cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Network-Centric Enterprise Service for Mediation and Interoperability: The Dynamic Operational Object Registration Service (DOORS)

Abstract : Warfighters conducting joint and coalition task force operations and inter-governmental agency operations supporting homeland security must interoperate with C2/C4I systems that possess disparate mapping/visualization and information management infrastructures. These C2/C4I systems are generally built upon dissimilar data representations and stovepipe interfaces. To achieve information superiority while engaged in such operations, commanders must transform component C2/C4I system data into interoperable information and shared knowledge, making the result available for exchange to multiple levels and nodes bases upon need and choice. This level of interoperability is critical for geo-spatially and temporally registered operational object information that comprises situation understanding aspects of a common operational picture, which also extends to supporting drill down information. SAIC's Dynamic Operational Object Registration Service (DOORS) was developed in the anticipation that a properly conceived C2/C4I vocabulary of domain knowledge representation, supported by an ontology-driven adaptive system, and employing meta-data based translation services (mapping of data from each participating system to a common representation) will provide the requisite basis for a network-centric enterprise data mediation service that addresses current interoperability challenges. DOORS provides the mechanism to exchange interoperable information for joint/combined task force operations according to a register-publish-subscribe metaphor that reflects the commander's information exchange requirements.
Using ellipsometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for real-time monitoring of the oxidation of aluminum mirrors protected by ultrathin MgF2 layers

To maintain high, broad-band reflectance, thin transparent fluoride layers, such as MgF2, are used to protect the of aluminum mirrors against oxidation since aluminum oxide absorbs short wavelength light. In this study, we present, for the first time, combined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and ellipsometric (SE) studies of aluminum oxidation as a function of MgF2 over a range of layer thickness (0-6 nm). We also show for the first time, dynamic SE data which, with appropriate modeling, tracks the extent of oxide growth every few seconds over a period of several hours after the evaporated Al + MgF2 bilayer is removed from the deposition chamber, exposing it to the air. For each SE data set, because the optical constants of ultrathin metals films depend strongly on deposition conditions and their thickness, the optical constants for Al, as well as the Al and Al2O3 thicknesses, were fit. SE trends were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. There is a chemical shift in the Al 2s electron emission peak toward higher binding energy as the metal oxidizes to Al+3. The extent of oxide growth can be modeled from the relative area of each peak once they are corrected for the attenuation through MgF2 layer. This generates an empirical formula: oxide thickness= k*log(t) +b, for the time-dependent aluminum-oxide thickness on aluminum surfaces protected by MgF2 as a function of MgF2 layer thickness. Here, k is a factor which depends only on MgF2 thickness, and decreases with increasing MgF2 thickness. The techniques developed can illuminate other protected mirror systems.
Fixation of Transverse Acetabular Fractures With Precontoured Plates Alone Causes Fracture Malreduction: A Biomechanical Assessment.

BACKGROUND Precontoured quadrilateral surface buttress (PQSB) plates have grown in popularity for acetabular fracture fixation. However, our experience has pushed us to hypothesize that their use as sole means of fixation may cause fracture malreduction. A biomechanical model was created to investigate this theory. METHODS A transverse acetabular fracture was created and reduced anatomically in 18 synthetic hemipelvises. The reduced hemipelvises were fixated using 3 different techniques. Group A fixation included anterior and posterior column screws plus a suprapectineal pelvic reconstruction plate; group B models were fixed using a PQSB plate only; and group C models were fixed with an anterior column screw and a PQSB plate. Acetabular tracking points were placed before final fixation and used to quantify any postfixation displacement. One-way analysis of variance and Tukey HSD testing were used to determine the significant difference (P < 0.05). RESULTS Models in group B had significant fracture displacement after final fixation when compared with group A and group C models. The average amount of displacement at the anterior column and within the acetabulum was 1.37 mm (95% CI, 1.08-1.65) in group B constructs compared with 0.32 mm (95% CI, 0.22-0.42) and 0.26 mm (95% CI, 0.15-0.38) in groups A and C constructs, respectively. There were no significant differences in displacement after final fixation between group A and group C models. CONCLUSIONS PQSB plates for acetabular fractures cause malreduction when applied in isolation in this biomechanical model. If a PQSB plate is chosen for fixation, we suggest the use of a columnar lag screw at minimum to hold reduction before plate application.
Increasing American Political Tolerance: A Framework Excluding Hate Speech:

