cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimum design of magnetic inductive energy harvester and its AC-DC converter

The design of a new-type of inductive magnetic energy harvesting system with high permeability magnetic material combined with a dual polarity boost converter is presented. By using the strong magnetostatic interaction between the coils and permanent magnets, the output power and power density of the energy harvester is enhanced compared to conventional air cored inductive harvesters. In the proposed dual polarity boost converter, the coil leakage inductor of the harvester is utilized to form the input inductor of the boost converter to minimize the converter size. Therefore, the magnetic energy harvester and the power converter share the same magnetic core. Optimum system design becomes a balance of core size, required leakage inductance and required magnetizing inductance in order to extract maximum energy.
Recursive Moving Frames

A recursive algorithm for the equivariant method of moving frames, for both finite-dimensional Lie group actions and Lie pseudo-groups, is developed and illustrated by several examples of interest. The recursive method enables one avoid unwieldy symbolic expressions that complicate the treatment of large scale applications of the equivariant moving frame method.
Effects of Librational Anharmonicity in the Solid Hydrogens

We compare the results of the recently published anharmonic theory of librons to the best available data on the libron Raman frequencies. This allows us to deduce a refined estimate of the effective value of the intermolecular quadrupolar coupling constant ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ for solid ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$. The effect on the librons of virtual transitions to the ($J=3$) rotational state is included with the result that ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ is decreased. Our estimate from the optical data is then ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{eff}}=0.72\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04 \mathrm{and} 0.58\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ for ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}(x=1)$ and ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}(x=1)$, respectively, at zero pressure, where $x$ denotes the mole fraction of $J=1$ molecules. We also use the anharmonic density of states to analyze specific heat and ${(\frac{\ensuremath{\partial}P}{\ensuremath{\partial}T})}_{V}$ data from which we obtain the average libron energy as a function of $x$. For ${D}_{2}(x=1)$ the result is ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{eff}}=0.70\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Measurements of the conversion-induced pressure change in ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ give ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{eff}}=0.56\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$. Both these determinations are in good agreement with the results from optical data for librons. Furthermore, it is found that there is no significant difference between ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{eff}}(x=1)$ and ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\mathrm{eff}}$ determined from pair spectra in ${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ and ${\mathrm{D}}_{2}$ with $x\ensuremath{\ll}1$. The anharmonic density of states is also used to interpret the infrared absorption sideband spectrum for the creation of a vibron plus libron(s). The part of the spectrum which we attribute to one-libron processes has a width in agreement with this model and as expected there are two-libron processes resulting from cubic anharmonic libron-libron interactions. Incoherent-neutron-scattering data is also consistent with the anharmonic-libron spectrum.
Solar diffusion driven desalination for decentralized water production

Abstract This paper examines the operation of the solar diffusion driven desalination process (humidification–dehumidification) under dynamic operating conditions. The solar heat input is recycled in a unique dynamic mode so that it does not require an external source of cooling water. A detailed analytical investigation that is based on numerical simulation suggests that this process can potentially produce 100 L/day distilled water with an average specific electric energy consumption as low as 3.6 kWh/m 3 using a total of eight 2 m 2 flat plate solar collectors. Water production and energy consumption have been investigated under various design and operating conditions. A unique operating mode has been explored to reduce the specific energy consumption.
Role of second-order optical potential in pion-oxygen scattering

We analyze $\ensuremath{\pi}$-$^{16}\mathrm{O}$ elastic scattering at pion energies between 40 and 340 MeV. An excellent fit to the data follows from the inclusion of a second-order optical potential. The parameters specifying the second-order potential are found to exhibit marked resonance behavior. The magnitude and the energy dependence of the parameters of the second-order potential obtained for pion-oxygen scattering are, in the main, very similar to that determined for pion-carbon scattering. This result indicates that a universal parametrization of the second-order pion-nucleus optical potential may be possible.NUCLEAR REACTIONS Pion-oxygen scattering at 40, 49.7, 50, 79.3, 114.3, 162.6, 240.2, and 342.6 MeV. Parameters of second-order optical potential.
Physics of the Jovian Magnetosphere

Jupiter's magnetic field and magnetosphere are considered along with the ionosphere, the low-energy plasma in the Jovian magnetosphere, the low-energy particle population, high-energy particles, and spectrophotometric studies of the Io torus. Other topics explored are related to the phenomenology of magnetospheric radio emissions, plasma waves in the Jovian magnetosphere, theories of radio emissions and plasma waves, and magnetospheric models. Attention is also given to aspects of plasma distribution and flow, microscopic plasma processes in the Jovian magnetosphere, symbols and acronyms, coordinate systems, and selected physical parameters of Jupiter and Io.
Effect of thyrotropin on 32P-labelled histones H1 and H3 in specific populations of nucleosomes in the thyroid

