cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Naturally formed GaAs quantum dots

A photoluminescence study of the excitons localized in the quantum dots naturally formed by interface roughness in narrow GaAs quantum wells is presented. By reducing the number of dots probed in a resonant excitation measurement, we study the spectra of single quantum dots. Extremely narrow linewidths for both the ground and excited states are measured. With such narrow lines it is possible to measure the thermal broadening due to acoustic phonons.
Conformational equation of state for fluids of chain molecules

This paper discusses the mathematical formulation of the modelling of fluids of chain molecules as fluid mixtures of molecular conformations with the concentration of these conformations obtained through a constrained freeenergy minimization. Thermodynamic relationships can then be applied to obtain other properties, and an approximation is derived for the virial coefficients of chain molecules. Problems regarding the implementation of this approach through the virial equation at low densities and the generalized van der Waals equation of state at higher densities, and possible solutions to these, are also discussed. Feasibility studies for the case of n-octane show agreement with the experimental observations regarding the molecular shape in gas and liquid phases.
A Ceramic-Membrane-Based Methane Combustion Reactor With Tailored Function of Simultaneous Separation of Carbon Dioxide From Nitrogen

Today, industry has become more dependent on natural gases and combustion processes, creating a tremendous pressure to reduce their emissions. Although the current methods such as chemical looping combustion (CLC) and pure oxygen combustion have several advantages, there are still many limitations. A ceramic membrane based methane combustion reactor is an environmentally friendly technique for heat and power generation. This work investigates the performance of a perovskite-type SrSc0.1Co0.9O3-δ (SSC) membrane reactor for the catalytic combustion of methane. For this purpose, the mixed ionic and electronic conducting SSC oxygen-permeable planar membrane was prepared by a dry-pressing technique, and the SSC powder catalyst was spray coated on the permeation side of the membrane. Then, the prepared SSC membrane with the catalyst was used to perform the catalytic combustion of methane. The oxygen permeability of the membrane reactor was studied. Also, the methane conversion rates and CO2 selectivity at various test conditions were reported.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Solar Irradiance Variations and Global Ocean Temperatures

Long-term (decades to centuries) variations in the surface temperature of the earth may have been caused, at least in part, by variations in the sun's total irradiance (the solar “constant”). The observed similarity between the envelope of the 11-year solar-activity cycle and a time series of globally averaged sea-surface temperatures over the past 130 years lends some credibility to this possibility, and suggests that long-term variations in irradiance may accompany the long-term variations in solar activity. This connection has been explored with the aid of a one-dimensional model of the thermal response of the global ocean to variations in surface heating, and the inferred relationship has been extended backward in time to deduce a total irradiance at the time of the Maunder Minimum of solar activity about 1% less than the present value. The underlying cause for a connection between solar activity and luminosity on long time scales is unknown, and presents a major challenge for solar physics.
Methodological problems in the study of sexuality and the menopause

Few studies have considered the effects of menopause on sexuality. Large studies with representative samples using postal questionnaires have included only a few sexual variables. More comprehensive studies have tended to employ non-representative samples that raise questions concerning generalization of findings. Major problems in existing research have been: failure to collect data on variables known to affect sexuality and/or failure to utilize such data in analyses, studying only one, sometimes two, menopausal phases, gathering retrospective data, asking subjects directly about the relationship of menopause to sexuality, gathering too few sexual data, not providing a complete description of sexual measures, neglecting to report methodology clearly and completely, failing to evaluate data statistically, and inferring causation from correlations. Evidence from existing research suggests a decline in sexual interest, frequency of sexual intercourse, and vaginal lubrication in association with the menopause. Findings for variables such as capacity for orgasm, satisfaction with sex partner, and vaginal pain or discomfort are few and mixed.
Genetic improvement of New Mexico acala cotton germplasm and their genetic diversity

The New Mexico cotton breeding program was established in 1926 and has been led by five generations of breeders and geneticists. The program has released more than 30 Acala 1517 cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cultivars and numerous germplasm lines known for high fiber quality and Verticillium wilt (caused by Verticillium dahliae Kleb.) tolerance that have made substantial contributions to cotton breeding in the USA. The present project was initiated in 2003 to evaluate the genetic improvement of Acala 1517 cultivars and lines released over the past 75 yr in yield, boll size, seed index, lint percentage, fiber length, fiber strength, and micronaire. Their genetic divergence was also estimated by simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. On the basis of the data available from annual yield trials, lint yield and lint percentage in Acala 1517 cotton have steadily increased since the 1930s, while boll size and seed index have gradually decreased since the 1960s. Fiber strength has been enhanced since the 1960s, which has been accompanied by steady increase in micronaire. However, fiber length in Acala 1517 cultivars tended to shorten from 31.0 to 30.0 mm from 1960 to 1990, whereas newly released Acala 1517 cultivars (Acala 1517-95, 1517-99, 1517-02, 1517-03, and 1517-04) have fiber greater than 30.5 mm. Genetic distance among Acala 1517 genotypes ranged from 0.06 to 0.38 with an average of 0.18 on the basis of 189 SSR marker alleles, indicating a substantial genetic diversity among Acala 1517 cotton germplasm. Divergent germplasm introgression in the program has contributed to genetic diversity of Acala cotton germplasm and continuous genetic gain in Acala cotton cultivar improvement.
Beta-endorphin levels in blood from selected Alaskan mammals.

