cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HOW TO RANK THE TOP500 LIST

HOW TO RANK THE TOP500 LIST? Lin-Wang Wang Computational Research Division Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA e-mail address: lwwang@lbl.gov With the increasing interest in green computing, power efficiency in supercomputer becomes an important issue. In the high performance computing (HPC) community, the TOP500 list of the fastest 500 computers in the world has been published twice a year for 15 years. So far, the ranking of this list is based solely on the total speed of the computer. With the increased emphasize on power efficiency, one question emerged: how to rank the computers according to both the speed and the power efficiency? One can of cause produce two lists, one according to speed, another according to power efficiency, but there are many advantages to produce a single ranking based on both properties. In this report, we present one approach to sort the TOP500 list. We also show the results using the recently published TOP500 list of June 2008 [http://www.top500.org/lists/2008/06]. The goal of the method is to avoid human factors as much as possible, and to make the formalism as nature as possible. Let’s first assume we have selected N=500 best computers from the world. This initial selection can be made based on speed. Our task is to sort these N computers from a given set. Note, we will not produce an absolute “greatness” number for each computer, independent of the rest of the computers in this N computer set. Instead, for the purpose of the sorting, we will produce a score for each computer, “normalized” against the whole computer set. Thus, the value of the score for each computer depends on the whole set. But for the sorting purpose, that is appropriate. Let’s use P m (i) to denote the property of computer i (i=1,N), and m=1,q is the index of the property, e.g., speed, memory, power efficiency, etc. We will assume, larger P m (i) means better. Now, given the q properties, how can we sort the N computers? The question is: how to combine P m (i) into a single score function S(i). Our first task is to normalize P m (i). Since different m means completely different properties, with different units and distributions, it is difficult to combine them. We like to convert P m (i) into A m (i). One requirement for A m (i) is that, it must be unit-less. Besides, different properties might have different distributions. Some property might all cluster around a single value, while another property can have a wide distribution. In order to use these properties to distinguish different computers, one likes A m (i) to have similar width of distribution. To make A m (i) unit-less, it is reasonable to ask its average from the whole set to be 1. To make it having a given width of distribution, we can require the distribution of A m (i) to have a given standard deviation around its average value. After some tests, we believe a standard deviation of one is a reasonable choice. Now, we will use the following simple power law to map A m (i) from P m (i):
Host nutrient supply mediates facilitation and competition between plant viruses

Abstract Ecological theory that predicts the effects of resource availability on species interactions has been explored across a range of systems. Yet, application of this theory to communities of host-associated pathogens has been limited. Host resources and diet can impact disease severity and prevalence, and these resource effects on disease may be mediated by pathogen-pathogen interactions within hosts infected with multiple pathogens. As with free-living organisms, pathogen species can alter each other’s population growth rates, population densities, and transmission to new hosts through facilitative or antagonistic processes. We used a model grass-virus system (Barley and Cereal Yellow Dwarf Viruses) to test the hypothesis that host nutrition can constrain virus-virus interactions by simultaneously determining both within-host density and transmission to new hosts. Hosts (oats) were grown in growth chambers with different concentrations of soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) and infected with one or both viruses (i.e., coinfection). We quantified the impacts of nutrient addition on virus-virus interactions through within-host density (i.e., the concentration of viruses in a plant) and transmission to new hosts. Nutrients promoted facilitation of one virus (CYDV-RPV) through increased density (elevated N) and increased transmission (elevated N and P) with coinfection relative to single infection. The other virus (BYDV-PAV) experienced facilitation through increased density when nutrients were limited, but nutrient addition led to antagonistic effects of coinfection on density (elevated N and P) and transmission (elevated N). Our results highlight opportunities for novel insights from testing predictions of community ecology in disease systems, including nutrient-dependent facilitation and nutrient-mediated interactions during transmission that were not predicted by within-host dynamics. This study contributes to the growing literature on ecological interactions among coinfecting pathogens by demonstrating that resource availability can mediate pathogen-pathogen interactions both within hosts and during transmission.
Porting CMS Heterogeneous Pixel Reconstruction to Kokkos

Programming for a diverse set of compute accelerators in addition to the CPU is a challenge. Maintaining separate source code for each architecture would require lots of effort, and development of new algorithms would be daunting if it had to be repeated many times. Fortunately there are several portability technologies on the market such as Alpaka, Kokkos, and SYCL. These technologies aim to improve the developer’s productivity by making it possible to use the same source code for many different architectures. In this paper we use heterogeneous pixel reconstruction code from the CMS experiment at the CERNL LHC as a realistic use case of a GPU-targeting HEP reconstruction software, and report experience from prototyping a portable version of it using Kokkos. The development was done in a standalone program that attempts to model many of the complexities of a HEP data processing framework such as CMSSW. We also compare the achieved event processing throughput to the original CUDA code and a CPU version of it.
Natural, Integral, and Rational Numbers

