Abstract Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and the polyamines are essential for cell proliferation in a variety of cells including lymphocytes. In this study, we investigated the potential role of ODC and polyamines in human colonic lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) compared to peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). Our results show that con A stimulation of LPL and PBL was associated with marked increases in ODC and polyamines. The specific inhibitor of ODC, alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), resulted in a complete inhibition of ODC activity and depletion of putrescine, spermidine and spermine levels. DFMO also suppressed DNA synthesis of LPL and PBL by up to 48% and 62% respectively. This antiproliferative effect was reversed by adding back the polyamines putrescine (1 mM), spermidine (10 μM) or spermine (10 μM) to the culture medium. We conclude that ODC and the polyamines are important for human LPL proliferation, and hence may play a role in human mucosal immune function.
Iodinated organic compounds as contrast media for radiographic diagnoses. X. Interrelationship of gallbladder and pancreas.

SummaryStudies on dogs show that successful ligation and division of the pancreatic ducts inhibits the visualization of the gallbladder by cholecystographic media whether administered orally or intravenously. Failure of visualization appears to be due to the development of physiological stasis of the vis-cus. The experiments demonstrate a close relationship of the two organs and suggest that the pancreas may control the tone of the gallbladder
Fire spread potential of ABS plastic plumbing

ABS pipes and fittings are gaining popularity as components of drain, waste, and vent installations in plumbing systems. In case of fire, will they contribute a significant amount of smoke? Will they be a source of fire spread?
Diffuse intestinal ganglioneuromatosis in a child

A 7 year old male with a history of congenital neutropenia and growth hormone deficiency presented with abdominal pain, fevers, and diarrhea. Imaging and endoscopy revealed significant inflammation of the ascending colon with stenosis at the level of the hepatic flexure. A right hemicolectomy was performed, and pathologic findings were consistent with diffuse intestinal ganglioneuromatosis. Due to recurrent mass effect at the intestinal anastomotic site detected radiologically, a second intestinal resection was performed 7 months later. Genetic testing was negative for mutations in the RET protooncogene, NF1 and PTEN tumor suppressor genes. We report a case of diffuse intestinal ganglioneuromatosis in a child with congenital neutropenia.
Cyanoacrylates for Embolization in Gastrointestinal Bleeding: How Super Is Glue?

In this issue of JVIR, Hur et al (1) report their experience with arterial embolization in a large series of patients with acute lower gastrointestinal (LGI) bleeding. The most notable aspect of this article is the large number of patients treated with N-butyl cyanoacrylate (NBCA) as the firstline occlusive agent. Only a few patients underwent embolization with more conventional materials such as gelatin sponge or microcoils. The patient population consisted of a fairly even mix of patients with small bowel, colonic, and rectal bleeding. The study patients were quite ill; one quarter of them died during hospitalization. Among the 84 patients treated with cyanoacrylate glue, clinical success was 75.3%, and the early (30-day) rebleeding rate was 15.2%. Major complications were observed in only 4.8% of patients treated with NBCA, including one patient with bowel infarction at a gastrojejunostomy site requiring operation. In addition, three patients who received glue embolization of appendiceal arteries either underwent prophylactic appendectomy or received conservative treatment for presumed ischemia. This study adds to the growing body of evidence that supports the use of cyanoacrylates in embolization for LGI hemorrhage. Most of the earlier reports are cited in the article and are in line with more recent publications on the subject (2). Some of the potential advantages of glue over other embolic materials are well recognized and enumerated by the authors:
The U1-snRNP complex: structural properties relating to autoimmune pathogenesis in rheumatic diseases

The U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein particle (snRNP) is a target of autoreactive B cells and T cells in several rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). We propose that inherent structural properties of this autoantigen complex, including common RNA-binding motifs, B and T-cell epitopes, and a unique stimulatory RNA molecule, underlie its susceptibility as a target of the autoimmune response. Immune mechanisms that may contribute to overall U1-snRNP immunogenicity include epitope spreading through B and T-cell interactions, apoptosis-induced modifications, and toll-like receptor (TLR) activation through stimulation by U1-snRNA. We conclude that understanding the interactions between U1-snRNP and the immune system will provide insights into why certain patients develop anti-U1-snRNP autoimmunity, and more importantly how to effectively target therapies against this autoimmune response.
Quantitation of Propranolol Hydrochloride in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

AbstractA high-performance liquid-chromatography method for the quantitation of propranolol hydrochloride in pharmaceutical dosage forms (capsules, injections and tablets) has been developed. The method can also be used for contents uniformity as required by USP-NF. There is no interference from the excipients present and from hydrochlorothiazide which is often mixed with propranolol hydrochloride. The method is accurate, reproducible and precise with a percent relative standard deviation of 0.6 based on 5 readings. A sample decomposed with sodium hydroxide treatment showed about 9% potency and 2 new peaks in the chromatogram.
Inverse relationship between salinity and n-alkane δD values in the mangrove Avicennia marina

Abstract Hydrogen isotope ratios in lipids derived from mangroves have the potential to be used for paleohydrologic reconstructions and could serve as a much needed tool for establishing past climate variability in the tropics. We assessed the effect of salinity on the apparent fractionation factor, αa, between mangrove derived n-alkanes and their source water for Avicennia marina (gray mangrove) specimens collected along a 28 PSU salinity gradient in the Brisbane River Estuary. Our results indicate that there is an inverse relationship between the apparent fractionation factor and salinity. This salinity effect is large enough to override variability in the isotopic composition of source water, which plays a dominant role in determining the hydrogen isotope ratio of leaf waxes in other vascular plants. We suggest that this relationship may be due to (i) increased discrimination against deuterium during water uptake at high salinity, (ii) increased production of compatible solutes from D enriched pyruvate at high salinity, resulting in more hydrogen from D depleted NADPH being incorporated in leaf waxes, and/or (iii) increased secretion of salty brine by leaves at high salinity, resulting in (iii.a) higher relative humidity at the leaf surface, and (iii.b) introducing the possibility that D depleted water of hydration is absorbed by the leaf. Our results indicate that hydrogen isotope ratios of mangrove lipid biomarkers can be developed as a paleosalinity indicator. They also imply that care must be taken when interpreting hydrogen isotopic variations in non-source specific higher plant lipids in sediments where both mangrove and non-mangrove plants contribute organic material.
Proton therapy is too expensive for the minimal potential improvements in outcome claimed

Robert J. Schulz, Alfred R. Smith, and Colin G. Orton Citation: Medical Physics 34, 1135 (2007); doi: 10.1118/1.2717380 View online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1118/1.2717380 View Table of Contents: http://scitation.aip.org/content/aapm/journal/medphys/34/4?ver=pdfcov Published by the American Association of Physicists in Medicine Articles you may be interested in Improvement of extraction efficiency from a compact synchrotron for proton beam therapy by applying particletracking analysis AIP Conf. Proc. 1525, 350 (2013); 10.1063/1.4802349 Geometrical splitting technique to improve the computational efficiency in Monte Carlo calculations for protontherapy Med. Phys. 40, 041718 (2013); 10.1118/1.4795343 A clinically feasible method for the detection of potential collision in proton therapy Med. Phys. 39, 7094 (2012); 10.1118/1.4760988 Geometrical splitting technique to improve the computational efficiency in Monte Carlo calculations for protontherapy AIP Conf. Proc. 1494, 12 (2012); 10.1063/1.4764586 Experimental evaluation of a spatial resampling technique to improve the accuracy of pencil-beam dosecalculation in proton therapy Med. Phys. 39, 4104 (2012); 10.1118/1.4722984