According to prior research, political tolerance has either stagnated since the 1970s (if to be tolerant one must be tolerant of every group in all circumstances) or steadily increased (if toleranc...
Economic Analysis of High-Longevity Battery Capacity Fades for Electric Vehicles Supercharger Buffering Application

Current global trends show increasing numbers of electric vehicles on the road. The demand for fast charging is likely to keep pace with the adoption of electric vehicles. Fast charging places exceptionally high load demand on the electric utility infrastructure. These loads are beyond the capabilities of the existing infrastructure in many locations. The infrastructure power limitations can be offset by a high-power energy storage system (ESS). The crucial metrics for this system, in addition to meeting the peak load and energy demands of an EV battery, are cost and longevity. The main contribution of this article is to provide a methodology to assess the economic viability of an ESS solution for EVs supercharger buffering application. This methodology includes the model of aging effects on battery capacity, the overall efficiency, CAPEX, and OPEX of such system as well as the cost of the grid electricity purchased. This methodology is applied to two mature high-longevity lithium-ion battery technologies, namely, LFP and LTO. The results of this analysis suggest that there is no scenario where LFP is economically suitable. However, LTO shows the potential to be suitable in cases where there is a high demand from EV consumers for fast charging.
Network-based method for regions with statistically frequent interchromosomal interactions at single-cell resolution

Chromosome conformation capture-based methods, especially Hi-C, enable scientists to detect genome-wide chromatin interactions and study the spatial organization of chromatin, which plays important roles in gene expression regulation, DNA replication and repair etc. Thus, developing computational methods to unravel patterns behind the data becomes critical. Existing computational methods focus on intrachromosomal interactions and ignore interchromosomal interactions partly because there is no prior knowledge for interchromosomal interactions and the frequency of interchromosomal interactions is much lower while the search space is much larger. With the development of single-cell technologies, the advent of single-cell Hi-C makes interrogating the spatial structure of chromatin at single-cell resolution possible. It also brings a new type of frequency information, the number of single cells with chromatin interactions between two disjoint chromosome regions. Considering the lack of computational methods on interchromosomal interactions and the unsurprisingly frequent intrachromosomal interactions along the diagonal of a chromatin contact map, we propose a computational method dedicated to analyzing interchromosomal interactions of single-cell Hi-C with this new frequency information. To the best of our knowledge, our proposed tool is the first to identify regions with statistically frequent interchromosomal interactions at single-cell resolution. We demonstrate that the tool utilizing networks and binomial statistical tests can identify interesting structural regions through visualization, comparison and enrichment analysis and it also supports different configurations to provide users with flexibility. It will be a useful tool for analyzing single-cell Hi-C interchromosomal interactions.
Co-registration tool for large format whole mount prostate multi-plex histology

Purpose: Multiplex staining allows molecular co-localization analysis of same cell or tissue sections and maximizes the amount of data acquired from individual samples. We developed a non-linear registration framework for automated alignment of whole mount multiplexed histology images of prostate cancer. To achieve a precise automatic fit of bleached and restained high resolution tissue samples, a patch-based approach is proposed to improve annotation speed and analysis. Methods: The three-step co-registration process begins with a coarse low-resolution registration of the IHC stained image to the fixed H&E-stained image. The initial registration is then refined separately for each high-resolution patch using a smaller search window. Finally, registered patches are stitched back together using speeded up robust features (SURF). We apply the method to five multiplex whole mount prostate histology slides. To determine its effectiveness, we compare the automatic registration to the initial coarse registration and a manual control point based-method varying the number of control points. Results: For the control point-based approach, 25, 50, and 100 manually placed set landmarks resulted in a decrease of - 76.20%, -75.9% and -75.48% of the root mean squared error (RMSE), respectively. Compared to the initial registration an improvement of -76.29% of RMSE can be seen, illustrating the potential benefits of a patch-based automatic approach. Conclusion: The proposed method achieved excellent registration of the IHC to the input image. The automated method for registration of multiplexed histology images achieves high accuracy in shorter time and with greater reproducibility than conventional registration approaches and semi-automatic control points without the need for time consuming and subjective manual control-point setting. The accuracy of the fit especially improves in complex areas close to tissue tears and folds.
Stroke affects intestinal immune cell trafficking to the central nervous system.