In this chapter we present a very detailed and slow-paced arithmetic exposition of the natural, integral, and rational number systems. Natural numbers are introduced using Peano’s system of axioms. Inherent in the last Peano axiom is his Principle of Induction, one of the fundamental postulates of arithmetic on natural numbers. Among the myriad of applications of this principle, we discuss here the Division Algorithm for Integers along with the greatest common divisor and prime factorization.
Stability in the Calculation of Two-Dimensional Continued Fractions

The relative and absolute errors of the calculation of two-dimensional continued fractions and the domain of their absolute stability are established by using the properties of the tails of two-dimensional continued fractions.
Bordetella pertussis BvgAS Virulence Control System

During infection of a suitable host, Bordetella pertussis adheres to ciliated epithelial cells and expresses several toxins responsible for both local damage and systemic effects. In 1960, Lacey reported that altering growth conditions affected the expression of several B. pertussis antigens. Further analysis and extension of this work demonstrated that chlorate and sulfate anions, nicotinic acid derivatives, and low temperature can reversibly down-regulate expression of virulence factors by bvg. In vivo signals that may promote phenotypic modulation and the mechanism through which modulators interact with BvgAS to regulate its function are not known. Autophosphorylation of the cytoplasmic portion of BvgS (‘BvgS) and phosphotransfer to BvgA have been demonstrated using an in vitro phosphorylation assay. As expected, mutation of the proposed primary site of autophosphorylation, His-729 in the transmitter, abolishes activity in vivo and autophosphorylation in vitro. Phosphotransfer to BvgA from BvgS can be uncoupled from BvgS autophosphorylation by mutations in BvgS. Identification of additional Bvg--phase genes and their functional roles in B. pertussis will further our understanding of virulence gene regulation as it relates to pathogenesis. Pathogenesis of Bordetella begins with bvg; characterization of the mechanisms by which BvgAS senses and responds to changing environments is essential for understanding B. pertussis.
TU‐CD‐207‐01: Characterization of Breast Tissue Composition Using Spectral Mammography

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of characterizing the chemical composition of breast tissue, in terms of water and lipid, by using spectral mammography in simulation and postmortem studies. Methods: Analytical simulations were performed to obtain low- and high-energy signals of breast tissue based on previously reported water, lipid, and protein contents. Dual-energy decomposition was used to characterize the simulated breast tissue into water and lipid basis materials and the measured water density was compared to the known value. In experimental studies, postmortem breasts were imaged with a spectral mammography system based on a scanning multi-slit Si strip photon-counting detector. Low- and high-energy images were acquired simultaneously from a single exposure by sorting the recorded photons into the corresponding energy bins. Dual-energy material decomposition of the low- and high-energy images yielded individual pixel measurements of breast tissue composition in terms of water and lipid thicknesses. After imaging, each postmortem breast was chemically decomposed into water, lipid and protein. The water density calculated from chemical analysis was used as the reference gold standard. Correlation of the water density measurements between spectral mammography and chemical analysis was analyzed using linear regression. Results: Both simulation and postmortem studies showed good linear correlation between the decomposed water thickness using spectral mammography and chemical analysis. The slope of the linear fitting function in the simulation and postmortem studies were 1.15 and 1.21, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate that breast tissue composition, in terms of water and lipid, can be accurately measured using spectral mammography. Quantitative breast tissue composition can potentially be used to stratify patients according to their breast cancer risk.
Bit-serial generalized median filters

Generalized median filtering techniques that have appeared in literature suffer from some severe disadvantages. They are not only hardware intensive and time consuming but also tend to smear image edges. These shortcomings can be overcome by having bit-serial filtering techniques. The median selection of the sample values in the window is done for a few most significant bit stages. The sample values not in consensus with the majority are edited based on some criterion and averaged out with the rest of the data to yield the filter output. Depending on the criterion for editing the data, two filtering techniques-the B filter and the Tag-based Trimmed Mean (TTM) filter have been presented. The median-running mean filters are integrated in an area efficient manner to provide the basic building block for a signal processing chipset. >
The hunger myth: The world can be fed

Abstract We are in a world food “crisis.” Professor Paarlberg explores this myth, and facets of it, in his article. Hunger is not new, nor will the world soon see its disappearance; the problem will only begin to be solved if the developed Free World brings its best resources to bear on it. Since the United States cannot feed the world, programs that we instigate must be designed to be self-perpetuating. In order to help the less-developed countries the United States must support family planning, send more technical assistance, let receiving nations contribute, and encourage our private sector to invest in these countries. The crisis unfortunately cannot be dealt with quickly and decisively; the developed Free World and the United States must prepare for and assist in the seige against hunger.
Design and performance considerations in LAN-to-host interconnect gateway