Thyrotropin (TSH) increases the labeling of histones of H1 and H3 in thyroid slices incubated with 32Pi. We have prepared nuclei from control and TSH-treated thyroid slices, digested them with micrococcal nuclease, and extracted specific populations of nucleosomes by salt fractionation. Mononucleosomes, derived from the most nuclease-sensitive regions of chromatin, appeared to be selectively enriched in 32P-labeled H1 and H3. However, we were able to detect TSH enhancement of H1 and H3 labeling only in nucleosome multimers derived from less nuclease-sensitive chromatin. Recent studies have indicated that transcriptionally competent regions of chromatin may be more susceptible to micrococcal nuclease digestion than inactive regions. Our results therefore suggest that H1 and H3 may be actively phosphorylated in transcriptionally competent chromatin; however, they suggest either that hormone-dependent phosphorylation of H1 and/or H3 does not confer transcriptional competence, or that not all transcriptionally competent chromatin is nuclease sensitive.
A He-jet chopper for measuring half-lives of short-lived nuclei

Abstract A He-jet chopper has been built to enable one to measure the half-lives of nuclear species from several seconds to as short as several tens of milliseconds. The chopper has been used to measure some of the mirror beta decays in the f 7 2 shell.
Measuring activity using actometers: a methodological study

Actometers are men's self-winding mechanical wristwatches that have been modified such that they measure activity rather than time. Actometers can be used to obtain longitudinal naturalistic measures of activity concerning a variety of clinical populations. However, no systematic methodological research has been conducted with regard to the site of attachment and the duration of measurement necessary to ensure valid results. This article presents the results of a methodological study designed to answer these questions. The mean activity levels associated with the Left Wrist and Ankle were nearly equal to those associated with the Right Wrist and Ankle. The Ankle readings were substantially greater than the Wrist readings because the subjects' legs were longer than their arms. The data from Week 2 were the same as those from Week 1.
Arterial Puncture Using Insulin Needle Is Less Painful Than With Standard Needle: A Randomized Crossover Study

Objectives Arterial punctures are important procedures performed by emergency physicians in the assessment of ill patients. However, arterial punctures are painful and can create anxiety and needle phobia in patients. The pain score of radial arterial punctures were compared between the insulin needle and the standard 23-gauge hypodermic needle. Methods In a randomized controlled crossover design, healthy volunteers were recruited to undergo bilateral radial arterial punctures. They were assigned to receive either the insulin or the standard needle as the first puncture, using blocked randomization. The primary outcome was the pain score measured on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, and secondary outcomes were rate of hemolysis, mean potassium values, and procedural complications immediately and 24 hours postprocedure. Results Fifty healthy volunteers were included in the study. The mean (±standard deviation) VAS score in punctures with the insulin needle was lower than the standard needle (23 ± 22 mm vs. 39 ± 24 mm; mean difference = –15 mm; 95% confidence interval = –22 mm to –7 mm; p < 0.001). The rates of hemolysis and mean potassium value were greater in samples obtained using the insulin needle compared to the standard needle (31.3% vs. 11.6%, p = 0.035; and 4.6 ±0.7 mmol/L vs. 4.2 ±0.5 mmol/L, p = 0.002). Procedural complications were lower in punctures with the insulin needle both immediately postprocedure (0% vs. 24%; p < 0.001) and at 24 hours postprocedure (5.4% vs. 34.2%; p = 0.007). Conclusions Arterial punctures using insulin needles cause less pain and fewer procedural complications compared to standard needles. However, due to the higher rate of hemolysis, its use should be limited to conditions that do not require a concurrent potassium value in the same blood sample.
Consistency of initial antiretroviral therapy with HIV treatment guidelines in a US cohort of HIV-infected women.

Background: HIV treatment guidelines define optimal initial antiretroviral therapy (ART). Objective: To characterize initial ART used by a cohort of HIV-infected women according to US HIV treatment guidelines and determine whether regimen characteristics predict short-term outcomes. Methods: Initial ART self-reported by Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) participants. Regimens were classified as guideline consistent (GC), guideline not recommended (GNR), or unlisted. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze factors associated with guideline category. Results: Two hundred seventeen WIHS participants initiated ART during the study period. Fifty-three percent reported use of GC ART, 17% reported GNR ART, and 30% reported ART unlisted in guidelines. Study site, higher pretreatment CD4 cell count, lower HIV RNA level, and initiation before 2001 were associated with use of GNR regimens. GC ART users had a higher rise in CD4 cell counts and more frequent undetectable HIV-1 RNA levels 2 years after initiation compared with those GNR (P = 0.0003) or unlisted initial ART. Conclusions: A higher than expected proportion of WIHS participants reported using initial ART not recommended by HIV treatment guidelines, although this decreased over time. Use of such regimens was associated with a higher incidence of switching and poorer short-term immunologic and virologic outcomes.
Forthcoming measurements of plasma waves by the EMFISIS investigation on the RBSP Spacecraft