Abstract Stroke is an acute neurological disease with a strong inflammatory component that can be regulated by the intestinal microbiota and intestinal immune cells. Although stroke has been shown to alter immune cell populations in the gut, the dynamics of cell trafficking have not been elucidated. To study the trafficking of gut-derived immune cells after stroke, we used mice expressing the photoconvertible protein Kikume Green-Red, which turns form green to red when exposed to violet light. Mice underwent laparotomy and the small intestine was exposed to violet laser light. Immune cells were isolated from the small intestine immediately after photoconversion and 2 days later. Percentage of immune cells (CD45+KikR+) that expressed the red variant of the protein (KikR) was higher immediately after photoconversion than 2 days later, indicating cell egress from the small intestine. To investigate whether intestinal immune cells traffic to the periphery and/or the central nervous system (CNS) after stroke, we analyzed KikR+ immune cells (2 days after photoconversion) in peripheral lymphoid organs, meninges and brain, 3 and 14 days after transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (tMCAo) or sham-surgery. Although migration was observed in naive and sham animals, stroke induced a higher mobilization of gut KikR+ immune cells, especially at 3 days after stroke, to all the organs analyzed. Notably, we detected a significant migration of CD45hi immune cells from the gut to the brain and meninges at 3 days after stroke. Comparison of cell trafficking between organs revealed a significant preference of intestinal CD11c+ cells to migrate from the small intestine to brain and meninges after stroke. We conclude that stroke increases immune cell trafficking from the small intestine to peripheral lymphoid organs and the CNS where they might contribute to post-stroke inflammation.
Models for understanding and predicting protein structure

Publisher Summary In this chapter, some methods currently employed in the prediction of tertiary structure from the protein sequence are presented. There are many different methods to attack the problem of predicting protein structure. If the protein is a member of a family of closely related proteins, the structure can be postulated through homology analysis. If this is not the case, a sequential approach can be envisioned in which the secondary elements are predicted from the primary sequence and then the different topological orientations of these elements are examined and judged using some energy-function description of the protein. Other methods are based on the observation that protein structures are tightly packed with almost no vacant space in the interior or core of the protein. Such a tight packing of the amino acids then suggests that the arrangements of the polypeptide chain can be restricted to the points of a lattice, greatly reducing the number of possible orientations. These methods do not differentiate between secondary and tertiary structure nor depend on previously determined protein structures.
Automated Synthesis of Numerical Programs for Simulation of Rigid Mechanical Systems in Physics-Based Animation

Physics-based animation programs are important in a variety of contexts, including science, engineering, education and entertainment among others. Manual construction of such programs is expensive, time-consuming and prone to error. We have developed a system for automatically synthesizing physics-based animation programs for a significant class of problems: constrained systems of rigid bodies, subject to driving and dissipative forces, under the control of an interactive user. Our system includes a graphical interface for specifying a physical scenario, including objects, geometry and coordinate systems, along with a symbolic interface for specifying dynamical variables, forces and constraints operating in the scenario. The entities defined in the graphical interface serve as the underlying vocabulary for specifications entered in the symbolic interface. Our system partitions the constraints and dynamical variables into classes and assigns each class to be implemented in a different component of a general simulation program scheme. It generates a numerical C++ simulation program that drives a real-time animation of the specified scenario. Our system is implemented as a collection of rewrite rules in the Mathematica programming language. Our approach provides some of the benefits of formal deductive program synthesis, while keeping the computational costs of program synthesis more in line with conventional program generator technology. We have successfully tested our system on numerous examples.
Improved pre-Doppler STAP algorithm for adaptive clutter nulling in airborne radars