The author describes the characteristics of local area networks (LANs) and the host channel, and examines the issues that are important to the design and performance of a gateway between them. The particular design and implementation of the IBM 3172 LAN-to-host interconnect controller are used to demonstrate how these issues are considered. The hardware and software structures of IBM 3172 interconnect controller are described. The major design considerations are host channel interface, traffic crossing the gateway, buffer space, main processor speed, software path lengths, frame size, and block size. Simulation performance results are presented and discussed. Simulation results show that the main factors affecting the throughput of the controller are frame processing overhead, LAN frame size, and host channel block size. >
Simultaneous Boundary and Partial Volume Estimation in Medical Images

Partial volume effects are present in nearly all medical imaging data. These artifacts blur the boundaries between different regions, making accurate delineation of anatomical structures difficult. In this paper, we propose a method for unsupervised estimation of partial volume fractions in single-channel image data. Unlike previous methods, the proposed algorithm simultaneously estimates partial volume fractions, the means of the different tissue classes, as well as the the locations of tissue boundaries within the image. The latter allows the partial volume fractions to be constrained to represent pure or nearly pure tissue except along tissue boundaries. We demonstrate the application of the algorithm on simulated and real magnetic resonance images.
Pathogenesis of diverticulitis complicating granulomatous colitis.

Abstract The involvement of diverticula by granulomatous colitis may cause an increased incidence of diverticulitis. Of 21 patients with Crohn's disease and associated diverticulosis who underwent resection, sigmoid diverticulitis was pathologically confirmed in 10 (48%). The clinical recognition of the coexistence of the two diseases is often difficult. The radiological signs of peridiverticulitis complicating granulomatous colitis usually show clear evidence of the underlying pathological changes. They include localized diverticular perforation, perhaps with multiple communications via a paracolonic sinus tract, mass pressure from the paracolic abscess, and occasionally some degree of communication with deep fissuring ulcers of Crohn's disease. Because diverticula breach the colonic wall, histological analysis confirms that their involvement by the transmural process of granulomatous colitis predisposes to peridiverticulitis and/or abscess formation.
Proposals for Studying TeV $WW \to WW$ Interactions Experimentally

We discuss how to experimentally study the electroweak symmetry breaking (EWSB) sector by observing $WW \to WW$ interactions in the TeV region. We discuss some general features of the event structure in the signal and the background events. Various techniques to enhance the signal-to-background ratio are also presented. We show how to detect longitudinal W-bosons either in the central rapidity region of the detector or in the beam pipe direction. Finally, we globally classify the sensitivities of the Large Hadron Collider and the Linear Colliders to probing the next-to-leading order bosonic operators of the electroweak chiral lagrangian used to parametrize models of strongly coupled EWSB sector.
Nanotechnology circuit design - the "interconnect problem"

Proposed a modified metallic interconnect as a possible solution of the so-called "interconnect problem" in reference to a nanotechnology circuit where an extremely high density of devices in the circuit requires a very large number of very high-speed interconnects. This can result in high crosstalk introduced by the very close proximity of the rather large number of interconnects in addition to the excessive heating problem caused by very high current densities in the interconnect lines which can further lead to failure of the interconnects due to the phenomenon called electromigration. Rather than a usual single-path interconnect, the modified interconnect consists of two or more paths between the driver and the load. These paths are stacked vertically isolated from one another by insulating layers between them thereby taking the same area on the chip as a single-path interconnect. Using a ladder network approximation for the interconnect, we carried out a first-order analysis of the propagation delays in a multipath interconnect. We also determined approximately the electromigration-induced MTF of such a multi-path inter-connect structure.
Eustachian tube and internal carotid artery in skull base surgery: an anatomical study.

Objectives/Hypothesis The eustachian tube (ET) is an important landmark in skull base surgery, which has a close relationship with the petrous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA). The goal of the current study was to establish the detailed anatomic relationship of the ET and petrous segment of the ICA. Study Design Anatomical study. Methods Six silicon-injected adult cadaveric heads (12 sides) were dissected using a lateral infratemporal fossa approach (type C) and endoscopic endonasal approach. The ET and ICA were exposed; their detailed relationships were demonstrated. High-quality pictures were obtained. Results In the anterior genu/foramen lacerum segment of the ICA, the vidian nerve was an important landmark. The cartilaginous ET was divided into four segments, from anterior to posterior: nasopharyngeal, pterygoid, lacerum, and petrosal segment. The anterior and inferior wall of the carotid canal was consistently between the horizontal ICA and petrous segment of the cartilaginous ET. In the posterior genu of the ICA, the bony part of the ET, and the tendon of the tensor tympani muscle were paramount landmarks. The posterior genu of the ICA was imbedded in the carotid canal. The landmarks of the junction of the cartilaginous ET and bony ET were the sphenoid spine and foramen spinosum. Conclusions The anatomical segmentation of the ET provides the basis for safe and effective transection of the ET in skull base surgery. An understanding of the complex relationships of the ET and petrous segment of the ICA is paramount for surgically dealing with disease located within the region of the ET and petrous segment of the ICA. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 124:2655–2664, 2014
New fossil platyrrhines from the Pinturas Formation, southern Argentina