Blood samples were analyzed for beta-endorphin from 43 non-torpid black bear (Ursus americanus), 8 torpid black bear, 3 non-torpid brown bear (Ursus arctos), 14 moose (Alces alces), 6 mountain goats (Oreamnus americanus) and 30 Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). Beta-endorphin levels were detected in all species sampled and there were no significant differences in levels among non-torpid black bear, brown bear and sea lions. Also, no differences were detected between moose and mountain goats, but all other comparisons were significantly different (P<0.001). Torpid black bear had higher levels than all other groups. Moose and mountain goats had the lowest levels. The possibility of beta-endorphin influencing behavior and physiology of mammals is discussed.
Drug insight: statins for nonischemic heart failure--evidence and potential mechanisms.

The beneficial effects of statins in the treatment and prevention of ischemic coronary artery disease are well-established; their value in the treatment of heart failure is, however, still being investigated. Here, Lipinski et al. discuss how the pleiotropic effects of statins could improve survival in the setting of ischemic and nonischemic heart failure.
Experiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal Warmth

"Warmth" is the most powerful personality trait in social judgment, and attachment theorists have stressed the importance of warm physical contact with caregivers during infancy for healthy relationships in adulthood. Intriguingly, recent research in humans points to the involvement of the insula in the processing of both physical temperature and interpersonal warmth (trust) information. Accordingly, we hypothesized that experiences of physical warmth (or coldness) would increase feelings of interpersonal warmth (or coldness), without the person's awareness of this influence. In study 1, participants who briefly held a cup of hot (versus iced) coffee judged a target person as having a "warmer" personality (generous, caring); in study 2, participants holding a hot (versus cold) therapeutic pad were more likely to choose a gift for a friend instead of for themselves.
Typical elements in free groups are in different doubly-twisted conjugacy classes

We give an easily checkable algebraic condition which implies that two elements of a finitely generated free group are members of distinct doublytwisted conjugacy classes with respect to a pair of homomorphisms. We further show that this criterion is satisfied with probability 1 when the homomorphisms and elements are chosen at random.
Experimental measurement of solutal and thermal layers in unidirectional solidification

An experimental study to evaluate and characterize the effects and causes of convection in the directional solidification of metal alloys is described. The temporal history of the inverted density layers in front of a dendritic interface for directionally solidified ammonium chloride-(72 wt pct) water is presented based on photographic data taken using a laser schlieren system. Data are given for both 1-g and low-g solidification runs, and the stability of the layer is discussed. The reduction of buoyancy effects is shown to be significant, and the possible impact of reducing gravity level on freckling in metal alloys is considered.
SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE EARLY HELIUM AFTERGLOW

Time-resolved spectroscopic measurement of absolute intensity, spectral profiles and self- absorption for He I lines in early helium afterglow
Caregiver Sensitivity in Cultural Context: Japanese and U.S. Teachers' Beliefs About Anticipating and Responding to Children's Needs

Abstract Western investigators assume that caregiver sensitivity takes similar forms and has similar outcomes in all cultures. However, cultural research suggests that sensitivity in the West has more to do with responsiveness to children's explicit expression of need, and that sensitivity in non-Western communities has more to do with anticipation of children's needs and receptivity to subtle and nonverbal cues. To date, no studies have directly assessed these differences. The present study examines interviews of 20 preschool teachers, 9 from the United States and 11 from Japan. Teachers were presented with scenarios and asked whether it is better to anticipate or respond to children's needs. Findings support the hypothesis that U.S. teachers prefer to respond to explicit expressions of need and that Japanese teachers prefer to anticipate children's needs. U.S. teachers also emphasize that children should learn to depend on themselves, that children are responsible for clarifying their own needs, and tha...
Shortened-duration GABAA receptor-mediated synaptic potentials underlie enhanced CA1 excitability in a chronic model of temporal lobe epilepsy