Many space-time adaptive processing (STAP) algorithms heave been proposed for clutter nulling in airborne radar systems. These algorithms use the spatio-temporal relationship of clutter to significantly reduce the degrees of freedom required by an adaptive processor. One significant family of algorithms is pre-Doppler (or adapt-then-filter), which involves adaptively processing small subsets of radar pulses and non-adaptively Doppler filtering the results. This paper presents a new pre-Doppler algorithm which offers significant performance improvements by allowing partial adaptivity of the constraint vector. The new approach provides improved SINR loss and narrower clutter notches.
Chapter 10. Central American Survivors of Political Violence

Abstract Despite compelling, well-documented findings on the levels of stress and trauma among Central American refugees, this group continues to be underserved. A host of issues contributes to this underservice, ranging from macro-level imposed obstacles, such as citizenship and health insurance as determining factors for accessing social and health services, to institutional factors that impede service utilization, such as an insufficient number of translators or a cumbersome and confusing bureaucracy. This chapter adopts a human rights framework as a strategy for working with groups of Central Americans who have experienced political violence. The ongoing effects of political violence on Central Americans, as they relate to mental and physical health problems, are reviewed and a case vignette is used to illustrate how political violence affects individuals and how macro-level forces and institutions create barriers to access and use of health care and social services. Treatment approaches for helping s...
Selection of the T-cell repertoire: receptor-controlled checkpoints in T-cell development.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on T-cell development with special emphasis on antigen receptor-controlled differentiation programs. Development of T cells is tightly associated with the adaptation of adaptive immune system to self major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-peptide complexes. Shortly, before T-cell development could be approached by molecular techniques, hypotheses on the control of development correctly predicted positive selection that results in the alignment of functional commitment and receptor specificity of mature T cells and negative selection as essential component of self–nonself discrimination. Immunologists who have a greater interest in immune function and self–nonself discrimination by the immune system find themselves confronted with exciting questions concerning the regulation of ectopic antigen expression and its impact on negative selection, as well as new aspects of immunoregulation carried out by another lineage of CD4 + /CD25 + T cells. The interplay of the innate and adaptive immune system has come much more into focus with the recognition of lineages of T cells that are selected by nonclassical MHC molecules.
Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Severity of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Preschoolers: A Pilot Investigation.

Background: Less is known about the effects of secondhand smoke (SHS) on mental health as compared with other medical disorders. Objective: The aims of this study were to examine the following: 1) the association of SHS exposure with childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD) and disruptive disorders; and 2) the association of maternal recall of a child’s SHS exposure and that child’s exposure as measured by bioassay. Method: Sixty children had their saliva collected and assayed for cotinine when they were 4 years old and again when they were 6 years old. Phone interview data were collected to assess maternal recall of the children’s exposure to SHS at these ages. The children were assessed annually for ADHD and disruptive disorders. Repeated measures analysis of exposure level by child characteristics was performed. Results: Greater ADHD and conduct disorder severity scores were associated with greater child smoke exposure (ADHD severity, P = .043; conduct disorder severity, P = .035). A large proportion of mothers reported that their children had no exposure to SHS, despite high levels of measured cotinine in the children’s saliva. Conclusions: An association between SHS exposure and ADHD and conduct disorder symptoms was found. Children and parents may benefit from parent education regarding the deleterious effects of SHS.
Modeling Corn Ethanol and Climate A Critical Comparison of the BESS and GREET Models

Summary New fuel regulations based on life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have focused renewed attention on life cycle models of biofuels. The BESS model estimates 25% lower life cycle GHG emissions for corn ethanol than does the wellknown GREET model, which raises questions about which model is more accurate. I develop a life cycle metamodel to compare the GREET and BESS models in detail and to explain why the results from these models diverge. I find two main reasons for the divergence: (1) BESS models a more efficient biorefinery than is modeled in the cases to which its results have been compared, and (2) in several instances BESS fails to properly count upstream emissions. Adjustments to BESS to account for these differences raise the estimated global warming intensity (not including land use change) of the corn ethanol pathway considered in that model from 45 to 61 g CO2 eM J −1 . Adjusting GREET to use BESS’s biorefinery performance and coproduct credit assumptions reduces the GREET estimate from 64 to 61 g CO2 eM J −1 . Although this analysis explains the gap between the two models, both models would be improved with better data on corn production practices and by better treatment of agricultural inputs.
Recent advances in understanding the STSL locus and ABCG5/ABCG8 biology.

