cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vitro Cytotoxicity and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Pharmacological Ascorbate in Dogs

Background: High-dose, pharmacological ascorbate (P-AscH-) is preferentially cytotoxic to human cancer cells in vitro. Investigations on the efficacy of P-AscH- as an adjuvant treatment for multiple human cancers are on-going, but has yet to be formally investigated in dogs. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetic (PK) profile of P-AscH- in healthy Beagle dogs and the effects of P-AscH- on canine osteosarcoma cells in vitro. Methods: Eight purpose-bred, healthy, spayed female Beagle dogs, between 20 and 21 months old, and 8-10 kg were administered two doses of P-AscH- (550 or 2,200 mg/kg) via intravenous infusion over 6 h, on separate days. Plasma ascorbate concentrations were measured at 12 time points during and after infusion for PK analysis using nonlinear mixed-effects (NLME) and non-compartmental analysis (NCA). Clonogenic assays were performed on 2 canine osteosarcoma cell lines (D-17 and OSCA-8) and canine primary dermal fibroblasts after exposure to high concentrations of ascorbate (75 pmoles/cell). Results: Plasma ascorbate levels in the dogs peaked at approximately 10 mM following 2,200 mg/kg and returned to baseline 6-8 h after dosing. Minor adverse effects were seen in two dogs. Ascorbate (75 pmoles/cell) significantly decreased survival in both the osteosarcoma cell lines (D-17 63% SD 0.010, P = 0.005; OSCA-8 50% SD 0.086, P = 0.026), compared to normal fibroblasts (27% SD 0.056). Conclusions: Pharmacological ascorbate is preferentially cytotoxic to canine-derived cancer cells. High levels of ascorbate can be safely administered to dogs. Further studies are needed to determine the effects of P-AscH- on canine patients.
Optical imaging of prefrontal deficits induced by cocaine: neurons vs dopamine D2-receptor expressing neurons

Deficits in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) function play a crucial role in promoting compulsive cocaine use. This dysfunction might result from cocaine’s effects on neurons possibly including modification of the expression of the dopamine type 2 receptors (D2r). However, studies on D2r function have been hindered by relatively low receptor expression in mPFC and low detection sensitivity. To tackle this problem, we developed a workflow to optically image D2r through enhancing visualization of GFP fluorescence in a D2r-expressing transgenic mouse model. Two groups of animals were used: group 1 was treated daily by saline (0.1cc/100g, i.p.) and group 2 received cocaine (30mg/kg, i.p.) for 2 weeks. Following 1-day withdrawal, their brains were fixed and processed. The brain sections underwent immunostaining and ex vivo imaging using a confocal fluorescence microscope to capture co-registered fluorescence labeling of both neurons (NeuN) and D2r-expressing neurons (GFP). These images were montaged to cover a large field of view of the mPFC to quantify the changes in the count of neurons and D2r-expressing neurons. Our results show that chronic cocaine exposure results in 34.7%±5.7% decrease in neurons but a 44.7%±13.2% increase of D2r expressing neurons in the mPFC compared to saline treated group. Additionally, in-vivo Ca2+ imaging of D2r-expressing neurons in the mPFC revealed cocaine’s effects on the prefrontal response to the stimulation at the VTA. These changes might underlie the hypofrontality observed in human studies and exacerbate the loss of control associated with chronic cocaine use
A Tale of Many Values: What Can We Learn from the Cities?

With our three cities as background, we are ready for an attempt at constructing the urban farm. Let us review the chronology of creating the farm. We start with a vacant lot (or piece of public or private land that no one has any present plans for). We make sure of its legal availability, learning a great deal about civic government in the process, and getting to know some of the local civil servants. We test the soil to make sure it is free of contaminants, learning about soil science as we do it. We clear up the trash and dispose of it (this is not always easy; recall that to create the Intervale, Burlington volunteers and others had to clear upward of 1000 discarded tires and about 350 trashed cars). Already the place looks better, and those who want the farm there primarily to beautify the city are already happier. Even that amount of work will not get done unless many people are working on it; that group expands in the tedious work of pulling up the weeds and getting the soil ready for farming; already the neighbors are getting to know each other. To “familiarity with local government,” “Science 101” and “neighborhood beautification” we may add “the beginnings of cooperative community spirit,” as first fruits of the urban farm.
Avalanche Characteristics Of Silicide Schottky Barrier Diodes

Avalanche characteristics of silicide Schottky barrier diodesKenneth L. YatesEustace L. DereniakOptical Sciences Center, University of ArizonaTucson, Arizona 85721ABSTRACTSchottky barrier diodes have received much attention for use as detectors infiber optic communication systems requiring large bandwidth and good signal -to-noise performance. This paper will discuss what characteristics go into makingmaximum performance avalanche Schottky barrier detectors and why the Schottkybarrier diode is a good candidate. Specifically, the report will discuss thedesign and performance of platinum silicide (PtSi) Schottky diodes.
Abstract A01: Clinical detection of melanoma via endogenous fluorophore lifetime imaging