Radiation belt particle acceleration and loss is intimately connected to wave-particle interactions. To measure these interactions, NASA will launch the two-satellite Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission in 2012. The Electric and Magnetic Field Instrument Suite and Integrated Science (EMFISIS) investigation on RBSP is an integrated set of instruments consisting of DC magnetic field measurements from DC to 30 Hz and AC electric and magnetic fields from 10Hz to 400 kHz. Examples of key wave science such as VLF hiss, magnetosonic equatorial noise, electromagnetic ion cyclotron waves, and chorus are presented along with the mission and instrument complement.
Pulmonary Valve Preservation Strategies for Tetralogy of Fallot Repair

was affirmed in a significant number of patients who tolerated the persistent effects of right ventricular volume overload for many years. In a significant number of postoperative patients, however, long-term complications of pulmonary regurgitation, residual ventricular septal defects (VSD), distal pulmonary artery stenosis, right ventricular dysfunction, atrial or ventricular arrhythmias, and exercise intolerance 2-5 required further operative intervention to address the residual defects, perform concomitant arrhythmia surgery, and pulmonary valve insertion.
Normal impact and perforation of thin plates by hemispherically-tipped projectiles — II. Experimental results

Abstract The present investigation is concerned with the measurement of the forces, permanent deflections, strains and plugs produced by rigid projectiles during contact and perforation of thin aluminium and mild steel plates. Tests were generally executed just below and just above the ballistic limit; a few experiments were conducted at much higher velocity. The direct force measurements were performed by means of a special technique using a projectile containing a piezoelectric quartz crystal. Observations were carried out on more than two hundred 2024-0 aluminium plates, 0.51, 1.27 and 3.175 mm thick and 1.22 mm thick mild steel plates. The tests involved the use of hard-steel projectiles of 12.7 and 6.35 mm diameter with three different nose shapes. The residual strains, of the order of 40%, were measured by using a grid method while the strain history in the vicinity of the impact point was determined by a specially designed gage capable of measuring strains up to 100%.
The degree of convergence for entire functions

Consider a Doint set C in the complex plane whose complement K is connected and regular (i .e. K possesses a Green ' s function with pole at infini ty). Let denote the transfini te diameter of C . Recall that d m = l /U ' C®)! where (z) irans >C onto tl e exterior of the uni t circle. Equivalent ly , d^ = Lin | |T^(z) | Ij.] where | |g(z) | | c = max] O and type O o) by a polynomial expansion of the form where p(z) is a polynomial of degree X and ^ ( z ) is of defree A-l . The level curves of |p(z)| define a lemniscate which approximates the boundary of C . A number of lemmas are established which relate the nature of the coefficient polynomials q v (z) to the order and type of f(z). OO f ( z ) I o k ( z ) P ( Z ) k-1 k= l THE DEGREE OF CONVERGENCE FOR ENTIRE FUNCTIONS
Human platelet phenol sulfotransferase: stability of two forms of the enzyme with time and presence of a racial difference☆

Thermolabile (TL) and thermostable (TS) forms of human platelet phenol sulfotransferase (PST) were measured over various periods of time. TL PST was assayed with dopamine as the substrate and TS PST was measured with phenol and with p-nitrophenol. Levels of TL and TS PST from the same subjects did not change significantly over 1 day, 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8.5 months. Interassay coefficients of variation of PST activities over 3–4 weeks measured in samples from 8–12 subjects with dopamine, phenol and p-nitrophenol were 13.96%, 13.60% and 13.30%, respectively. There was a significant correlation between PST activity measured in the same samples with phenol and with p-nitrophenol (r = 0.946, n = 18, p < 0.0001). TS PST activity measured with p-nitrophenol was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in platelets from 51 black subjects than the level of TS PST in samples from 52 white subjects (0.72 ± 0.06 vs 0.42 ± 0.04 units/108 platelets, respectively; mean ± SEM). These results demonstrate the ‘stability’ of the levels of both forms of the enzyme with time. They also point out the usefulness of a reproducible assay for the detection of a racial difference in the levels of TS PST.
Industrial Application of Recrystallization Control in Aluminum Products

Engineering properties of aluminum alloys can be optimized by a combination of thermomechanical processes. For example, a series of deformation and recrystallization processes is used to improve the deep drawing characteristics of aluminum sheet for beverage can fabrication or the forming characteristics in automotive applications. In other cases, suppression of recrystallization is desired: fracture toughness of high strength aluminum alloys is better for an unrecrystallized material than for a recrystallized material of comparable yield strength. Industrial control of recrystallization mainly focuses on control of texture for formability, control of grain size and degree of recrystallization for surface appearance and damage related properties. Such control is achieved by manipulating nucleation and growth of new grains. Nucleation density and crystallographic orientation of new grains is determined by inhomogeneities of the deformed structure. Grain boundary mobility is controlled by second phases, which at the correct size will exert a pinning force on the boundary. Additionally, solutes impose a drag on moving grain boundaries. The following will review the various applications of recrystallization in manufacturing of wrought aluminum products, summarize the current understanding of recrystallization processes in aluminum alloys, and point out needs for further understanding and necessary requirements for simulation of recrystallization processes.
Growth twinning gamma-crystals of th silver-mercury system.