Purpose of reviewTo provide an update on recent advances made in our mechanistic and pathophysiological understanding of the rare human disease Sitosterolemia, the role of ABCG5/ABCG8 in sterol trafficking and how newer data implicate a more wider role in the body.Recent findingsSitosterolemia is ca
Surface design for controlled crystallization: the role of surface chemistry and nanoscale pores in heterogeneous nucleation.

Current industrial practice for control of primary nucleation (nucleation from a system without pre-existing crystalline matter) during crystallization from solution involves control of supersatura...
Studies on the Photocatalytic Electron Pooling of Graphene Oxide Hybrids Decorated with Electron Donor and Electron Acceptor Molecules

Photocatalytic behavior of a recently synthesized, single layer graphene oxide (SLGO) decorated with an electron donor, zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) and an electron acceptor, fulleropyrrolidine (C60) donor-acceptor hybrid is demonstrated. Electron accumulation in the form of one-electron reduced product of methyl viologen was obtained in high yields in an electron pooling experiment involving the ZnPc-SLGO-C60 hybrid and a sacrificial electron donor compared with control hybrids involving either ZnPc-SLGO or SLGO-C60 hybrids. This novel property of ZnPc-SLGO-C60 hybrid has been ascribed to the proximity effect offered by GO with covalently linked donor and acceptor entities on its surface. The present studies reveal that the ZnPc-SLGO-C60 hybrid is a suitable catalyst for solar fuel production.
Milestone experiments for single pass UV/X-ray FELs

Abstract In the past decade, significant advances have been made in the theory and technology of high brightness electron beams and single pass FELs. These developments facilitate the construction of practical UV and X-ray FELs and has prompted proposals to the DOE for the construction of such facilities. There are several important experiments to be performed before committing to the construction of dedicated user facilities. Two experiments are under construction in the IR, the UCLA self-amplified spontaneous emission experiment and the BNL laser seeded harmonic generation experiment. A multi-institution collaboration is being organized about a 210 MeV electron linac available at BNL and the 10 m long NISUS wiggler. This experiment will be done in the UV and will test various experimental aspects of electron beam dynamics, FEL exponential regime with gain guiding, start-up from noise, seeding and harmonic generation. These experiments will advance the state of FEL research and lead towards future dedicated users' facilities.
On the Pickup of Balanced Four-Wire Lines

It is demonstrated that for practical purposes the pickup of undesired energy by a balanced four-wire line when compared to the pickup of a balanced two-wire line of the same spacing is so small as to be considered negligible.
Correlation of Tensile and Bending Strength of Composites With a Circular Hole

While significant studies have been conducted on composites containing a circular or an elliptic hole under tensile loading, few investigations have been reported on notched composites under bending due to the complex nature of the problem. In this paper, a correlation of strengths of orthotropic plates containing a circular hole under tension and bending has been proposed based on Lekhnitskii’s solutions for infinite width plates. Finite element analysis has been performed to verify the theoretical correlation. Uniaxial tension and four-point bending tests have also been conducted on Scotchply samples with circular holes of various sizes. A good agreement has been observed among the theoretical, FEA, and experimental results.
Creating Research Infrastructure and Functionality to Address Chronic Kidney Disease: The Kidney Research Institute

An expanding proportion of people in the United States and worldwide are affected by kidney disease, leading to a growing concern over the public health implications. Despite the high prevalence and the considerable associated health risks of kidney disease, major gaps in our knowledge base hinder the delivery of optimal medical care to affected individuals. Moreover, research progress that translates into clinical benefit has been slow. For example, over the past 20 years, there has been no successful implementation of a new therapeutic agent specifically designed for the treatment of glomerular diseases, which in part explains why glomerular diseases remain the leading cause of kidney disease in the United States and worldwide. Similarly, the limitations of current approaches to dialysis as treatment of end-stage kidney disease are becoming more apparent, with marginal improvements in risks for hospitalization or mortality over time. Along with recognition of changes in the public health burden of kidney disease, and perception of limited progress in the clinical treatment of kidney disease, a change in kidney disease research is now underway. We are entering a new era in biomedicine emphasizing interdisciplinary and translational research. We here delineate the purpose, mission, and goals, and describe the evolving vision, infrastructure, and research platform of a new Kidney Research Institute, designed to overcome barriers to researching improvements in effective clinical care.
Synthesis and luminescent properties of Mn2+-doped zinc silicate phosphors by sol–gel methods