Abstract Intracellular recording techniques were used to examine GABA A receptor-mediated synaptic inhibition in pyramidal cells of the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus in the post-self sustaining limbic status epilepticus model of temporal lobe epilepsy. Orthodromically evoked, monosynaptic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were recorded in vitro following pharmacological blockade of ionotropic glutamate and GABA B receptors. Inhibitory postsynaptic potentials from epileptic tissue were kinetically altered relative to controls; both the 10–90% rise-time and width (measured at half-maximum amplitude) were reduced by approximately 50% resulting in significant shortening of duration. The degree of pyramidal cell hyperexcitability, assessed before pharmacological treatment as the number of action potentials evoked by maximum intensity afferent stimulation, correlated significantly with the magnitude of synaptic potential duration reduction determined following blockade of glutamatergic neurotransmission. Bath application of the benzodiazepine type 1 receptor agonist zolpidem reduced post-self sustaining limbic status epilepticus CA1 pyramidal cell hyperexcitability substantially (but not completely) via a marked increase in inhibitory postsynaptic potential area. Post-self sustaining limbic status epilepticus inhibitory postsynaptic potentials which exhibited the most pronounced shortening were augmented by zolpidem to a greater degree than longer duration synaptic potentials. In contrast, zolpidem-induced augmentation of control inhibitort postsynaptic potential area was much less robust. It is suggested that a deficiency in post-self sustaining limbic status epilepticus GABA A receptor-mediated synaptic inhibition contributes to a state of partial disinhibition which is a major factor in enhanced CA1 excitability in chronic limbic epilepsy. Possible mechanisms underlying post-self sustaining limbic status epilepticus kinetic abnormalities are discussed.
Cloning and characterization of the PDA6-1 gene encoding a fungal cytochrome P-450 which detoxifies the phytoalexin pisatin from garden pea

Abstract The ability to detoxify pisatin, a phytoalexin produced by garden pea ( Pisum sativum ), is controlled by a family of PDA (pisatin demethylating ability) genes in the phytopathogenic fungus Nectria haematococca , MP (mating population) VI. Six known PDA genes each encode characteristic levels of inducible enzyme activity and are associated with different degrees of virulence on pea. To elucidate the phenotypic differences associated with these genes, we have cloned and characterized the PDA6-1 gene which encodes a pisatin-detoxifying enzyme and we compare it to another PDA gene, PDAT9. Pisatin demethylation was measured in PDA6-1 transformants of Aspergillus nidulans and shown to be regulated by glucose. The deduced amino acid (aa) sequence of PDA6-1 was 90% identical to that of the cytochrome P -450 encoded by PDAT9 , but lacked nine aa at the C terminus, which has been postulated to be a site involved in substrate binding. A 35-bp sequence present upstream of a third PDA gene, PDA1 , which appears to be important for induction of PDA1 by pisatin, was conserved in PDAT9 , but not in PDA6-1 . We conclude that PDA6-1 , which does not appear to contribute to the virulence of N. haematococca on pea, differs significantly from PDAT9 , which is associated with high virulence.
New preexcitation following cardiac transplant

Preexcitation developed post-operatively in a cardiac transplant recipient whose donor electrocardiogram was normal. An electrophysiology study revealed evidence of a mid-septal atrioventricular (AV) bypass tract. The patient is clinically well fourteen months after transplant and has intermittent preexcitation.
Rilke and religion: a European battle

Alors que le poete autrichien Rainer Maria Rilke pourrait apparaitre comme la personnification d'un eurocentrisme, il fut capable de depasser les limites religieuses en creant un universalisme fonde sur l'identite individuelle. La religion illustre la maniere dont Rilke parvient avec succes a se realiser au-dela des limites du religieux en remplacant son identite religieuse par la realisation de soi qui transcende la religion institutionnelle. Il remplace le concept de Dieu par un terme plus large. Le Dieu de Rilke devient un esprit immanent et un Etre transcendant, un createur aussi bien que le cree
Managing storage space in a flash and disk hybrid storage system

This paper considers the problem of efficiently managing storage space in a hybrid storage system employing flash and disk drives. The flash and disk drives exhibit different performance characteristics of read and write behavior. We propose a technique for balancing the workload properties across flash and disk drives in such a hybrid storage system. The presented approach automatically and transparently manages migration of data blocks among flash and disk drives based on their access patterns. This paper presents the design and an evaluation of the proposed approach on a Linux testbed through realistic experiments.
Generality of marine prostanoid biosynthesis by the 2-oxidopentadienylcation pathway

Abstract The prostanoid, preclavulone-A ( 5 ), which is produced by the Okinawan coral Clavularia viridis is also biosynthesized by the unrelated Caribbean coral, Pseudoplexaura porosa , indicating that the biosynthesis of 5 may be widespread in coral. The biogenesis of preclavulone-A from arachidonic acid occurs by lipoxygenation at C(8), migration of oxygen from C(8) to C(9) and ring closure, in a process (marine pathway) which contrasts sharply with the mammalian (endoperoxide) route. Preclavulone-A may be a key intermediate from which other more highly oxygenated, bioactive marine prostanoids are formed.
Regression of pyuria during the treatment of symptomatic urinary tract infection in patients with spinal cord injury.