A study by single crystal, x-ray diffraction methods of a silver amalgam known as “arbor dianae” has shown it to be twinned on the [111] cubic crystal planes. Otherwise, they are identical to the material known mineralogically as moschellandsbergite or the γ-phase in dental amalgam and the γ1-phase in the silver–mercury system.
Classification of chronic myelocytic leukemia in children.

The present study was undertaken to define criteria for classification of chronic myelocytic leukemia in children and adolescents. From April, 1963 through July, 1971, 18 patients were available for study. Evaluation of the clinical, laboratory, and histopathologic features demonstrates three distinct subgroups: adult, juvenile, and familial chronic myelocytic leukemia. Parameters of most value in this distinction are the level of the white blood cell count, presence of thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis, the bone marrow myeloid to erythroid ratio, and the presence or absence of well-defined malpighian corpuscles in the spleen. One patient with acute lymphocytic leukemia in remission manifested some unique features and may represent a fourth form of chronic myelocytic leukemia, resulting from previous chemotherapy or irradiation. The use of chemotherapy has not significantly prolonged survival in our patients. Two patients with familial chronic myelocytic leukemia are surviving in remission 9 years following splenectomy.
Control of Vector-Borne Disease by Genetic Manipulation of Insect Populations: Technological Requirements and Research Priorities

The possibility of controlling vector-borne disease through the development and release of transgenic insect vectors has recently gained popular support and is being actively pursued by a number of research laboratories around the world. Several technical problems must be solved before such a strategy could be implemented: genes encoding refractory traits (traits that render the insect unable to transmit the pathogen) must be identified, a transformation system for important vector species has to be developed, and a strategy to spread the refractory trait into natural vector populations must be designed. Recent advances in this field of research make it seem likely that this technology will be available in the near future. In this paper we review recent progress in this area as well as argue that care should be taken in selecting the most appropriate disease system with which to first attempt this form of intervention. Much attention is currently being given to the application of this technology to the control of malaria, transmitted by Anopheles gambiae in Africa. While malaria is undoubtedly the most important vector-borne disease in the world and its control should remain an important goal, we maintain that the complex epidemiology of malaria together with the intense transmission rates in Africa may make it unsuitable for the first application of this technology. Diseases such as African trypanosomiasis, transmitted by the tsetse fly, or unstable malaria in India may provide more appropriate initial targets to evaluate the potential of this form of intervention.
Caramel: detecting and fixing performance problems that have non-intrusive fixes

Performance bugs are programming errors that slow down program execution. While existing techniques can detect various types of performance bugs, a crucial and practical aspect of performance bugs has not received the attention it deserves: how likely are developers to fix a performance bug? In practice, fixing a performance bug can have both benefits and drawbacks, and developers fix a performance bug only when the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Unfortunately, for many performance bugs, the benefits and drawbacks are difficult to assess accurately. This paper presents CARAMEL, a novel static technique that detects and fixes performance bugs that have non-intrusive fixes likely to be adopted by developers. Each performance bug detected by CARAMEL is associated with a loop and a condition. When the condition becomes true during the loop execution, all the remaining computation performed by the loop is wasted. Developers typically fix such performance bugs because these bugs waste computation in loops and have non-intrusive fixes: when some condition becomes true dynamically, just break out of the loop. Given a program, CARAMEL detects such bugs statically and gives developers a potential source-level fix for each bug. We evaluate CARAMEL on real-world applications, including 11 popular Java applications (e.g., Groovy, Log4J, Lucene, Struts, Tomcat, etc) and 4 widely used C/C++ applications (Chromium, GCC, Mozilla, and My SQL). CARAMEL finds 61 new performance bugs in the Java applications and 89 new performance bugs in the C/C++ applications. Based on our bug reports, developers so far have fixed 51 and 65 performance bugs in the Java and C/C++ applications, respectively. Most of the remaining bugs are still under consideration by developers.
Ketamine exposure in adult mice leads to increased cell death in C3H, DBA2 and FVB inbred mouse strains

Background Drug abuse is common among adolescents and young adults. Although the consequences of intoxication are known, sequelae of drugs emerging on campuses and in clubs nationwide are not. We previously demonstrated that ketamine exposure results in lasting physiological abnormalities in mice. However, the extent to which these deficits reflect neuropathologic changes is not known.
Nuclear Reactions initiated by Recoil Nuclei