Abstract Green light emitting Mn2+-doped Zn2SiO4 phosphor nano-particles were synthesized by a sol–gel method combined with a furnace firing. All samples were prepared at various temperatures and times both with and without a polymeric surfactant to determine if the particle size can be tailor-made over a significant range. The particle size of all the powder samples was measured through dynamic light scattering, which showed a mean particle diameter between 30 nm and 1 μm depending on the conditions. Final manganese amounts were determined by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. The microstructure of phosphor crystals was characterized by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy. XRD results indicate that seeds play an important role in enhancing the nucleation and crystallization of Zn2SiO4:Mn2+. Green photoluminescence (PL) and cathodoluminescence (CL), whose emission peak is located at 522 nm, were observed from the synthesized phosphor particles under UV excitation and electron bombardment. Results show that the non-seeded samples with a mean diameter of 30 nm displayed a significant increase in PL brightness over the seeded samples whose mean diameter was 215 nm. In contrast, XRD results show that the seeded samples were more crystalline than the non-seeded samples. PL and CL intensity lagged behind the bulk reference sample due to a high manganese loss in processing.
Relación de las fábulas y ritos de los incas

Esta ultima edicion de la Relacion de las fabulas y ritos de los incas de Cristobal de Molina, el Cusqueno, esta dividida en tres partes. La primera parte denominada ‘Textos’ contiene una introducc...
Vitamin B-6 metabolism in the brains of young adult and senescent mice.

Abstract The steady state levels of pyridoxal-P and pyridoxamine-P, the activities of pyridoxal (pyridoxine) kinase and pyridoxamine-(pyridoxine)-P oxidase, and the metabolism of [3H]pyridoxine were determined in the brains of C57B1/6J mice of selected ages. The steady state concentratioons of the coenzymes and the activities of the enzymes required for pyridoxal-P synthesis did not change significantly as a function of age. The uptake and metabolism of vitamin B-6 by the brain was studied by injecting [3H]pyridoxine in the tail vein of young adult and senescent mice, killing the mice after 15 or 30 min, and separating the B-6 metabolites by ion exchange chromatography. More total radioactivity was accumulated in 15 min in the brains of the senescent mice than the brains of the young mice. The brains from both age groups rapidly synthesized pyridoxal-P from pyridoxine. However, less radioactive pyridoxamine-P and more radioactive pyridoxal were formed in the brains of the senescent mice than in the young mice killed 15 min after injection. These results are similar to those obtained for the metabolim of [3H]-pyridoxine in the liver of these senescent mice. The senescent mice appear to be vitamin B-6 deficient, have decreased brain amino acid transaminase activity, and either increased pyridoxal-P phosphatase activity or decreased protection of brain pyridoxal-P.
Conformations of amino acids calculated from molecular orbital theory.

Die Konformation einiger naturlicher Aminosauren wird auf Grund einer erweiterten Huckel-Molekular-Orbital-Theorie berechnet.
Ionic Liquid-Based Fluorescein Colorimetric pH Nanosensors.