Regression of pyuria during the treatment of symptomatic urinary tract infection in patients with spinal cord injury
A Reappraisal of the Clinical Spectrum of North Carolina Macular Dystrophy

Purpose To characterize the clinical phenotypes and genotype of a large family with North Carolina macular dystrophy (NCMD). Design Observational, retrospective case series. Participants Thirteen participants who were at risk of inheriting a dominantly transmitted disease gene from a 4-generation family from Baltimore were examined. Methods Thirteen participants underwent ophthalmic examination and genomic linkage analysis. Fundus photography, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), fluorescein angiography, ultrasonography, full-field electroretinography, and electro-oculography were performed on some patients. Main Outcome Measures Description of clinical phenotypes with genomic linkage to the MCDR1 locus. Results Nine of 13 participants were affected with NCMD. There are variable and previously unreported clinical manifestations among affected individuals with NCMD, including drusen, macular staphyloma, choroidal neovascularization, a retinal pigment epithelial tear, and geographic atrophy. The distinctive and virtually pathognomonic grade 3 lesions in NCMD are neither staphylomas nor colobomas, as previously thought. As shown by ultrasonography and SD-OCT, they are deep chorioretinal excavations not involving the sclera, for which the authors propose a new term: macular caldera . Linkage analysis was performed, and the disease-causing gene in this family was mapped to the MCDR1 locus. Conclusions North Carolina macular dystrophy has a wide spectrum of clinical phenotypes that resemble age-related macular degeneration except for their early age of onset. Financial Disclosure(s) The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.
Abstract 1318: Mps1 is modified by sumoylation during the cell cycle

Mps1 is a dual specificity protein kinase with crucial roles in regulating the spindle assembly checkpoint and chromosome microtubule attachment. Molecular mechanisms that regulate Mps1 levels and its activity during mitosis remain unclear. Given that sumoylation plays an important role in mitotic progression, we investigated if Mps1 could be modified by SUMO conjugation. Endogenous sumoylated Mps1 was detected by nickel affinity pull-down from HeLa cells that constitutively expressed His6-SUMO1 or His6-SUMO2. When HEK293T cells transfected with a plasmid construct expressing Myc-Mps1, along with plasmids expressing His-SUMO-1 and FLAG-UBC9, were analyzed sumoylated Mps1 was also detected in both asynchronized and mitotic cell populations. Expression of wild-type FLAG-SENP1 completely abrogated sumoylated Mps1 compared with cells transfected with enzymatically defective FLAG-SENP1, confirming that Mps1 is modified by sumoylation. We also identified potential lysine residues of Mps1 that were sumoylated by the mutagenesis approach. Our study reveals that Mps1 is modified via sumoylation and that future experiments will be centered on understanding the biological function of this modification during the cell cycle. Citation Format: Agnese Restuccia, Feikun Yang, Yao Yixin, Wei Dai. Mps1 is modified by sumoylation during the cell cycle. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 1318. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-1318
A discrete-time adaptive control scheme for robot manipulators

A discrete-time model reference adaptive control scheme is developed for trajectory tracking of robot manipulators. The scheme utilizes feedback, feedforward, and auxiliary signals, obtained from joint angle measurement through simple expressions. Hyperstability theory is utilized to derive the adaptation laws for the controller gain matrices. It is shown that trajectory tracking is achieved despite gross robot parameter variation and uncertainties. The method offers considerable design flexibility and enables the designer to improve the performance of the control system by adjusting free design parameters. The discrete-time adaptation algorithm is extremely simple and is therefore suitable for real-time implementation. Simulations and experimental results are given to demonstrate the performance of the scheme.
The Fire-Eaters

In the early 1850s, northerners and southerners alike used the term fire-eater to describe anyone whose views were clearly outside the political mainstream. Eventually, though, the word came to be most closely identified with those southerners who were staunch and unyielding advocates of secession. In this broadly researched and illuminating study, Eric H. Walther examines the lives of nine of the most prominent fire-eaters: Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, William Lowndes Yancey, John Anthony Quitman, Robert Barnwell Rhett, Laurence M. Keitt, Louis T. Wigfall, James D. B. De Bow, Edmund Ruffin, and William Porcher Miles. Walther paints skillful portraits of his subjects, analyzing their backgrounds, personalities, and contributions to the movement for disunion. Although they shared the common goal of southern independence, Walther shows that in many respects the fire-eaters differed markedly from one another. It was their very diversity, he maintains, that enabled them to appeal to such a wide spectrum of southern opinion and thereby rally support for secession. In his exploration of the role of the fire-eaters in the secession movement, Walther touches upon a number of perennial themes in southern history, including the appeal of proslavery thought and southern expansionism, the place of education and industrialization in antebellum southern society, the significance of oratory in southern culture, and the nature of southern nationalism. He also describes the fire-eaters' activities on behalf of the Confederacy and traces the course of their lives after the war. The Fire-Eaters makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the Secession movement and the context in which itdeveloped. There is no other study available that treats these men as a group and that delineates their manifold differences as well as their similarities. Walther shows that secessionism was not a monolithic ideology but rather a movement that emerged from many sources, spoke in many voi
Unsteady Modeling of Jet-in-Crossflow Problems.