When a proton of relativistic energy strikes a heavy nucleus, it is possible for the target nucleus, or a large amount of it, to recoil with a substantial fraction of the incident proton's energy. If this energy is sufficient to penetrate the Coulomb barrier between the recoiling particle and another heavy nucleus in the target, nuclear reactions can take place. Thus, if bombardment of a target of high atomic number (Z) by high energy protons yielded a sufficient flux of heavy recoil nuclei with energies exceeding, for example, 500 MeV, then one could study reactions between heavy nuclei without the need to accelerate the heavy ions. Marinov et al.1 recently invoked this process to account for the possible production of a nuclide with Z=112 in a tungsten target when it was irradiated with 24 GeV protons. In this communication we estimate the rate of production of high energy recoil nuclei in such proton-tungsten collisions; the results are very similar for any other heavy nuclide target. We find that the frangibility of nuclear matter, expressed by the rapid decrease of nuclear form factors with increasing momentum transfer, makes it very difficult to transfer large amounts of energy to the nucleus or to a substantial nuclear subunit. Therefore, the cross-section to produce energetic heavy ions in interactions of protons with heavy nuclei is extremely small. We estimate that a conservative upper bound for the cross-section to produce heavy ions with A > 75 having an energy of 20 MeV or more is 10−3 µbarn for all incident proton energies above 20 GeV. The corresponding cross-section to produce ions with energy exceeding 500 MeV is expected to be many orders of magnitude smaller. Because the total cross-section for high energy protons approximately corresponds to the geometrical value, that is, of the order of 1 barn, the effective flux of heavy ions with energy E> 500 MeV produced by high energy proton bombardment would therefore be much less than 10−15 of the incident proton flux. Thus, using such recoil nuclei as secondary projectiles to initiate reactions between heavy nuclei is not a promising idea. In particular, we show that the phenomena reported by Marinov et al.1 are unlikely to have arisen from such secondary reactions caused by recoil nuclei.
Compatibilization of PS and PA6 Blends by Means of Poly(oxyalkylene)amine Modified Styrene-Maleic Anhydride Copolymer

The compatibilization effect of SMA-co-M2070-co-DAP comb-like copolymers, SMMD, on immiscible blends of polystyrene (PS) and polyamide-6 (PA6) is examined in terms of phase structure, thermal behavior, dynamic mechanical analysis, and mechanical properties. A series of SMMD copolymers are synthesized and confirmed by the FT-IR analysis. These compatibilizers have different amphiphilic properties depending on the content of hydrophilic poly(oxyethylene) segments (M2070) and the molar ratio of MA/amine. The morphologies of PS/PA6, affected by the increasing amount of SMMD compatibilizer, show a more regular and finer dispersion. The sizes of dispersed particles have no marked changes over the saturation level of compatibilizer. The glass transition temperatures of the blends are between that of PS and PA6, while the added SMMD copolymer is mainly located at the interface. Using these SMMD copolymers, the compatibilized blends show some improvements in mechanical properties, including Izod impact strength and flexural properties. The graft poly(oxyethylene) and amide functionalities in SMMD structures in forming hydrogen bonding with PA6 and, the polystyrene backbone in π–π interaction with PS facilitate the compatibilizing effect.
Multiple machine replacement analysis

Abstract Historically, the study of economic equipment replacement is primarily limited to that of a single machining system. The replacement situation whereby the machines under consideration are part of a large integrated system has received little attention. There are two major difficulties in analyzing such a problem: the interactive nature of an integrated system and the combinatorial nature of replacement alternatives. This paper attempts to first view the production system as a network of centers, and then approach the multiple equipment replacement decision as a configuration selection problem. An elaborate example is included.
Decision Making and the Project Team: A Model for Increasing Productivity

Significant wage and material price increases, coupled with only slight increases in organisational productivity, are forcing some companies to question their present approach to operational management. A project approach to productivity and creativity is based on the premise that management cannot afford wage increases without a corresponding increase in productivity. Employees can contribute to the organisation through new ideas, better work methods and cost reduction programmes. They want and need recognition and a sense of belonging to the company. A project approach will provide a “teamwork” atmosphere among labour and management, both realising that the longevity of all members of the organisation is at stake. Appointment of a productivity manager with corresponding project managers throughout the company will place the emphasis on increasing organisational efficiency and productivity of the firm.
Spin-lattice relaxation of a paramagnetic spin on a magnetically dilute lattice as caused by percolation-limited diffusion.

A quantity \ensuremath{\tau} has been defined for a direct estimation of spin-lattice relaxation time of a paramagnetic spin due to a percolation-limited diffusion (PLD) process on a magnetically dilute square lattice. It is found that the value of \ensuremath{\tau} due to PLD increases exponentially with decreasing temperature, and may be attributed to the direct process of spin-lattice relaxation.
Oxidative Activation of Thiacetazone by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Flavin Monooxygenase EtaA and Human FMO1 and FMO3