Objective: The 5-year survival for cutaneous malignant head and neck melanoma is very poor (17%). As proof of principle, we detect variations in endogenous fluorophore lifetimes by illuminating tissue with pulsed ultraviolet (UV) light. We have previously shown that dynamic optical contrast imaging is capable of delineating tumor margins. Our aim herein was to acquire clinical and intraoperative multispectral images that permit selection of regions of interest (ROI) to reliably and noninvasively perform a rapid optical biopsy in the patient. Methods: Patient cases of cutaneous melanoma were acquired with pulsed UV illumination utilizing a 6-diode in-series system. Emitted fluorescence was detected with a nanosecond gated CCD detector. The acquired signal is transformed into a relative difference value representing tissue fluorophore lifetime. Results: From (n=4) patient cases we acquired DOCI images both pre- and post-resection leading to a database of in vivo relative lifetime values that align to histology sections from corresponding locations via pathology. The spectral features of our images enabled classification of clinician-determined regions of interest in DOCI images in order to establish measures of internal and external validity of our novel device. Conclusion: Our device augments native tissue contrast via wide-field imaging to produce spatially resolved and pathology-specific maps of tissue. Our database of histology-matched real-time images is aimed to permit intraoperative guidance for tumor margin delineation in dermatologic surgery. Citation Format: Peter A. Pellionisz, Yong Hu, Jenny Kim, Warren Grundfest, Maie A. St. John. Clinical detection of melanoma via endogenous fluorophore lifetime imaging [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Melanoma: From Biology to Target; 2019 Jan 15-18; Houston, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(19 Suppl):Abstract nr A01.
“American Factory” and the Difficulties of Documenting Neoliberalism

Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert’s documentary American Factory, a project purchased by Netflix and distributed by Barack and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Productions, won the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020. It is a stunning and poignant movie about how a Chinese company comes to establish an auto glass factory in Moraine, Ohio, on the site of a former GM production plant. In light of American Factory’s critical success, this essay focuses on the contemporary capacity of the documentary form to capture the specific logic of socioeconomic and geopolitical contradictions. This is explored through the rubric of neoliberalism, especially as it complicates how a story of a factory might be told. It also links the style of documenting workers to a longer cinematic history.
Optimization in Prostate Cancer Detection

Clinical diagnosis of prostate cancer is most often done by transrectal ultrasound-guided needle biopsy. Because of the low resolution of ultrasound, however, the urologist cannot usually distinguish between cancerous and healthy tissue. Therefore, most biopsies follow standard protocols based on long-term physician experience. Recent studies indicate that these protocols may have a significant rate of false negative diagnoses. This research develops optimized biopsy protocols. We use real prostate specimens removed by prostatectomy to develop a 3D distribution map of cancer in the prostate. We develop also a probability model of the needle insertion procedure. Using this model, the tumor map, and the geometry of the biopsy needle, we obtain estimates for the probability of obtaining a positive biopsy in various zones of prostates with cancer. We develop a nonlinear optimization problem that determines the protocols that maximize the probability of cancer detection for a given number of needles, and present new optimized protocols.
Watersheds: Runoff from the Tax Code

This article examines selected federal and state tax measures from a watershed perspective, exploring ways in which they may - or may not - enhance the quality of water within a watershed. To sharpen the focus of the inquiry, it looks in particular at ways in which tax systems may influence levels of non-point source water pollution in Lake Champlain from agricultural activities. While a comprehensive review of tax measures lies beyond the scope of this analysis, these examples chosen offer insights into the role of tax policy in protecting the environmental integrity of water bodies.
Characterizing and controlling musical material intuitively with geometric models

In this paper, we examine the use of spatial layouts of musical material for live performance control. Emphasis is given to software tools that provide for the simple and intuitive geometric organization of sound material, sound processing parameters, and higher-level musical structures.
Transitive inverse-consistent manifold registration

This paper presents a new registration method called Transitive Inverse-Consistent Manifold Registration (TICMR). The TICMR method jointly estimates correspondence maps between groups of three manifolds embedded in a higher dimensional image space while minimizing inverse consistency and transitivity errors. Registering three manifolds at once provides a means for minimizing the transitivity error which is not possible when registering only two manifolds. TICMR is an iterative method that uses the closest point projection operator to define correspondences between manifolds as they are non-rigidly registered. Examples of the TICMR method are presented for matching groups of three contours and groups of three surfaces. The contour registration is regularized by minimizing the change in bending energy of the curves while the surface registration is regularized by minimizing the change in elastic energy of the surfaces. The notions of inverse consistency error (ICE) and transitivity error (TE) are extended from volume registration to manifold registration by using a closest point projection operator. For the experiments in this paper, the TICMR method reduces the average ICE by 200 times (contour)/ 6 times (surface) and the average TE by 40 times (contour)/ 2-4 times (surface) compared to registering with a curvature constraint alone. Furthermore, the TICMR is shown to avoid some local minimum that are not avoided when registering with a curvature constraint alone.
Sexually transmitted diseases and adverse outcomes of pregnancy.