Recent paleontological fieldwork in southern Argentina has generated many new primate fossils from the early-middle Miocene Pinturas Formation in the northwestern part of Santa Cruz Province. This paper describes three new species—a small species of the previously described genus, Soriacebus , and two species of a new, larger genus more similar to Homunculus . A fossil primate from Colhuehuapian deposits at the Gran Barranca in nearby Chubut Province, previously assigned to Homunculus , is provisionally placed in the genus Soriacebus . All of the fossil platyrrhines from Santa Cruz Province have been repeatedly shown to have phenetic similarities to Aotus, Callicebus and pitheciines, but their phyletic relations are far from resolved.
CT image-based engineering analysis of transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Despite the increased global experience with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), there remain 3 major adverse events. Aortic rupture ([Fig. 1][1]), coronary artery obstruction ([Fig. 2][2]), and paravalvular leakage (PVL) ([Fig. 3][3]) may occur with valve implantation. Oversizing or
Brown carbon formation by aqueous-phase carbonyl compound reactions with amines and ammonium sulfate.

Reactions between small water-soluble carbonyl compounds, ammonium sulfate (AS), and/or amines were evaluated for their ability to form light-absorbing species in aqueous aerosol. Aerosol chemistry...
Digital volume correlation including rotational degrees of freedom during minimization

Digital volume correlation is a new experimental technique that allows the measurement of the full-field strain tensor in three dimensions. We describe the addition of rotational degrees of freedom into the minimization problem for digital volume correlation in order to improve the overall performance of the strain measurement. A parameterization of rotations that is particularly suited to the minimization problem is presented, based on the angle-axis representation of finite rotations. The partial derivative of both a normalized cross-correlation coefficient and the sum-of-squares correlation coefficient are derived for use with gradient-based minimization algorithms. The addition of rotation is shown to greatly reduce the measurement error when even small amounts of rigid body rotation are present in an artificially rotated test volume. In an aluminum foam sample loaded in compression, including rotational degrees of freedom produced smoother contours of minimum principal strain. Renderings of the aluminum foam architecture in areas of low, medium and high rotation showed material deformation pattern in detail.
CMS: An intelligent knowledge-based tool for organizational procedure modeling and execution

Abstract The design and implementation ofCMS (Collaboration Management System), an intelligent knowledge-based tool designed to help organization members execute organizational procedures is described. CMS is aimed at automating the relationships and roles of organization members, rather than just transactions, so that a procedure can be executed by groups of problem solvers acting autonomously, cooperatively, and collaboratively to achieve the collective goal. This collaborative process model supports the definition, execution, monitoring, and dynamic modification of organizational procedures and is implemented as an object-oriented knowledge-based system. Our primary intent is to document the implementation strategy we employed, which is based on the integration of object-oriented programming into the logic programming environment of Prolog. This integration proves to be a powerful knowledge-based application development environment that preserves the best features of each technology within the system. Thus, CMS inherits its capability of structuring and organizing problem-solving knowledge of the application from object-oriented technology and its expressive power, pattern matching, and automatic backtracking characteristics from logic programming.
Indomethacin attenuates the constriction of canine epicardial coronary arteries to acetylcholine in the absence of endothelium: contribution of platelets to vasoconstriction in vivo.

This study was designed to evaluate the in vivo effect of acetylcholine on endothelial-damaged canine epicardial coronary arteries and the potential contribution of platelets to those acetylcholine-induced responses. Changes in left anterior descending artery cross-sectional area were determined by quantitative angiography in the closed chest anesthetized dog. Baseline cross-sectional area of the left anterior descending artery was not changed by removal of the endothelium by balloon-tipped catheter. Increased constrictor tone produced by prostaglandin Fα was comparable in endothelium-intact and endothelium-removed vessels, supporting an endothelium-independent mechanism for prostaglandin F2α in vivo. Acetylcholine produced anterior descending artery vasodilation with the endothelium intact; a comparable maximal dilator response was also obtained in the presence of increased constrictor tone (prostaglandin F2α). In contrast, acetylcholine produced vasoconstriction of the anterior descending artery when the endothelium was removed. To evaluate the mechanism of acetylcholine-induced vasoconstriction in endothelium-removed vessels, the same protocol was completed in the presence of the platelet inhibitor indomethacin. Indomethacin did not alter baseline cross-sectional area or the dilator response to acetylcholine in endothelium-intact vessels. In contrast, the constrictor response in endothelium-removed vessels was antagonized, and a dilator response comparable with that in endothelium-intact vessels was produced by acetylcholine. The results of this study provide an experimental basis for the observations in human studies in which apparently atherosclerotic vessels constrict in response to acetylcholine. Removal of the endothelium in vivo abolishes the dilator response to acetylcholine and converts the acetylcholine response to vasoconstriction or vasospasm. This vasoconstrictor response is reversed to a dilator response by indomethacin, suggesting that acetylcholine-induced vasoconstriction in endothelial-damaged arteries in vivo may, in part, be facilitated by platelet-released vasoconstricting substances.
Trend and Variability of Total Gaseous Mercury (TGM) in the State of Connecticut, U.S.A. during 1997-1999