Thiacetazone (TAZ) and ethionamide (ETA) are, respectively, thiourea- and thioamide-containing second line antitubercular prodrugs for which there is an extensive clinical history of cross-resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. EtaA, a recently identified flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO), is responsible for the oxidative activation of ETA in M. tuberculosis. We report here that EtaA also oxidizes TAZ and identify a sulfinic acid and a carbodiimide as the isolable metabolites. Both of these metabolites are derived from an initial sulfenic acid intermediate. Oxidation of TAZ by EtaA at basic pH favors formation of the carbodiimide, whereas neutral or acidic conditions favor formation of the sulfinic acid. The same metabolites are formed from TAZ by human FMO1 and FMO3. The sulfenic acid and carbodiimide metabolites, but not the sulfinic acid product, readily react with glutathione, the first to regenerate the parent drug and the second to give a glutathione adduct. These reactions may contribute to the antitubercular activity and/or toxicity of TAZ.
Commutants Modulo the Compact Operators of Certain CSL Algebras

In recent years several papers have appeared which focus on the structure of the commutant modulo compacts or essential commutant of certain algebras of operators on Hilbert space. For von Neumann algebras B. Johnson and S. Parrott [6]have shown that for all, but possibly ones containing certain type II1 direct summands, the essential commutant is the algebraic commutant plus the compact operators. Subsequently characterizations have been given for the essential commutant of the analytic Toeplitz ope-rators [3], nest algebras [2] and nest subalgebras of von Neumann algebras [4].
Coagulation of blood in temperature acclimatization.

PROLONGED clotting and prothrombin times as a function of lower blood temperature have been observed in various species in vivo1–4 and in vitro5. The in vivo observations were made in aestivating and hibernating mammals2–4 and with human blood from blood vessels where a differential in temperature had been demonstrated1. By contrast, Tadzer6, using the rat in a study of hypothermia of short duration and uncomplicated by shock, did not find prolonged thrombin times; Lasch et al.7, working with dogs, even obtained shorter clotting times on cooling, and a prolongation, due to an increase in heparin, on rewarming.
Multiple pest complexes on soybean: influences of threecornered alfalfa hopper injury on pod and stem blight and stem anthracnose diseases and seed vigour

Abstract Girdles on soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., stems caused by the threecornered alfalfa hopper (TCAH), Spissistilus festinus (Say), were examined with regard to their effects on Phomopsis sojae Leh. and Colletotrichum truncatum (Schw.) Andrus and Moore, causal fungi for pod and stem blight and stem anthracnose, respectively. Presence of basal stem girdles had no effect on disease incidence for either pathogen. Effects of girdles were most evident on disease severity. C. truncatum disease severity ratings were significantly greater on girdled than on non-girdled stems of cvs Hartz 5171 (group V) and Bragg (group VII). C. truncatum was not observed on stems of cv. Centennial (group VI). Ratings for P. sojae were significantly greater on girdled than on non-girdled stems only for cv. Centennial, in the absence of C. truncatum . Production of diseased plant debris as a result of girdle-induced death of soybean stems occurred as much as four weeks earlier than on non-girdled stems. High TCAH populations reduced germination and vigour of soybean seeds but did not influence 100-seed weight or colonization by seedborne fungi.
Cubic Spline Method for Solving Second-Order Differential Equations Theory and application to the Thomas-Fermi Model for Ions

Abstract A cubic spline method is described which can be used to generate solutions to arbitrary second-order differential equation. The principle advantage is that this method provides accurate solutions which are cast in an analytic form, thus allowing the solutions to be applied to other problems. The method is applied to the solution of the Thomas-Fermi equation for singly and doubly ionized ions, and to the solution of the Schrodinger equation for the ground and first excited states of alkali metal atoms.
Effects of bipolar affective disorder and lithium administration on the cholinergic system in human blood

Several processes relating to the cholinergic system that are present in human blood were measured in samples obtained from patients with bipolar affective disorder, both before and during treatment with lithium, and from controls. The biochemical measurements include RBC and plasma choline concentrations, the kinetics of RBC choline uptake, plasma non-specific cholinesterase and RBC and plasma acetylcholinesterase. The RBC choline level is increased and the Vmax of the RBC choline uptake system is decreased in samples from lithium-free bipolar patients during manic episodes. There are no differences from control in the plasma choline levels or in the acetylcholinesterase enzyme activities in blood samples from the lithium-free or lithium-treated patients. Plasma non-specific cholinesterase is below control levels in all patients. Lithium treatment increases the RBC choline concentration to more than ten-times control levels and reduces the Vmax and the affinity for choline of the RBC choline transport system. In vitro addition of lithium does not replicate the effects of in vivo administration of lithium. Possible mechanisms for these effects of lithium are discussed.
Phosphorylation of Cdc42 Effector Protein-4 (CEP4) by Protein Kinase C Promotes Motility of Human Breast Cells