The effect of sexually transmitted diseases on various adverse outcomes of pregnancy owing to direct fetal and infant infection and increased preterm birth is estimated for the entire population of the United States. The large potential impact of bacterial vaginosis on adverse outcomes through an increased risk of preterm birth is emphasized. This type of analysis may be useful for priority determinations in research and intervention programs.
Shaping science policy in the age of genomics

The potential of genomic technologies for improving the diagnosis and treatment of many human diseases will not be fully realized until several ethical, legal and social issues are addressed by effective science policy. We believe that more widespread public debate and subsequent policy action are urgently required. Here, we discuss several mechanisms by which this might occur. We propose an independent genome policy organization as an additional approach to promoting informed science policy in the age of genomics.
Radiation catalyzed conversion of tritium gas to tritiated water

A survey of water production dependence on tritium concentration and external radiation fields has been made for the tritium-in-air concentration range of 0.01 to 1 Ci/m/sup 3/. Results of reactions taking place under static conditions (in Pyrex flasks at 20/sup 0/C) indicate that: (1) self-catalyzed rates may be first-order-dependent on tritium concentration, and (2) external radiation fields may cause a virtual steady-state condition to occur (in terms of additional self-catalyzed water production). 12 references, 4 figures.
The organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos affects form deprivation myopia

Purpose The effects of the anti-cholinesterase organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) on the refractive development of the eye were examined. Form deprivation was used to induce eye growth to address the previously reported relationship between organophosphate pesticide use and the incidence of myopia. Methods Chickens, a well-established animal model for experimental myopia and organophosphate neurotoxicity, were dosed with chlorpyrifos (3 mg/kg per day, orally, from day 2 to day 9 after hatching) or corn oil vehicle (VEH) with or without monocular form deprivation (MFD) over the same period. The set of dependent measures included the refractive state of each eye measured using retinoscopy, axial dimensions determined with A-scan ultrasound, and intraocular pressure. Results Dosing with CPF yielded an inhibition of 35% butyrylcholinesterase in plasma and 45% acetylcholinesterase in brain. MFD resulted in a significant degree of myopia in form-deprived eyes resulting from significant lengthening of the vitreal chamber of the eye. CPF significantly reduced the effect of MFD, resulting in less myopic eyes (mean refraction: VEH-MFD = -16.2 +/- 2.3 diopters; CPF-MFD = -11.1 +/- 1.8 diopters) with significantly shorter vitreal chambers. Nonoccluded eyes were, on average, slightly hyperopic. Treatment with CPF for 1 week in the absence of MFD led to no significant change in ocular dimensions or refraction relative to controls. Conclusions The use of form deprivation as a challenge suggests that CPF treatment interferes with the visual regulation of eye growth.
The Intel/spl reg/ PXA800F wireless Internet-on-a-chip architecture and design

The Intel/spl reg/ PXA800F cellular processor is the first product in the wireless industry to integrate a DSP processor core, a high performance applications processor core, baseband communication logic, with flash and SRAM memories, all on one chip. It is a revolutionary system-on-chip (SOC) product in the cellular industry with dedicated access to integrated memories by both processor cores and which delivers industry-leading performance. This paper presents the key innovative architectural features and the key SOC design and validation issues associated with the design of this product, with preliminary results on system-level performance.
Self-Esteem and Relationship Perception

Fluctuations of state self-esteem, in-the-moment self-esteem, may influence our perceptions romantic relationships in either a positive or negative light. This research, using a subliminal priming task, aimed to test whether manipulation of state self-esteem would cause a significant difference in either relationship satisfaction or, if single, relationship perception. We expected individuals that had their self-esteem positively primed would have higher relationship satisfaction or relationship perception. We also expected a similar relationship for those who had their self-esteem negatively influenced. Some strong correlations were found between self-esteem and relationship satisfaction that leave implications for further research on this topic.
Cloning and characterization of a human c-myc promoter-binding protein.

A human cDNA clone encoding a c-myc promoter-binding protein was detected by screening a HeLa cell lambda phage expression cDNA library. The library was screened by using an XhoI-NaeI human c-myc P[sub 2] promoter fragment as a probe. The recombinant phage encoded a fusion protein, myc-binding protein 1 (MBP-1), which has an apparent molecular size of 40 kDa. A corresponding protein with a molecular size of 35 kDa was present in a HeLa cell extract. Sequence analysis of the cloned gene reveals an open reading frame of 1,038 bp with a 3[prime] untranslated region of 378 bp. The predicted protein sequence contains a proline-rich region in the amino terminus but does not demonstrate a known DNA-binding domain. DNase I footprint analysis demonstrates that MBP-1 binds to the sequence just 5[prime] of the TATA box sequence of the human c-myc P[sub 2] promoter. MBP-1 cDNA hybridizes to a 1.4-kb mRNA from HeLa and HL-60 cells, indicating that the cDNA insert (1,416 bp) is a full-length clone. Coexpression of the MBP-1 protein represses transcription from the human c-myc promoter, suggesting that MBP-1 may act as a negative regulatory factor for the human c-myc gene.
Bridging the gap between basic and clinical electrophysiology: what can be learned from monophasic action potential recordings?