A statewide total gaseous mercury (TGM) monitoring campaign was conducted from January 1997 to December 1999 in the State of Connecticut, U.S.A. Eight monitoring sites with different characteristics of geographical location (coastal vs. interior) and land use (rural vs. urban) were included in the monitoring program. Statistical procedures were utilized to evaluate the temporal trend and spatial distribution of the TGM concentration in the State, and the influence of long-range transport from non-local sources. The statewide mean TGM concentration was 2.08 ng m-3. The annual mean concentration had no significant differences among the three years of measurements for all the sites. Weak seasonal variations were detected in the State with higher ambient TGM concentration found in warmer seasons. Urban areas in general had higher TGM concentrations than rural areas. The effect of site location of the monitoring sites on TGM concentration was interacted with land use characteristics. Waterbury site with extremely high concentration measurements was the major cause for this interaction. The long-range transport of TGM from remote sources showed an important influence on local ambient concentrations, by explaining over 45% of the total variance of the ambient TGM concentration for most sites. Local sources were responsible for the extremely high TGM concentration in the Waterbury site. The TGM concentrations at Voluntown, Hammonasset and Avery Point in southeast Connecticut were likely to be affected by some local sources.
A Method for Correlating Duty-Cycle Tests on Solenoids

A SOLENOID is customarily rated in terms of the minimum pull exerted at any point within its rated stroke when a certain fraction of its nominal voltage is impressed on the coil. Furthermore, when full nominal voltage is applied continuously, the temperature rise of the coil must not exceed a certain value, depending on the class of insulation used and the maximum ambient temperature.
Degeneracy of multicomponent quantum Hall states satisfying periodic boundary conditions.

In systems subject to periodic boundary conditions, Haldane has shown that states at an arbitrary filling fraction possess a degeneracy with respect to the center of mass translations. An analysis is carried out for multicomponent electron systems and extra degeneracies are shown to exist. Their application to numerical studies is discussed.
Meson decay of strongly interacting systems

The decays of strongly interacting systems with the quantum numbersJP=1− andC=−1 into pseudoscalar mesons are discussed. The3S1\(\bar pp\) system at rest is within this category and predicted branching ratios for its annihilation are presented. The related processes of KN*→Kππ and1S0\(\bar pp\) annihilation are discussed. Interesting results include the determination of theSU3\(\bar BBV\)D/F ratio to be 2.3 rather than theSU6 value of 3/2 and the indication that fη*NN-2fπ0NN where the η* is the 960 MeV ηππ resonance. Such a large negative value for the η* coupling constant may help to explain the rapid increase with energy of the proton Compton scattering cross-section.
Theory of ion-ion recombination

A new and basic theory of ion--ion recombination as a function of gas density N is developed from basic microscopic principles. A key equation for the distribution in phase space of ion pairs is derived together with an expression for the resulting rate $\alpha $ of recombination. Further development of the theory leads to interesting insights into the full variation with N of $\alpha $, which is shown to yield the correct limits at low and high N. The recombination rate $\alpha $ is determined by the limiting step of the rate $\alpha \_{\text{rn}}$ for ion reaction and of the rate $\alpha \_{\text{tr}}$ for ion transport to the reaction zone. An analytical solution of the time-dependent Debye-Smoluchowski equation, which is a natural consequence of this theory, is provided for transport-reaction under a general interaction V, for an instantaneous reaction ($\alpha \_{\text{rn}}\gg \alpha \_{\text{tr}}$) and for a finite rate ($\alpha \_{\text{rn}}\approx \alpha \_{\text{tr}}$) of reaction within a kinetic sink rendered compressible by variation of gas density. Expressions for the transient recombination rates $\alpha $(t) are then derived, and are illustrated. The exhibited time dependence lends itself to eventual experimental verification at high N. A theory that investigates the variation of $\alpha $ with ion density N$^{\pm}$ is also developed. Here the ion--ion interaction V can no longer be assumed ab initio to be pure coulomb but is solved self-consistently with the recombination. Recombination rates for various systems are illustrated as a function of N by a simplified method for the reaction rate. Finally, two theoretical procedures are proposed for the solution of the general phasespace ion distributions.
Structural changes of envelope proteins during alphavirus fusion

Alphaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses that have a diameter of about 700 A and can be lethal human pathogens. Entry of virus into host cells by endocytosis is controlled by two envelope glycoproteins, E1 and E2. The E2-E1 heterodimers form 80 trimeric spikes on the icosahedral virus surface, 60 with quasi-three-fold symmetry and 20 coincident with the icosahedral three-fold axes arranged with T = 4 quasi-symmetry. The E1 glycoprotein has a hydrophobic fusion loop at one end and is responsible for membrane fusion. The E2 protein is responsible for receptor binding and protects the fusion loop at neutral pH. The lower pH in the endosome induces the virions to undergo an irreversible conformational change in which E2 and E1 dissociate and E1 forms homotrimers, triggering fusion of the viral membrane with the endosomal membrane and then releasing the viral genome into the cytoplasm. Here we report the structure of an alphavirus spike, crystallized at low pH, representing an intermediate in the fusion process and clarifying the maturation process. The trimer of E2-E1 in the crystal structure is similar to the spikes in the neutral pH virus except that the E2 middle region is disordered, exposing the fusion loop. The amino- and carboxy-terminal domains of E2 each form immunoglobulin-like folds, consistent with the receptor attachment properties of E2.
Applications of Discrete Element Method in Modeling of Grain Postharvest Operations

Grain kernels are finite and discrete materials. Although flowing grain can behave like a continuum fluid at times, the discontinuous behavior exhibited by grain kernels cannot be simulated solely with conventional continuum-based computer modeling such as finite-element or finite-difference methods. The discrete element method (DEM) is a proven numerical method that can model discrete particles like grain kernels by tracking the motion of individual particles. DEM has been used extensively in the field of rock mechanics. Its application is gaining popularity in grain postharvest operations, but it has not been applied widely. This paper reviews existing applications of DEM in grain postharvest operations. Published literature that uses DEM to simulate postharvest processing is reviewed, as are applications in handling and processing of grain such as soybean, corn, wheat, rice, rapeseed, and the grain coproduct distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). Simulations of grain drying that involve particles in both free-flowing and confined-flow conditions are also included. Review of the existing literature indicates that DEM is a promising approach in the study of the behavior of deformable soft particulates such as grain and coproducts, and it could benefit from the development of improved particle models for these complex-shaped particles.
Characterization of the Proximal Ligand in the P420 Form of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase

The nitric oxide (NO) produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) up-regulates the expression of heme oxygenase (HO), which in turn produces carbon monoxide (CO) that down-regulates iNOS activity by reducing its expression level or by inhibiting its activity by converting it to an inactive P420 form (iNOSP420). Accordingly, CO has been considered as a potentially important attenuator of inflammation. Despite its importance, the nature of the proximal heme ligand of the iNOSP420 species remains elusive. Here we show that the 221 cm−1 mode of the photoproduct of iNOSP420 does not exhibit any H2O−D2O solvent isotope shift such as that found in the iron−histidine stretching mode of myoglobin, indicating that the proximal ligand of iNOSP420 is not a histidine. The νFe−CO and νC−O data reveal that the proximal heme ligand of iNOSP420 is consistent with a protonated thiol instead of a thiolate anion. Furthermore, the optical absorption properties of iNOSP420 are similar to those of a neutral thiol−heme mo...
Geographic variation in fruit volatiles emitted by the hawthorn Crataegus mollis and its consequences for host race formation in the apple maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella

The shift of the apple (AP) maggot fly, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) (Diptera: Tephritidae), from its ancestral host downy hawthorn, Crataegus mollis (DH) (Torr. & A. Gray) Scheele, to introduced domesticated AP, Malus domestica Borkh. (both Rosaceae), is a model for ecological divergence and incipient sympatric speciation with gene flow. However, a portion of the variation contributing to the sympatric host shift from DH to AP appears to have a different biogeographic history, pre-dating the shift. One potential source of standing variation may trace to a number of different native hawthorn species infested by R. pomonella in the southern USA, where the AP-attacking race is absent. Herein, we investigate this possibility for the southern red hawthorn (SR) endemic to Texas, Crataegus mollis var. texana (Buckl.), which has been described as a member of the Molles series that includes the more northern distributed DH. We report results from chemical analyses of host fruit volatiles, fly behavioural responses to synthetic fruit blends, and microsatellite surveys of fly populations, implying that R. pomonella infesting SR may behaviourally and genetically represent a native host race differing from the DH-infesting fly. No fly reared from SR responded to AP fruit volatiles in flight tunnel assays. However, coupled gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) profiles for SR fruit contain all five of the component esters that comprise the standard AP volatile blend inducing behavioural orientation for AP-infesting flies, compounds that appear to be largely missing from volatile profiles for DH fruit. Thus, SR-infesting flies do not represent a source for a preassembled AP-accepting phenotype. However, they may help explain why the ancestral DH race that shifted to AP in the northeastern USA had the ability to recognize AP fruit esters, potentially enabling the shift to AP. Our results highlight how categorizing speciation into different geographic modes may not adequately describe the evolutionary origins of important genetic variation fuelling adaptive radiation and the genesis of new biodiversity.
Adrenergic Receptors: Data and Programs on the Internet