Results from unsteady, time-accurate simulations of a jet-in-crossflow are presented. The flow regime consists of a supersonic jet issuing into a transonic cross flow. The goal of the simulations is to capture the position and strength of the dominant vortex structures in the flow. The investigation is carried out using DES approaches. Initial results showed poor qualitative and quantitative agreement with data and the differences were attributed to the grid and boundary conditions. However, RANS results agreed reasonably well when compared with previous RANS calculations. Additional grids were evaluated and calculations with improved boundary conditions were obtained. Calculations using the same model in a different code confirmed the behavior to be model dependent. Comparisons with experimental data were not improved but the mesh was deemed the potential issue and work on a mesh aligned with the shear layer is presented.
Ethnic Awareness of Chinese-American Teenagers

Chinese-American high schoolers in Houston are genuinely bicultural and have escaped the stereotyped roles of minority group members.
A real-time dynamical forecast of ocean synoptic/mesoscale eddies

Energetic eddy currents are the oceanic analogue of atmospheric weather and have time scales of days to weeks and space scales of tens to hundreds of kilometres1. We have predicted their evolution in time by internal dynamical processes. For the forecasts we transferred initialization data from ship- to shore-based computers, during two 2-week periods in June and July of 1983 from an approximately (150 km)2 region in the deep north-east Pacific off California. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first such real-time forecast at sea. The results were substantially successful; the dynamics predicted a prominent zonal jet absent in the initial flow. Also, the model forecast revealed a strong eddy merger event otherwise obscured in the data. Prospects are encouraging for future forecasting, which should have important implications for research and practical operations at sea2.
Effects of Bt cotton expressing Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab and non-Bt cotton on behavior, survival and development of Trichoplusia ni (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Abstract With an assumption that the larvae of cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), a secondary pest of cotton, Gossypium hirsutum (L.), could move between cotton plants in the field, we conducted a series of laboratory experiments to determine the larval movement, food choice, consumption, survival, and development on Bt (Bollgard II expressing Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab) and non-Bt cotton. On non-Bt cotton, all T. ni larvae fed and stayed on the leaves. In choice tests between a non-Bt and Bt cotton leaves, 73.3%, 86.7% and 93.3% of first instar larvae moved to non-Bt cotton leaves after 1, 8 and 48 h, respectively, indicating that larvae were able to detect and avoid Bt cotton leaves. On the non-Bt cotton leaves, 90% of larvae initiated detectable feeding damage, compared with only 16.7% on the Bt cotton leaves. The larvae feeding on non-Bt cotton leaves consumed an average of 0.226 cm 2 leaf per larva in 48 h, whereas the larvae feeding on Bt cotton leaves consumed an average of 0.018 cm 2 leaf per larva. The developmental times of each of the five larval stages or pupal stage were generally not significantly different with a few exceptions when they fed either on non-Bt leaves or a mixture of non-Bt and Bt leaves. The pupae that developed from the larvae that fed on non-Bt were 21.6–24.7% heavier than those that developed from the larvae that fed on a mixture of non-Bt and Bt cotton leaves. The total developmental time of larvae in the mixed-leaf treatment was significantly longer than that of larvae on non-Bt leaves. No T. ni larvae survived when they fed exclusively on Bt cotton leaves. Starved larvae died significantly sooner than those on Bt leaves. High percentages of larvae survived when they fed either on non-Bt leaves (92.7%) or on the mixture of non-Bt and Bt cotton leaves (91.7%) for 5 days. The recognition and migration of the first instar T. ni larvae from Bt cotton leaves to non-Bt cotton leaves imply that the merit of Bt and non Bt cotton seed mixture at planting should be further evaluated as a strategy for Bt cotton resistance management of lepidopteran pests.
THE CORTINOMIMETIC ACTIVITY OF VARIOUS STEROLS1

VARIOUS OBSERVERS have shown that life is maintained in adrenalecto- nailed animals which have functional corpora lutea (I, 2, 3), and it has recently been shown that artificially produced corpora lutea tend to increase the life span of the adrenalectomised rat (4, 5). This would suggest that the corpus luteum produces a substance or substances which are cortinomimetic in the adrenalectomised animal. Many of the known sex hormones chemically resemble the life-maintaining substances from the adrenal cortex, namely corticosterone (6), dehydrocorticosterone (7, 8) and desoxycorticc sterone (9). The latter compound is progesterone with the addition of a hydroxyl group on the 2I-carbon atom. Progesterone, recently isolated from the adrenal cortex (I0), has been shown by Gaunt, Nelson and Loomis (II) to be capable of bringing about a gain in weight in the adrenalectomised immature rat. These authors have obtained a survival during treatment of 9 in a group of 19 animals with dosages of I to 2 mg.
Gastroplasty procedures, particularly vertical banded gastroplasty.

Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), the most frequently performed restrictive procedure to control severe obesity, was developed by Mason in 1982. The procedure evolved from experiential trials of earlier concepts and the timely availability of instrumentation to allow stapled vertical partition of the stomach. Success requires precise technical mastery and optimal patient compliance to provide permanent governance of satiety. The objective of weight control - to reverse co-morbidities of obesity, while causing minimal metabolic deficiencies - has been achieved in a wide selection of patients. The super-obese may be a group whose needs fall beyond the control of the VBG. Vertical ringed gastroplasty (VRG) performs similarly to VBG. Other types of gastroplasty have yet to prove reliable over time. Laparoscopic banded gastroplasty is reversible, adjustable and attractive to patients. Laparoscopic VBG must prove equivalent technical precision to that of open procedures before it can be useful. Deterrents to success such as staple-line failure, band erosion, behavioural backsliding, lack of teeth, large pouch syndrome and a super-obese candidate underscore the tenacity of severe obesity, the disease, as an adversary. Control, not cure, is possible.
Hyperparathyroidism induced by hypothyroidism