Cdc42 effector protein-4 (CEP4) was recently identified by our laboratory to be a substrate of multiple PKC isoforms in non-transformed MCF-10A human breast cells. The significance of phosphorylated CEP4 to PKC-stimulated motility of MCF-10A cells was evaluated. Single site mutants at Ser residues embedded in potential PKC consensus sites (Ser18, Ser77, Ser80, and Ser86) were individually replaced with Asp residues to simulate phosphorylation. Following expression in weakly motile MCF-10A cells, the S18D and S80D mutants each promoted increased motility, and the double mutant (S18D/S80D) produced a stronger effect. MS/MS analysis verified that Ser18 and Ser80 were directly phosphorylated by PKCα in vitro. Phosphorylation of CEP4 severely diminished its affinity for Cdc42 while promoting Rac activation and formation of filopodia (microspikes). In contrast, the phosphorylation-resistant double mutant S18A/S80A-CEP4 blocked CEP4 phosphorylation and inhibited motility of MCF-10A cells that had been stimulated with PKC activator diacylglycerol lactone. In view of the dissociation of phospho-CEP4 from Cdc42, intracellular binding partners were explored by expressing each CEP4 double mutant from a tandem affinity purification vector followed by affinity chromatography, SDS-PAGE, and identification of protein bands evident only with S18D/S80D-CEP4. One binding partner was identified as tumor endothelial marker-4 (TEM4; ARHGEF17), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that is involved in migration. In motile cells expressing S18D/S80D-CEP4, knockdown of TEM4 inhibited both Rac activation and motility. These findings support a model in which PKC-mediated phosphorylation of CEP4 at Ser18 and Ser80 causes its dissociation from Cdc42, thereby increasing its affinity for TEM4 and producing Rac activation, filopodium formation, and cell motility.
Isolation and partial characterization of the formyl peptide receptor components on human neutrophils

Abstract The receptor for formylated peptides such as FMLP has been reported to consist of glycoprotein components ranging from 24–95 kDa, and to exhibit both high and low affinity for ligand. Controversy exists on the molecular size and number of these components, and whether the different affinities represent distinct ligand binding sites. In this study, the receptor was found to be comprised of components, of 94, 68, and ≈40 kDa molecular size. Competitive binding inhibition experiments showed that FMLP bound to the components in the following order from highest to lowest affinity: 68 kDa > ≈40 kDa > 94 kDa. Our findings suggest that the FMLP receptor of human neutrophils contains at least three components, and that each component has a different affinity for FMLP.
Institutional readiness for integrated watershed management: The case of the Maumee river

Abstract Is there such a thing as “institutional readiness” for integrated watershed management? One element of readiness is the ability of managers with watershed-related responsibilities to identify the policy and management objectives of potential partners. The geographic areas encompassed by large watersheds are under the overlapping jurisdictions of many agencies and organizations from each sector (public, non-profit, and private) as well as private landowners. Developing a watershed-based institutional atlas is a promising strategy for coping with this jurisdictional complexity. The authors examine the potential for developing such an atlas in the Maumee River watershed of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan, and they assess other signals of readiness and partnerships in progress in the basin.
Real solutions to systems of polynomial equations and parameter continuation

Given a parameterized family of polynomial equations, a fundamental question is to determine upper and lower bounds on the number of real solutions a member of this family can have and, if possible, compute where the bounds are sharp. A computational approach to this problem was developed by Dietmaier in 1998 which used a local linearization procedure to move in the parameter space to change the number of real solutions. He used this approach to show that there exists a StewartGough platform that attains the maximum of forty real assembly modes. Due to the necessary ill-conditioning near the discriminant locus, we propose replacing the local linearization near the discriminant locus with a homotopy-based method derived from the method of gradient descent arising in optimization. This new hybrid approach is then used to develop a new result in real enumerative geometry.
Measurement of Minority Carrier Lifetime and Surface Effects in Junction Devices

The characteristics of junction devices are influenced to a considerable degree by the lifetime of the minority carriers. Accordingly, methods for the measurement of this quantity are of considerable importance. Methods have been described for the measurement of the lifetime of minority carriers when these carriers are produced within the volume of a semiconductor. When the minority carriers are introduced near the surface of a semiconductor the resulting effective lifetime may be determined to a large extent by the nature of the surface. For most junction devices, it is the effective lifetime that is of primary importance. This paper describes a simple method for the measurement of effective lifetimes of injected minority carriers. The measurements may be applied to practical junction structures as, for example, an alloyed junction transistor. Measurements may be made on either completed or partially completed devices. The resulting data are potentially of value as quality controls during the fabrication of transistors and similar devices. In many cases, the effective lifetime is a good indication of the surface conditions, and immediate evaluation of these conditions may be obtained at various stages of device processing. With selected geometries, the measurement method may be applied to determine absolute values of surface recombination velocities and should therefore be in studying surface conditions and treatments. The measurement method is described in terms of junction devices using germanium as the semiconductor. However, the method is equally applicable to junction devices made with other semiconductor materials.
Repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect: close to the moon? From giant leap for the medical community to small steps for our patients.