Monophasic Action Potentials. With rapid advances occuring in both basic and clinical electrophysiology, the gap between the two disciplines appears to be widening rather than narrowing. In most instances, we cannot apply the knowledge derived from cellular studies directly to clinical practice. Monophasic action potential (MAP) recording by contact electrode technique allows us in measure basic electrophysiological phenomena in the human heart and thus provides an important bridge between basic and clinical electrophysiology. MAP recordings produce the lime course of cellular repolarization during cycle length changes and antiarrhythmic drug administration, lending insights into use dependency and reverse use dependency of antiarrhythmic drug effects in the clinical electrophsiology laboratory. The ability to deliver electrical stimuli at the MAI recording site further allows one to investigate drug-induced postrepolarization refractoriness. MAP recordings provide precise local activation times, important for mapping of abnormal ventricular activation, and detect areas of abnormal repolarization due to ischemia or scarring. MAP recordings are uniquely suited to detect early and delayed afterdepolarizations in the human heart, thereby helping to unravel the arrhythmia mechanisms in the long QT syndrome. By embedding the MAP electrode in a radiofrequency electrode, arrhythmogenic foci may be both detected and ablated. In many instances, MAP recordings are more accurate than KCG tracings in defining and distinguishing ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia. This can he of clinical importance during testing of the implantable cardioverler/delibrillator. An area of growing interest is stretch-activated arrhythmias. Here, MAP recordings are of particular value because no other method is available to record mechanically induced electrophysiological changes in the vigorously beating heart. It can be expected that MAP recordings will, in the future, provide this important bridge between “cell and bedside” also in atrial tachyarrhythmias, such as in atrial fibrillation and flutter.
In Vitro Reconstitution of a Functional Duck Hepatitis B Virus Reverse Transcriptase: Posttranslational Activation by Hsp90

Reverse transcription in hepatitis B viruses is initiated through a unique protein priming mechanism whereby the viral reverse transcriptase (RT) first assembles into a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex with its RNA template and then initiates DNA synthesis de novo using the RT itself as a protein primer. RNP formation and protein priming require the assistance of host cell factors, including the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). To better understand the mechanism of RT activation by Hsp90, we have now mapped the minimal RT sequences of the duck hepatitis B virus that are required for chaperone binding, RNP formation, and protein priming. Furthermore, we have reconstituted in vitro both RNP formation and protein priming using purified RT proteins and host factors. Our results show that (i) Hsp90 recognizes two independent domains of the RT, both of which are necessary for RNP formation and protein priming; (ii) Hsp90 function is required not only to establish, but also to maintain, the RT in a state competent for RNA binding; and (iii) Hsp90 is not required during RT synthesis and can activate the RT posttranslationally. Based on these findings, we propose a model for Hsp90 function whereby the chaperone acts as an active interdomain bridge to bring the two RT domains into a poised but labile conformation competent for RNP formation. It is anticipated that the reconstitution system established here will facilitate the isolation of additional host factors required for RT functions and further elucidation of the mechanisms of RT activation.
The genetics of brachyolmia: between cilia and cell volume regulation

Gain-of-function mutations in TRPV4 cause autosomal dominant brachyolmia Rock et al. (2008) Nature Genetics 40 (8): 999–1003
Novel Convective Instabilities in a Magnetic Fluid

Nonlinear dynamics outside equilibrium is one of the intriguing and ubiquitous phenomena in nature. Exploring new mechanisms for driving forces and understanding relations between structures and dynamics will not only elucidate the underlying physics but also lead to new applications. In most research on instabilities, the driving forces involve gravity, surface tension, and ponderomotive force [1,2]. In this Letter, we report the observation of a novel instability in a horizontal magnetic fluid layer with a focused laser beam perpendicularly passing through the layer in the presence of a homogeneous vertical magnetic field. We found that the diffraction pattern formed by the laser beam remained stable when the field was less than a critical value, whereas it became unstable when the field was larger than the threshold. This instability is driven by a force that was rarely studied before — the magnetic Kelvin body force that originates from the interaction of the magnetic moment of the fluid with the internal field gradient induced by temperature and concentration inhomogeneities, even though the external field is uniform in space. This force can be easily adjusted, by changing the external field and the laser power, to control heat and mass transfers in the system. Studies of this novel instability should lead to not only new insights in fundamental research on nonequilibrium phenomena but also practical applications such as field-controlled heat transfer devices and liquid optical devices.
Fractionation of hemicelluloses from maize cell walls with increasing concentrations of alkali