A novel pH sensitive, colorimetric ionic liquid nanosensor based on phosphonium salts of fluorescein is reported. Herein, fluorescein salts of various stoichiometries were synthesized by use of a trihexyltetradecylphosphonium cation [TTP]+ in combination with dianionic [FL]2− and monoanionic [FL]− fluorescein. Nanomaterials derived from these two compounds yielded contrasting colorimetric responses in neutral and acidic environments. Variations in fluorescence spectra as a function of pH were also observed. Examination of TEM and DLS data revealed significant expansion in the diameter of [TTP]2[FL] nanodroplets in acidic environments of variable pHs. A similar trend was also observed for [TTP][FL] nanoparticles. The pH dependent colorimetric and other optical properties of these nanomaterials are attributed to alterations in molecular orientations and stacking as suggested by measuring the absorption, fluorescence, and zeta potential. Since the pH is an important indicator for many diseases, including cancer, these nanosensors are considered to be potential candidates for biomedical applications.
NEUTRON TRANSPORT AND NUCLEAR BURNUP ANALYSIS FOR THE LASER INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION-FISSION ENERGY (LIFE) ENGINE

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is currently developing a hybrid fusion-fission nuclear energy system, called LIFE, to generate power and burn nuclear waste. We utilize inertial confinement ...
A cardioprotective role for the endothelial protein C receptor in lipopolysaccharide-induced endotoxemia in the mouse

A model of gram-negative lethal endotoxin shock, involving continuous peritoneal infusion of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), has been applied to wild-type (WT) mice and mice with a severe deficiency of endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR(delta/delta)). The survival of EPCR(delta/delta) mice was significantly diminished as compared to WT mice after administration of LPS via this route. Heart rates and central blood pressures also were significantly more depressed in EPCR(delta/delta) mice, indicating that the receptor-based protein C (PC) pathway functions in regulation of hemodynamic properties in the mouse. Further, heart muscle damage was more severe in EPCR(delta/delta) mice as compared to WT mice after endotoxin administration, as revealed by the more elevated plasma myoglobin levels in EPCR(delta/delta) mice and by microscopic examination of stained heart sections. Neutrophil infiltration was more pronounced in heart tissue of EPCR(delta/delta) mice, perhaps in response to the greatly increased expression level of the chemokine, MIP-2, which also significantly more up-regulated in the LPS-treated EPCR(delta/delta) mouse cohort. In conclusion, a severe deficiency of EPCR adversely affects survival of mice subjected to continuous infusion of endotoxin, via contributions of more responsive hemodynamic and cardiac alterations, thus suggesting that, among its other functions, the PC-based receptor system has a cardioprotective role after acute inflammatory challenge.
Lyndon Johnson and the “crisis”; of Tonkin gulf: A president's justification of war

(1978). Lyndon Johnson and the “crisis”; of Tonkin gulf: A president's justification of war. Western Journal of Speech Communication: Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 93-104.
Pectin structure and biosynthesis

Pectin is structurally and functionally the most complex polysaccharide in plant cell walls. Pectin has functions in plant growth, morphology, development, and plant defense and also serves as a gelling and stabilizing polymer in diverse food and specialty products and has positive effects on human health and multiple biomedical uses. Pectin is a family of galacturonic acid-rich polysaccharides including homogalacturonan, rhamnogalacturonan I, and the substituted galacturonans rhamnogalacturonan II (RG-II) and xylogalacturonan (XGA). Pectin biosynthesis is estimated to require at least 67 transferases including glycosyl-, methyl-, and acetyltransferases. New developments in understanding pectin structure, function, and biosynthesis indicate that these polysaccharides have roles in both primary and secondary cell walls. Manipulation of pectin synthesis is expected to impact diverse plant agronomical properties including plant biomass characteristics important for biofuel production.
Integrated chemical systems: the simultaneous formation of hybrid nanocomposites of iron oxide and organo silsesquioxanes

A sol-gel approach for the synthesis of hybrid nanocomposites of iron oxide and bridged polysilsesquioxanes has been established. The procedures allow for the simultaneous formation of iron oxide and polysilsesquioxane networks in monolithic xerogels and aerogels. These hybrid nanocomposites are synthesized from FeCl{sub 3} {center_dot} 6H{sub 2}O and functionalized silsesquioxane monomers in a one-pot reaction using epoxides as a gelation agent. The porosity and microstructure of the materials has been determined by nitrogen porosimetry, electron microscopy and ultra small angle X-ray scattering (USAXS). The hybrid nanocomposites exhibit a uniform dispersion of both components with no evidence for phase separation at length scales > 5 nm. At this limit of resolution it is not possible to distinguish between two independent interpenetrating networks integrated at molecular length scales or a random copolymer or mixtures of both.
Applying advances in neurogenetics to medical practice