Outstanding low mortality has been achieved in the last 10 years for almost all types of congenital cardiac repair. If the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s represented times of exceptional innovation, with a giant leap from palliative surgery to the attainment of successful complex repairs, then the current era is a time of perfectionism, with goals of achieving very low morbidity and mortality, in incremental small steps, through technically ideal surgery and advances in overall intensive care and patient management.
Growth Hormone Regulates Phosphorylation and Function of CCAAT/Enhancer-binding Protein β by Modulating Akt and Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3

Growth hormone (GH) regulates transcription factors associated with c-fos, including C/EBPβ. Two forms of C/EBPβ, liver-activating protein (LAP) and liver inhibitory protein (LIP), are dephosphorylated in GH-treated 3T3-F442A fibroblasts. GH-induced dephosphorylation of LAP and LIP is reduced when cells are preincubated with phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors. GH activates Akt and inhibits glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3). Lithium, a GSK-3 inhibitor, increases GH-dependent dephosphorylation of LAP and LIP. Both arein vitro substrates of GSK-3, suggesting that GSK-3 inactivation contributes to GH-promoted dephosphorylation of C/EBPβ. Alkaline phosphatase increases binding of LAP homodimers and decreases binding of LIP homodimers to c-fos, suggesting that dephosphorylation of C/EBPβ modifies their ability to bind DNA. Both alkaline phosphatase- and GH-mediated dephosphorylation comparably increase binding of endogenous LAP in 3T3-F442A cells. In cells overexpressing LAP and GSK-3, LAP binding decreases, suggesting that GSK-3-mediated phosphorylation interferes with LAP binding. Expression of constitutively active GSK-3 reduced GH-stimulated c-fos promoter activity. These studies indicate that PI3K/Akt/GSK-3 mediates signaling between GH receptor and the nucleus, promoting dephosphorylation of C/EBPβ. Dephosphorylation increases binding of LAP complexes to the c-fos promoter and may contribute to the participation of C/EBPβ in GH-stimulated c-fos expression.
A New Approach for Wind Speed Prediction

The potential benefits of having wind speed predictability are obvious in wind power generation (knowing wind speed ahead of time is useful in automatic power dispatch, load scheduling, and wind turbine control). A new approach for wind speed forecasting is presented in this paper. This method makes use of memorized wind speed to predict the next step wind speed. It is shown that as long as the wind speed variation is not extremely brisk, the proposed algorithm is able to predict the wind speed with a fairly good precision. The proposed predicting scheme does not assume the precise knowledge of the wind model. The result is verified via computer simulation.
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Associated with Salmonella enterica Serovar Newport Isolates from Food Animals

Salmonella enterica serotype Newport is an important cause of salmonellosis, with strains increasingly being resistant to multiple antimicrobial agents. The increase is associated with the acquisition of multiple resistance genes. This study characterizes the genetic basis of resistance of serotype Newport isolates collected from veterinary sources by PCR and DNA sequencing analysis.
Do Parties Matter for Fiscal Policy Choices ? A Regression-Discontinuity Approach *

This paper presents a method for measuring the caus al effect of party control on fiscal policy outcomes. The source of identifying informat ion comes from an institutional feature of the election system, namely that party c ontrol changes discontinuously at 50 percent of the vote share, i.e., a party that recei ves more than 50 percent of the votes will be in office. The approach is applied to a very lar ge panel data set from Swedish local governments, which offers a number of attractive fe atures. The results show that there is large and significant party effect: on average, lef t-wing parties spend and tax 2.5 percent more than right-wing governments. The party effect constitutes 1 percent of average municipality income, clearly a sizeable effect.
EFFECT OF BLANCHING TREATMENTS ON THE FIRMNESS OF CARROTS

Carrots (26 varieties) were subjected to two blanching-in-water treatments prior to being canned in the conventional manner. (1) 4-5 min blanch at 212°F, (2) 20–30 min blanch at 165°F. All of the low temperature blanch carrots were firmer than the corresponding high temperature treatment. Blanching was carried out at 130°, 150°, 170°, 190°, 212° F. The firmness, free methanol and pH of these treatments all showed the same trend, increasing as blanch temperature was raised from 130® to 170®F and decreasing as blanch temperature was raised from 170® to 212®F. This evidence supports the conclusion that the increase in firmness is caused by the effects of pectin methyl esterase PME) which is activated by the low temperature blanch and inactivated by the high temperature blanch.
Compositional Models for Reinforcement Learning

Innovations such as optimistic exploration, function approximation, and hierarchical decomposition have helped scale reinforcement learning to more complex environments, but these three ideas have rarely been studied together. This paper develops a unified framework that formalizes these algorithmic contributions as operators on learned models of the environment. Our formalism reveals some synergies among these innovations, and it suggests a straightforward way to compose them. The resulting algorithm, Fitted R-MAXQ, is the first to combine the function approximation of fitted algorithms, the efficient model-based exploration of R-MAX, and the hierarchical decompostion of MAXQ.