Abstract Hemicelluloses were solubilized from depectinated walls of maize coleoptiles and leaves with increasing concentrations of alkali to yield three major fractions of polymers. A highly-substituted glucuronoarabinoxylan released by dilute alkali from walls of coleoptiles was present only in very small amounts in the walls of the leaves. The stepwise extractions with increasing concentrations of alkali resolved a relatively unbranched xylan from a mixture of mixed-linked glucan, xyloglucan and additional xylan from walls of young leaves. Delignification in acidic sodium chlorite solubilized a small amount of substituted xylan from walls of both coleoptiles and leaves, and rendered about one-half of the unextracted hemicellulose soluble in only 0.02 M potassium hydroxide solution. Delignification prevented the detection of highly-substituted xylans released by dilute alkali.
Calculated optical properties of Si, Ge, and GaAs under hydrostatic pressure

The macroscopic dielectric function in the random-phase approximation without local-field effect has been implemented using the local-density approximation with an all-electron, full-potential linear muffin-tin orbital basis set. This method is used to investigate the optical properties of the semiconductors Si, Ge, and GaAs under hydrostatic pressure. The pressure dependence of the effective dielectric function is compared with the experimental data of Go\~ni, Syassen, and Cardona [Phys. Rev. B 41, 10 104 (1990)], and excellent agreement is found when the so-called ``scissors-operator'' shift is used to account for the correct band gap at \ensuremath{\Gamma}. The effect of the 3d semicore states in the interband transitions hardly changes the static dielectric function ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\infty}}}$; however, their contribution to the intensity of absorption for higher photon energies is substantial. The spin-orbit coupling has a significant effect on ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\infty}}}$ of Ge and GaAs, but not of Si. The ${\mathit{E}}_{1}$ peak in the dynamical dielectric function is strongly underestimated for Si, but only slightly for Ge and GaAs, suggesting that excitonic effects might be important only for Si. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
International Scientific Data, Standards, and Digital Libraries: An NSF NSDL (U.S.) and CODATA Workshop

There is little debate that recent advances in information technology (IT) are revolutionizing the practice of science and expanding its impact on global society. It is still debatable whether the transformation can take full advantage of these advances without open, international standards, embraced by the scientific community. Accompanying the increases in computing power and bandwidth, considerable discussion has surfaced about the availability and exchange of scientific data. Common themes in the dialogue underscore the need for new visions of data organization, storage, and dissemination (Nature Editorial, 2005).
Repair of multiple mycotic aortic aneurysms in a newborn

Abstract Thoracoabdominal aortic and common and internal iliac artery mycotic aneurysms resulted from an umbilical arterial catheter in a 3 1 2 - week-old boy. He underwent staged repair including an 8-mm Gore-tex tube graft, primary repair of the common iliac artery aneurysm, and resection of the internal iliac aneurysm. His operative and postoperative course was uneventful. He was asymptomatic at 17 months' follow-up, with equal blood pressure in the upper and lower extremities. Magnetic resonance imaging showed no stenoses or recurrent aneurysms at the anastomotic sites of the Gore-tex tube graft. Blood supply to his left leg came from collaterals, principally a large crossing vessel from the right iliac artery. This case represents the first successful aortic replacement in a 5 week old with extensive involvement of the thoracoabdominal aorta and its branch vessels.
Continuous Regioselective Enzymatic Esterification in a Simulated Moving Bed Reactor

A simulated moving bed adsorptive reactor (SMBR) has been developed and tested experimentally to conduct a regioselective enzyme-catalyzed diol esterification in a hexane solvent. The reaction is e...
Degradation of the electrochromic nickel oxide film upon redox cycling

The degradation mechanism of electrochromic nickel oxide films by redox cycles was investigated. Films fabricated by sputtering of an oxide target were driven between the colored (oxidized) and bleached (reduced) states in 1 M KOH solution. With the cycles, the transmittance of the colored state decreased. While the peak potential of the redox became larger at first and then became smaller, the response time became rapid at first and slower afterward. The surface of heavily degraded films became uneven and easy to be removed. A higher oxidation voltage caused faster degradation. Heat treatment during deposition or making a film thicker was shown to affect durability.
Small-scale microwave background anisotropies implied by large-scale data

In the absence of reheating microwave background radiation (MBR) anisotropies on arcminute scales depend uniquely on the amplitude and the coherence length of the primordial density fluctuations (PDFs). These can be determined from the recent data on galaxy correlations, xi(r), on linear scales (APM survey). We develop here expressions for the MBR angular correlation function, C(theta), on arcminute scales in terms of the power spectrum of PDFs and demonstrate their accuracy by comparing with detailed calculations of MBR anisotropies. We then show how to evaluate C(theta) directly in terms of the observed xi(r) and show that the APM data give information on the amplitude, C(O), and the coherence angle of MBR anisotropies on small scales.
Investigation of water and methanol sorption in monovalent- and multivalent-ion-exchanged nafion membranes using electron spin resonance.

Electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy was used to monitor the local environment of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone N-oxide (TEMPONE) spin probe in Li+, Ca2+, and Al3+ ion-exchanged Nafion 117...
Adaptive Thresholding for High Dual-Tone Signal Instantaneous Dynamic Range in Digital Microwave Receiver

A primary concern in the current radar-receiver design involves the critical issue of setting a threshold level that is optimal for all operating conditions. A novel adaptive thresholding technique is presented to maximize both the receiver sensitivity and the dual-tone signal instantaneous dynamic range (IDR) for digital microwave receivers. The additional constraint placed for signal detection improves the false-alarm rate with a minimal firmware increase due to the simplicity of the proposed algorithm. Using our adaptive thresholding technique, the receiver's maximum IDR varies between 34 and 24 dB below the primary signal for primary-signal strengths between -4 and -32 dBm. Our adaptive thresholding technique was realized in firmware through two receiver designs, i.e., the initial-scaling-stage (ISS) and multistage-scaling (MSS) receiver designs. Both receiver designs show significant improvement in weak-signal spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) performance. The MSS receiver design shows a nearly 3-dB improvement in weak-signal SFDR performance. Performance evaluations show a well-coordinated effort for adaptive thresholding system integration into the existing radar-receiver system.
Differential effects of light and nitrogen on production of hypericins and leaf glands in Hypericum perforatum

Abstract The effect of light intensity and root nitrogen supply on the levels of leaf hypericins was examined for St. John’s wort ( Hypericum perforatum L.) grown in a sand culture system with artificial lighting. Increasing the light intensity illuminating St. John’s wort plants from 106 to 402 μmol·m –2 ·s –1 resulted in a continuous increase in the level of leaf hypericins. Using a leaf dissection approach, the association of hypericins with the dark glands on the leaves was shown, and it was found that increasing light intensity resulted in a parallel increase in the number of dark glands. In this respect, a linear relationship was observed between leaf gland number and the level of leaf hypericins ( R = 0.901). While a decrease in nitrogen supply to St. John’s wort plants also yielded an increase in the level of leaf hypericins, this response occurred in a discontinuous manner over the range of nitrogen levels tested and no significant effect upon the number of dark leaf glands was observed. Overall, these effects of increased light intensity and decreased nitrogen supply on leaf hypericins appear to be independent and additive, and may reflect differences in the sites and processes where these environmental parameters impact production of these phytochemicals.
Fecal corticosterone, body mass, and caching rates of Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) from disturbed and undisturbed sites

We tested for hormonal and behavioral differences between Carolina chickadees (Poecile carolinensis) taken from a disturbed (recently logged) forest, an undisturbed forest, or a residential site. We measured fecal corticosterone and body mass levels in the field, and fecal corticosterone, body mass, and caching behavior in an aviary experiment. In the field, birds from the disturbed forest exhibited significantly higher fecal corticosterone levels than birds from either the undisturbed forest or from the residential site. Birds from the disturbed forest also exhibited lower body mass than those from the undisturbed forest but higher body mass than those from the residential site. Our aviary results suggest that these physiological differences between field sites are the result of short-term responses to ecological factors: neither body mass nor fecal corticosterone levels varied between birds captured at different sites. Aviary sample sizes were sufficient to detect seasonal variation in fecal corticosterone (lowest in summer), body mass (highest in spring), and rate of gain in body mass (highest in winter). Under "closed-economy" aviary conditions (all food available from a feeder in the aviary), there were no site differences in the percent of seeds taken from the feeder that were cached. However, under "open-economy" conditions (food occasionally available ad libitum), significantly fewer seeds were cached by birds from the disturbed forest compared to the undisturbed or residential sites. On average, there was only a two-fold difference in population levels of fecal corticosterone. This difference is about the same as an increase in fecal corticosterone induced by a 2-h increase in food deprivation and cannot be considered to be an acute stress response to disturbance.
An X-band to Ka-band SPDT switch using 200 nm SiGe HBTs

This paper presents the design and measured performance of an X-band to Ka-band SiGe HBT SPDT switch. The proposed SPDT switch was fabricated using a 200 nm, 150 GHz peak f T silicon-germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) BiCMOS technology. The SPDT switch design uses diode-connected SiGe HBTs in a series-shunt configuration to improve the switch bandwidth and isolation. Between 8 and 40 GHz, this SPDT switch achieves an insertion loss of less than 4.3 dB, an isolation of more than 20.3 dB, and a return loss of more than 9 dB.
Cadmium zinc telluride (CZT) nanowire sensors for detection of low energy gamma-ray detection

Bulk single crystals of CdZnTe compound semiconductor is used for room temperature radiation detection in commercial radiation sensors. A large volume of detector material with low defect density is required for increasing the detection efficiency. Manufacture of such a bulky detector-quality material with low defect density is expensive. In this communication, synthesis of nanowires arrays of CdZnTe that can be used for detecting low energy radiation is reported for the first time. CdZnTe ternary compound semiconductor, referred as CZT, was electrodeposited in the form of nanowires onto a TiO2 nanotubular template in non-aqueous electrolytes using a pulse-reverse process at 130 oC. Very high electrical resistivity of the CZT nanowires (in the order of 10 10 Ω-cm) was obtained. Such a high resistivity was attributed to the presence of deep defect states such as cadmium vacancies created by the anodic cycle of the pulse-reverse electrodeposition process. Stacks of series connected CZT nanowire arrays were impressed with different bias potentials. The leakage current was in the order of tens of PicoAmperes. When exposed to a radiation source (Am -241, 60 keV), the current flow in the circuit increased. The preliminary results indicate that the CZT nanowire arrays can be used as radiation detector materials at room temperature with a much low bias potential (0.7 – 2.3 V) as against 300 – 500 V applied to the bulk detector materials.
Wide range intensity measurements in photoelectric spectrophotometry