The coexistence of hyperparathyroidism and thyroid tumors and/or chronic thyroiditis has raised the possibility of an etiologic relationship. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that the chronic elevation of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is related to the development of hyperparathyroidism. Three groups of 24 rats each were treated for 12 weeks as follows: group 1 received propylthiouracil (PTU) in their deionized water; group 2 received PTU and thyroid hormone to suppress TSH and to serve as a control group for possible direct effects of PTU; and group 3 was not treated at all and served as another control group. At 12 weeks, 95% of group 1 rats (PTU only) showed hyperplasia of the parathyroids with a 30% mean increase in circulating parathormone.
Radiative Decay Rates of Metastable One-Electron Atoms

Decay rates of the $2{s}_{\frac{1}{2}}$ metastable states of the hydrogen isoelectronic sequence are determined to lowest order in the fine-structure constant $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, and to all orders of $\ensuremath{\alpha}Z$, for elements with atomic numbers $Z$ ranging from 1 to 92. The $M1$ decay rate is given in closed analytical form, whereas the $E1$ rate is determined numerically. The two-photon $M1$ decay rate is considered and found to be of negligible importance throughout the periodic table.
Use of elastodynamic theories in the stochastic description of the effects of microstructure on ultrasonic flaw and noise signals

Damage tolerant strategies for managing the lives of structural components, such as aircraft engines, require a probabilistic description of the results of inspections, particularly the probability of flaw detection and of false alarms. These quantities are controlled by the distributions of signal responses from nominally identical flaws and of noise signals in the absence of flaws. Traditional approaches to determine such distributions are empirical, but the incorporation of insight from physical models would have many advantages. These advantages are discussed and one particular aspect of the approach, the use elastodynamic theories to quantifying the effect of material microstructure on signal and noise distributions is discussed in detail. Emphasis is placed on the interrelationship of contributions from mechanics, materials science and statistics. Included is a discussion of the basic physical assumptions, the key model results and the experiments that have been conducted to verify those model predictions. The paper describes new applications of elastodynamics that rest heavily on a foundation built by a number of pioneers in the field, one of them was Professor Achenbach.
Symmetric rotor interpretation of transitional nuclei

Abstract A rotational interpretation in the strong coupling limit is applied to transitional nuclei in the mass-70, -100, -120 regions. The calculations use a symmetric rotor with relatively small deformation and a variable moment of inertia is included explicitly. It is shown that this simple model, which is essentially similar to that used for strongly deformed nuclei, is in good agreement with a wide range of phenomena observed in transitional nuclei. Energy levels, branching ratios, and mixing ratios are included in the comparison to experimental data.
Parameter extraction for the extended cantilever model of magnetic component windings

The extended cantilever model (ECM) for transformer or inductor windings is convenient from the parameter extraction standpoint since, theoretically, each model parameter can be extracted from a single measurement of an open-circuit voltage or a short-circuit current. The impedance of the sensor used to measure a short-circuit current, however, makes the "short" less ideal, and it has been believed that each parameter in the ECM cannot be directly measured unless the impedance of the current sensor is negligible. It is shown that as long as the ECM parameters are reactive (inductive or capacitive) and the current sensor resistive, the current-sense resistance does not have to be restrictively small for the ECM parameters to be directly measurable. A linear, broadband formulation is also presented for extraction of the model admittances using current sensors with significant impedances.
Combustible Mixtures of Lunar Regolith with Aluminum and Magnesium: Thermodynamic Analysis and Combustion Experiments

Construction materials could be produced in situ on the surface of the Moon or Mars by combustion of regolith mixed with metals such as aluminum and magnesium. In the present paper, the adiabatic flame temperature and combustion products were calculated for the mixtures of JSC-1A lunar regolith simulant with Al and Mg, as well as with Ti/B pair. Combustion of JSC-1A with Mg in argon environment was studied experimentally. To facilitate ignition and achieve stable combustion, the original JSC-1A powder was ground in a ball mill. The velocity of the combustion front propagation in Mg/JSC-1A mixture pellets at argon pressures of 10 kPa and 90 kPa was measured for different milling times of JSC1A.
Continuous-recording camera system for high-frame-rate high-resolution applications

The Los Alamos National Laboratory in support of Department of Energy and Department of Defense projects is developing a continuous recording, intensified, CCD camera system having a high-frame rate and fast shutter capability. The camera frame rates can range from 1 to approximately 3500 frames per second with sub-nanosecond shuttering capability. Camera shuttering (or gating) is provided by a microchannel plate image intensifier employing a Los Alamos designed stripline geometry that incorporates impedance matching to reduce pulse reflections and dispersion. The CCD pixel array size is 512 X 512, which provides good-resolution over a relatively wide field of view. Video data readout from the CCD is through 16 parallel ports with a pixel rate of up to 75 Mpixels/s per port. Camera outputs include 16 ports of both analog video and digital video provided by 10-bit onboard digitizers. A computer controlled frame grabber is being fabricated which will record data from the digital outputs and store the data in a local memory for transfer into a non-volatile storage medium such as a removable disk drive. Salient characteristics and performance data of a prototype camera are presented and range gated imaging applications are discussed.
4‐ketoproline: An electrophilic proline analog for bioconjugation