Abstract The adrenergic receptors belong to a gene superfamily whose members share a great deal of sequence homology. To date, over 60 members of this superfamily have been cloned and sequenced. Ready access to this wealth of sequence information, together with the software tools to analyze it, can facilitate experimental design and interpretation as well as expedite the realization of experimental goals. Many investigators have one or more computers connected to the Internet, often for no purpose other than to exchange electronic mail (e-mail) or to utilize the file-serving capabilities of a Novell network. These investigators are, to a large extent, unaware of the extensive resources that the Internet offers. The aim of this article is to facilitate utilization of the Internet, particularly as a tool to aid in the study of adrenergic receptors, and to guide the readers exploration of this resource. Although the Internet may at first appear to be an unfathomable morass of information, the simple command "help" can often be used to guide one′s path. Wherever possible, the reader is directed to retrieve the latest documentation on each topic directly from the Internet.
On the difference of temperature dependence of metal gate and poly gate SOI MOSFET threshold voltages

The temperature dependence of device performance is a critical factor that determines overall product power-performance. We show HKMG gate stacks drive significantly higher threshold temperature dependence over poly-Si/SiON. We further show that in SOI, the work-function engineering enabled by HKMG integration schemes can result in even higher Vt temperature sensitivity attributed to differences in floating body behavior. These combined effects, together with observed reduced mobility temperature sensitivity, result in higher drive current at elevated temperature. This is in contrast to poly-Si/SiON technologies where the low driven current, performance limiting corner is typically at high temperature.
Preservation of platelet receptors for platelet aggregating factor/von Willebrand factor by air drying, freezing, or lyophilization: New stable platelet preparations for von Willebrand factor assays

Abstract The long-term preservation of platelet surface receptors for the platelet aggregating von Willebrand factor was achieved by freezing or drying of formaldehyde-fixed human platelets. Three separate procedures for platelet preservation were used: freezing at −70°C, air-drying, and lyophilization. The preserved platelets were compared with the original fixed platelet preparations for reactivity in two types of tests for platelet aggregating von Willebrand factor, the ristocetin test with human plasmas and the platelet aggregating factor test with porcine and bovine plasmas. The new preparations of preserved platelets were equally reactive in both tests and showed no deterioration of activity on storage for periods of over one year. All of these preserved platelet preparations were satisfactory for use in both screening and bioassay procedures for the von Willebrand factor and provide a more convenient reagent than the original fixed platelet preparation.
Synthesis and Characterization of Cr(III) Complexes with 3‐Hydroxy‐4‐Pyrones and 1,2‐Dimethyl‐3‐Hydroxy‐4‐Pyridinone (DMHP): X‐Ray Crystal Structures of Cr(DMHP)3 · 12H2O and Cr(ma)3