Methods of measuring intensity in photoelectric spectrophotometry are discussed, and conditions for maximum reasonably precise utilization of amplifier galvanometer response are experimentally investigated. For a spectrophotometer having four light sensitivity ranges, differing by approximate multiples of ten, it is shown that, if proper grid bias is used on each range, deflection is proportional to incident light intensity within ±0.5 percent for applied grid potentials from 0 to 0.3 v. With a suitably selected galvanometer system, deflections measure light intensities from 1.0 to 106 arbitrary units over the whole response range of the instrument. It is also shown that for applied grid potentials from 0 to 0.5 v, the deviation from linearity does not exceed ±1.5 percent.
Microstructure and Mixed Mode I/II Fracture of AA2524-T351 Base Material and Friction Stir Welds

Abstract Mixed mode I/II experiments for base material AA2524 indicate that (a) transition from a local opening mode of fracture to a local shear mode of fracture occurs in AA2524 at much lower levels of far-field shear loading than observed in AA2024, showing the increased potential for mode transition in the cleaner aluminum alloy AA2524 and (b) the measured critical crack opening displacement (∣CODcrit∣) in AA2524 is isotropic and equal to the maximum measured value (LT orientation) in AA2024. Mixed mode I/II experiments in AA2524 friction stir weld specimens show that (a) changes in microstructure and particularly, reduction in constituent particle volume fraction result in virtual elimination of fracture along constituent particle bands, (b) AA2524 has an increased tendency to transition from local mode I to local mode II crack growth during stable tearing and (c) specific features observed during the fracture process (e.g. mode transition) are shown to be directly correlated to both metallurgical differences in the FSW microstructure and local variations in the measured CODcrit.
Special Feature Distributed Computing Power: a Key to Productivity*

Productivity is the driving force of the economic growth that leads to improved living standards. However, if the United States continues the past pattern of 2% productivity growth per year, the gross national product per capita will grow at only 2.5% per year and unemployment will still be at 5.7% in 1990. On the other hand, a single percentage point increase in productivity–from 2% to 3%–could accelerate economic growth sufficiently to drive unemployment down to 3.4% by 1990; two percentage points could drive it down to 1%, if other factors do not intrude.
Treatment of disseminated hepatoblastoma involving bilateral lobes

Abstract A 30-month-old boy was investigated because of a huge abdominal mass in the right upper abdomen. A computed tomography scan and celiac angiography showed that the tumor involved bilateral lobes of the liver. At first, for this disseminated and “unresectable” tumor we did liver biopsy and hepatic arterial catheterization. Through this catheter we started chemotherapy using THP-Adriamycin and cis-platinum. After three courses of chemotherapy, a second-look operation was performed and trisegmentectomy was done to remove the main tumor and metastases, including the left lobe and the right anterior segment. The trisegmentectomy was performed with success, and the boy's serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) remains normal 37 months after the start of treatment, indicating a probable permanent cure. Such cases have rarely been reported in the literature. Our experience in treating this patient would seem to encourage aggressive management of advanced hepatoblastoma in other patients.
The effect of information load on decision makers' cue utilization levels and decision quality in a financial distress decision task

Abstract Seventeen practising auditors and sixty-seven accounting students participated in a decision making experiment that examined the effect of increasing amounts of accounting information on cue usage and decision quality. Each participant made financial distress decisions under three levels of information load. Approximately one-third of those participating apparently experienced information overload and exhibited an inverted-U relationship between information usage and information load; the others exhibited patterns of increasing cue usage. The individuals who apparently experienced information overload also reached decisions of lesser quality, as indicated by significantly lower decision making consistency, lesser agreement with a composite judge, and lower consensus.
Differential effects of largemouth and smallmouth bass on habitat use by stoneroller minnows in stream pools

Previous investigations of within-reach distribution patterns of the stoneroller minnow, Campostoma anomalum Rafinesque, suggest that this species behavioural response to piscivorous bass differs among streams with different bass species. This study compares the responses of Camposloma to two common piscivorous fishes, largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides Lacepede, and smallmouth bass, M. dolomieui Lacepede. Field experiments in Brier Creek, Oklahoma, U.S.A. showed that Campostoma responded to the presence of adult largemouth bass by shifting to shallow water habitats (commonly < 20 cm), but responded weakly or not at all to adult smallmouth bass. The magnitude of the response of Campostoma was positively related to activity level of the predators. Differences in behaviour between these two predator species may contribute to the differences in spatial distribution patterns of Micropterus and Campostoma observed in earlier investigations, but differences in stream channel morphology and temperature regimes among streams may also be important.
The Liberal Case for Disestablishing Marriage