Installing an electrophilic amino-acid residue can engender a peptide or protein with chemoselective reactivity. Such a modification to collagen, which is the most abundant protein in animals, could facilitate the development of new biomaterials. Collagen has an abundance of proline-like residues. Here, we report on the incorporation of an electrophilic proline congener, (2S)-4-ketoproline (Kep), into a collagen-mimetic peptide (CMP). An ab initio conformational analysis of Kep revealed its potential to be accommodated within a collagen triple helix. A synthetic CMP containing a Kep residue was indeed able to form a stable triple helix. Moreover, the condensation of its carbonyl group with aminooxy-biotin did not compromise the conformational stability of the triple helix. These data encourage the use of 4-ketoproline as an electrophilic congener of proline.
Abnormal Transmethylation/transsulfuration Metabolism and DNA Hypomethylation Among Parents of Children with Autism

An integrated metabolic profile reflects the combined influence of genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors that affect the candidate pathway of interest. Recent evidence suggests that some autistic children may have reduced detoxification capacity and may be under chronic oxidative stress. Based on reports of abnormal methionine and glutathione metabolism in autistic children, it was of interest to examine the same metabolic profile in the parents. The results indicated that parents share similar metabolic deficits in methylation capacity and glutathione-dependent antioxidant/detoxification capacity observed in many autistic children. Studies are underway to determine whether the abnormal profile in parents reflects linked genetic polymorphisms in these pathways or whether it simply reflects the chronic stress of coping with an autistic child.
Computing effective communication policies in multiagent systems

Communication is a key tool for facilitating multiagent coordination in cooperative and uncertain domains. We focus on a class of multiagent problems modeled as Decentralized Markov Decision Processes with Communication (DEC-MDP-COM) with local observability. The planning problem for computing the optimal communication strategy in such domains is often formulated with the assumption of the knowledge of optimal domain-level policy. Computing the optimal communication policy is NP-complete. There is a need, then, for heuristic solutions that trade-off performance with efficiency. We present a decision theoretic approach for computing optimal communication policies in stochastic environments which uses a branching future representation and evaluates only those decisions that an agent is likely to encounter. The communication strategy computed off-line is used in the more probable scenarios that the agent would face in future. Our approach also allows agents to compute communication policies at run-time in the unlikely event of the agents facing scenarios that were discarded while computing the off-line policy.
An Arabidopsis Mutant Defective in Jasmonate Response Is Allelic to the Auxin-Signaling Mutant axr1

A screen for Arabidopsis mutants that were insensitive to methyl jasmonate (MeJA) in an assay for seedling root growth yielded only alleles of previously isolated mutants jar1 and coi1, with one exception. Mapping of the locus and morphological characterization of the new mutant suggested it might be allelic to axr1, which had not previously been reported to show resistance to MeJA. The F(1) from a cross of the new mutant with axr1-3 did not show complementation, confirming that these are the same genes. The new allele is called axr1-24. In addition to MeJA and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), axr1-24 had decreased sensitivity to 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid, 6-benzylamino-purine, epi-brassinolide, and abscisic acid. Both axr1-24 and the previously characterized axr1-3 allele were shown to be susceptible to the opportunistic pathogen Pythium irregulare, a trait found in other jasmonate response mutants, including jar1-1. The double mutant jar1-1/axr1-3 was more resistant to inhibition of root growth by MeJA and was more susceptible to P. irregulare infection than either single mutant, suggesting these genes might act in independent response pathways. In contrast, resistance to IAA in the double mutant was not different from axr1-3. Northern-blot analysis showed that IAA induced the jasmonate-responsive lipoxygenase 2, AOS, and AtVSP gene transcripts and induction was strongly impaired in axr1-3. However, transcript induction by MeJA was only minimally affected in axr1-3. This study demonstrates that in addition to auxin signaling, the AXR1 locus is involved in MeJA response, providing a mechanistic link between jasmonate and auxin-signaling pathways.
ABS: a system for scalable approximate queries with accuracy guarantees

Approximate Query Processing (AQP) based on sampling is critical for supporting timely and cost-effective analytics over big data. To be applied successfully, AQP must be accompanied by reliable estimates on the quality of sample-produced approximate answers; the two main techniques used in the past for this purpose are (i) closed-form analytic error estimation, and (ii) the bootstrap method. Approach (i) is extremely efficient but lacks generality, whereas (ii) is general but suffers from high computational overhead. Our recently introduced Analytical Bootstrap method combines the strengths of both approaches and provides the basis for our ABS system, which will be demonstrated at the conference. The ABS system models bootstrap by a probabilistic relational model, and extends relational algebra with operations on probabilistic relations to predict the distributions of the AQP results. Thus, ABS entails a very fast computation of bootstrap-based quality measures for a general class of SQL queries, which is several orders of magnitude faster than the standard simulation-based bootstrap. In this demo, we will demonstrate the generality, automaticity, and ease of use of the ABS system, and its superior performance over the traditional approaches described above.
Numerical Study of a Flapping Airfoil in Gusty Environments