This report describes the synthesis and characterization of three Cr(III) complexes: Cr(DMHP)3 · 12H2O (DMHP = 1,2‐dimethyl‐3‐hydroxy‐4‐pyridinone), Cr(ma)3 (Hma = maltol or 3‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐4‐pyrone), and Cr(ema)3 (Hema = ethylmaltol or 2‐ethyl‐3‐hydroxy‐4‐pyrone). All three Cr(III) complexes were prepared from reactions of chromium(III) chloride with DMHP, Hma, and Hema, respectively, in the presence of a base such as triethylamine. They have been characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ESI‐MS, UV‐visible and electrochemical methods, and in the cases of Cr(DMHP)3 · 12H2O and Cr(ma)3 by X‐ray crystallography. The X‐ray crystal structure of Cr(DMHP)3 · 12H2O shows that the Cr is coordinated by six oxygen donor atoms from three DMHP ligands in distorted octahedral coordination geometry, and is isostructural to the exoclathrate metal complexes M(DMHP)3 · 12H2O (M = Al, Ga, Fe, In and Mn). Although the Cr(III) in Cr(ma)3 is also coordinated by six oxygen atoms from three maltols, one of the coordinated ma...
Anticipation in a unique family with Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome and deafness: delineation of the clinical features and review of the literature.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of polyneuropathies characterized by degeneration of peripheral nerves, resulting in distal muscle atrophy, sensory loss, and deformities of hands and feet. We have studied 34 individuals in a large 84-member four-generation central Illinois family with autosomal dominant Charcot-Marie-Tooth and deafness. Nerve conduction velocities are consistent with type 1 CMT. Audiological evaluation revealed both auditory neuropathy and cochlear involvement in affected individuals. There is increasing clinical severity and younger age of onset of CMT and deafness with each progressive generation, suggestive of anticipation (P < 0.05). The proband, a female diagnosed at birth with hypotonia, bilateral vocal cord palsy, swallowing incoordination, and hearing impairment, died at age 18 months. Another individual died at the age of 3 months from hypotonia later attributed to CMT. Genetic analysis indicated that affected individuals in this family do not have the common 1.4 Mb duplication associated with type 1A CMT; however, all affected individuals have a unique G to C transversion at position 248 in coding exon 3 of the peripheral myelin PMP22 gene located on chromosome 17p11.2-p12. This mutation is predicted to cause an Ala67Pro substitution in the second transmembrane domain of PMP22, consistent with the molecular cause of the CMT phenotype. However, it does not explain the cochlear component of the deafness, the clinical observation of anticipation, and other features in this family.
Failure of time-temperature superposition in dilute miscible polymer blends

The dynamic viscosity for miscible blends of 1,4-polyisoprene and poly(vinyl ethylene) (PVE) at the extremes of composition (1% tracer in 99% matrix) has been measured as a function of temperature. Time-temperature superposition failure is observed in these tracer blends. This observation indicates that intramolecular contributions are crucial in defining the local environment experienced by a polymer segment, as anticipated by self-concentration models. The temperature dependence of the dynamics of the PVE tracer has been extracted, and compared with the model of Lodge and McLeish. The self-concentration effect was found to be even stronger than predicted.
Inversion of pulse-echo thermalwave images

Preliminary results on inversion of thermal wave images were presented at Thermosense XIV. A technique was introduced for removing the blurring of thermal wave images of planar subsurface features such as delaminations. At that time the technique was limited to the case of thermally isotropic materials, and also ignored multiple scattering effects. In this paper we extend the inversion technique to take into account both anisotropy and multiple scattering. An application to an anisotropic composite is presented.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Transition-Age Children With Mental Illness: Hearing the Voices of Mothers

Members of a local NAMI organization were surveyed in order to explore the perspectives of mothers of transitional age (18–25) children diagnosed with mental illness. Social workers in a diversity of mental health care settings can use this information to improve competence with this population. Results indicate a dynamic shift in the mothering role during this time period. Findings also suggest mothers and their transition-age children need emotional and practical support from social workers and other mental health professionals.
Stress–strain properties of polyurethane–polyacrylate interpenetrating polymer networks

Two-component interpenetrating polymer networks (IPN) of the SIN type (simultaneous interpenetrating networks) were prepared from two different polyurethanes (a polyester type and a polyether type) and a polyacrylate of two different crosslink densities. The linear polymers and prepolymers were combined in solution, together with crosslinking agents and catalysts, films cast, and subsequently chain extended and crosslinked in situ. In all cases, maxima in tensile strengths significantly higher than the tensile strengths of component networks occurred. This was explained by an increase in crosslink density due to interpenetration.
How representative is a point? The spatial variability of surface energy fluxes across short distances in a sand-sagebrush ecosystem

Abstract During the summer of 2001, the spatial variation of the surface energy fluxes across short distances, 16 m to 32 m, was examined over a sagebrush steppe ecosystem in northeastern Colorado. Two eddy covariance micrometeorological stations were used to test the hypothesis that fine-scale variations in the physical properties of the site result in significant variation in the surface energy balance. Through a comparative analysis of the flux measurements, it was found that statistically significant variations in the sensible, latent and soil heat fluxes were present at the study site. These variations were linked to small changes in the near-surface soil moisture content and leaf area index. The results of this study suggest there may be substantial uncertainty surrounding a single point measurement when it is used to represent the exchange of heat and moisture over a large area. This uncertainty must be considered when using in-situ measurements to evaluate remote sensing products or numerical models.
Search for singlet oxygen luminescence in the disproportionation of HO2/O2..

— During the reaction HO2+ HO2 (or O2-) = H2O2+ O2 in aqueous solution, no luminescence in the region 620–720 nm, expected if the product O2 were formed in a singlet state, could be detected. If any singlet O2 is formed, its yield must be less than 10%. Faint luminescence, sometimes found at shorter wavelengths, was shown to arise from reaction of HO2 with impurities in the reagents present.