What role should the state have in recognizing and regulating marriage? Until recently, liberal political theorists paid little attention to this question. Yet the challenges that the public–private boundary-crossing institution of marriage poses to liberalism are substantial. Tensions in contemporary debates suggest that these challenges remain unaddressed and thus, invite attempts to formulate a coherent and compelling model of the relationship between marriage and the liberal state. This article responds to this invitation. Marriage has long been a concern of at least some liberal thinkers. Typically they focused on the dual (contract/status) character of marriage, or its role in (re)producing gender inequality. While these critical insights are essential to any adequate account of marriage and the state, they are only part of the picture. To grasp the sources of confusion and silences in contemporary debates, and formulate a robust liberal model of marriage and the state, we must examine the functions — intended and effective — of public recognition of marriage. This examination highlights the relevance to the marriage-state relationship of familiar liberal approaches to negotiating the religion-state relationship. Drawing on these approaches and liberal feminist thought, I sketch a model of marriage and the state that aims to expand the area of protected freedom without sacrificing equality, fairness or marriage. Under the model I propose, marriage would be disestablished. The state would neither confer marital status, nor use ‘marriage’ as a category for dispersing benefits. Legitimate public welfare goals currently treated through marriage would be addressed through an intimate caregiving union status.
Antigen receptor ‘capacity’ and the sensitivity of self-tolerance

The fact that autoreactive B cells are efficiently eliminated by tolerance mechanisms1 has far-reaching implications for the formation of the lymphocyte repertoire. However, these mechanisms introduce waste. The waste in B-cell development is massive, both at early stages of development in the bone marrow2 and later, after potentially responsive B cells have been generated and exported to the periphery3. To what extent is this waste due to tolerance? Or, to put it another way, what proportion of generated B cells is Likely to be autoreactive and suppressed by deletion? This article suggests that it is reasonable to expect that most generated B-cell receptors are self-reactive and are eliminated by tolerance. The B-cell repertoire is highly diverse; thus, the concept that there is extensive self-reactivity, which is subject to strong negative selection, might imply that B-cell tolerance is extraordinarily sensitive, perhaps having a low affinity/avidity threshold. This possibility has been explored experimentally using mice transgenic for anti-major histocompatibility complex (MHO class I-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) genes4, in which self-tolerance of B cells bearing a defined receptor can be followed. The Ig genes used to generate these transgenic mice are derived from a B-cell hybridoma (3–83), which itself was derived from a fusion of spleen cells from an H-2d mouse strain immunized with H-2k spleen cells5. The 3–83 Ig binds with moderate affinity to H-2Kk and only very weakly to several other MHC class I molecules. The 3–83 crossreactive interaction with Kbm3 and Dk molecules is particularly weak and, even at the highest concentrations of Ig, it is difficult to demonstrate any binding to these antigens. The avidity of the bivalent form of 3–83 for these antigens is much less than 10−6 M, and the single-site affinity is below the detection limits of our assays (>10−5 M). This allowed a comparison of the tolerance-inducing ability of antigens of similar structure, valency and tissue distribution that varied only in their relative affinities for the B-cell's receptor. The results of these experiments were clear: when 3–83-transgenic mice were bred onto the low-avidity ligand backgrounds bearing Kb, Dk or Kbm3, autoreactive B cells were deleted from the peripheral lymphoid organs (Refs 4, 6; J. Lang and D. Nemazee, unpublished). These results are rather surprising given the reported ubiquity and prevalence of low-affinity autoreactive B cells (reviewed in Refs 7, 8), and may suggest a countervailing antigen-driven positive selection for certain specificities.
Hereditary Ovalocytosis and Haemoglobin E-Ovalocytosis in Malayan Aborigines

THE red blood cells of mammalian vertebrates, including man, are normally round, except those of the camel, which are characteristically oval in shape. Less than 15 per cent of the red blood corpuscles in normal healthy men are oval, but in severe anaemias the number of oval cells in the peripheral blood may become much higher. This symptomatic ovalocytosis in severe anaemias is to be distinguished from hereditary ovalocytosis, or elliptocytosis, first described by Dresbach1 in 1904. In the hereditary condition, more than 25 per cent of the red blood cells are oval or elliptic, and elliptic rod-shaped cells are more common than in the symptomatic condition. The two conditions can usually be distinguished, with experience, but the diagnosis can only be confirmed by demonstration of a family occurrence. Incidence of the hereditary condition in the general population has previously been estimated at approximately 0.04 per cent2,3, although more prevalent in Dutch, German and Italian families4,5. A focus of high frequency of hereditary ovalocytosis (elliptocytosis) has been reported from central Celebes6. I now report another focus of high frequency of hereditary ovalocytosis (elliptocytosis) in Malayan aborigines.