Micro air vehicles (MAVs) have the potential to perform mission critical tasks not suitable for large aircrafts. To fulfill their potential, MAVs should be capable to maintain stable flight under different and even the most severe flight conditions. Due to their low inertia and low flight speed, MAVs are susceptible to wind gust during flight. It was observed that a flapping wing is more gust resistant than a traditional fixed wing. In this paper we numerically study the aerodynamic performance of a flapping airfoil in various gusty conditions by solving the Navier-Stokes equations. An algebraic moving grid technique is used to handle the dynamic airfoil motion. The effects of gust fluctuation amplitude, ratio of the flapping frequency to the gust frequency, airfoil kinematics are investigated. Our study shows that with certain kinematics, the flapping airfoil can effectively alleviate the freestream gust fluctuation and ensure a stable flight. However, no single parameter can determine whether the flapping wing can reduce the gust effect.
(R,S)‐Mevalonolactone‐2‐13C

(R,S)-Mevalonolactone-2-13C reactant: 4.40 g (0.050 mol) of 4-hydroxy-2-butanone catalyst: 13.9 g (0.060 mol) of freshly prepared silver oxide reactant: 12.0 g (0.070 mol) of benzyl bromide intermediate: 4-benzyloxy-2-butanone reactant: 0.439 g (0.00720 mol) of acetic acid-2-13C intermediate: 0.519 g (0.00217 mol) of 5-benzyloxy-3-hydroxy-3-methylpentanoic acid-2-13C product: mevalonolactone-2-13C Keywords: addition, to CO; alkylation, O-alkylation; annulation, heterocyclic-[6]; cleavage, dealkylation; cyclization, reductive cyclization; reduction, miscellaneous; acetic acid-2-13c, drying of; assay methods, for butyllithium, with 2-butanol, menthol, 2-pentanol, or 2-propanol, 1,10-phenanthroline indicator; assay methods, for butyllithium, with diphenylacetic acid; diisopropylamine; silver oxide, preparation; tetrahydrofuran; toluene; benzyl bromide; hydrogenation catalysts; tetrahydrofuran, purification; apparatus, for catalytic hydrogenation
Epidermal growth factor receptor-directed enterocyte proliferation does not induce Wnt pathway transcription

Abstract Background Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) stimulation enhances intestinal adaptation after massive small bowel resection (SBR), measured by taller villi, deeper crypts, and augmented enterocyte proliferation. Min mice with constitutively active β -catenin signaling demonstrate enhanced villus growth after SBR, suggesting a role for the Wnt pathway during adaptation. Because there is crosstalk between EGFR signaling and the Wnt pathway, we hypothesized that β -catenin is modulated by EGFR-induced enterocyte proliferation. Methods Rat intestinal epithelial cells were stimulated with EGF and cytoplasmic to nuclear trafficking of β -catenin was measured. β -catenin-directed transcription was also tested via transfection with a TOP/FOP luciferase reporter. Downstream transcriptional target expression was measured in murine intestine after SBR. Results Epidermal growth factor-treated rat intestinal epithelial cells exhibited increased proliferation compared to serum-deficient cells in the face of no detectable accumulation of nuclear β -catenin. The luciferase assay results showed minimal transcription activity in response to EGF. In vivo experiments revealed no significant difference in expression of β -catenin targeted genes in crypt enterocytes after SBR. Conclusions The mechanism for EGFR-induced proliferation of enterocytes does not appear to involve a transcriptional role for β -catenin. The effects of EGFR signaling on β -catenin-mediated cell adhesion remain to be investigated.
An algorithm for simultaneous stabilization using decentralized constant gain output feedback

An algorithm which solves, numerically, the simultaneous stabilization problem using a constant gain decentralized control law is presented. The algorithm is determined from the necessary conditions for minimizing an optimal control problem. The optimal control problem consists of n plant models each with its own cost function. The costs are summed to create an average cost function and equality constraints are added to yield the decentralized control structure. The algorithm can start with any stabilizing full state feedback gain for each model and will converge to the optimal constant feedback gain for all models assuming a solution exists. Examples of the algorithm are given for Kharitonov synthesis and optimal gain scheduled control law synthesis using output feedback. >
2-D moving average models for texture synthesis and analysis

A random field model based on moving average (MA) time-series model is proposed for modeling stochastic and structured textures. A frequency domain algorithm to synthesize MA textures is developed, and maximum likelihood estimators are derived. The Cramer-Rao lower bound is also derived for measuring the estimator accuracy. The estimation algorithm is applied to real textures, and images resembling natural textures are synthesized using estimated parameters.