The investigation of rare neurogenetic diseases is an example of how a translational science approach may lead to the delineation of complex genetic and biochemical pathways. Thisprocess comprises several intellectual stages. The first step involves the astute identification and clinical description of the unique phenotype, which may lead to obvious pathways or may reveal novel or unexpected mechanisms. As similar patients are identified, the establishment of databases detailing the clinical phenotype may serve to provide clues as to the genetic and biochemical characterization, and identification of the genetic mutation based on patient samples and animal or cellular models. Lastly, attempts to develop and apply therapies based on what has been learned about the biochemical and molecular bases of the disease enables intervention on the individual patient level. Several stages of discovery may overlap or be investigated simultaneously. As examples, this review discusses how this process of investigation h...
Throbbing Beam Instabilities in Particle Accelerators and Storage Rings

Finite conductivity of the vacuum chamber wall can cause unstable coherent transverse oscillations of the center of charge and also oscillations of the transverse cross section of a beam of charged particles. The former case, which can be characterized by a dipole oscillation, has been studied extensively by others. 1, 2 In this work, a study has been conducted of the cross sectional oscillations of a nearly circular beam centered in a circular pipe, and a self-consistent solution has been obtained for both monopole and quadrupole oscillations. Dispersion relations for the oscillation frequencies have been found, and conditions for stability have been deduced. For the quadrupole instability the growth rate and threshold are very close to those obtained for the dipole instability, 1, 2 differing only by a geometrical factor of order unity; whereas, for the monopole instability, the growth rates are so small that the oscillations in present electron accelerators and storage rings will be suppressed by radiation damping.
Simultaneous particle and vapor deposition in a laminar boundary layer

A number of industrial and technical applications involve simultaneous particle and vapor deposition from a hot gas onto cold surfaces. For example, deposition of particles and corrosive vapors reduces the lifetime of heat exchangers in power plants and in blades of gas turbines. On another hand, in the OVD (outside vapor deposition) process used in manufacturing optical fibers, a controlled deposition of silica particles and dopant vapors is necessary for obtaining products with prescribed characteristics. In the present paper, a detailed mathematical and numerical model of this process is developed for the flow region near a stagnation point of a two-dimensional body, such as a cylinder. Using an inverse scavenging factor as a small parameter, an analytical asymptotic solution is found for vapor distribution in a condensation layer adjacent to the surface. The results of numerical calculations are presented in the form of surface temperature dependencies of dimensionless deposition rates and profiles of physical parameters of the system at a wide range of surface/gas temperature ratios.
Scanning reflection image from a solid specimen in the scanning electron microscope with a condenser-objective lens

To achieve the highest resolution in the scanning electron microscope (SEM) or in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), the sample must be mounted in the high-field region of a condenser-objective lens. A secondary electron (SE) image can then be obtained using a collector before the lens. It is also possible to obtain a scanning reflection image by tilting the specimen so that the second half of the condenser-objective lens field deflects the forward-scattered electrons onto the transmission detector beyond the specimen. Experiments were made with an unmodified commercial SEM fitted with a condenser-objective in the upper stage and with a transmission detector, and it was found that the scanning reflection image from a solid sample can provide additional useful information when used in conjunction with the SE image.
A Review of Sealing Technologies Applicable to Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells

This article reviews designs and materials investigated for various seals in high temperature solid oxide fuel cell “stacks” and how they might be implemented in solid oxide electrolysis cells that decompose steam into hydrogen and oxygen. Materials include metals, glasses, glass–ceramics, cements, and composites. Sealing designs include rigid seals, compressive seals, and compliant seals.
Correlation of H2O2 production and liver catalase during riboflavin deficiency and repletion in mammals

A substantial decrease in liver peroxisomal catalase was found during riboflavin deficiency in rats. This decrease is greater than that found among other hemoproteins and seems to follow decrease in flavin-dependent peroxisomal oxidases. This is not due to a general depression of peroxisomal enzymes, since Cu-dependent urate oxidase activity was not changed. Furthermore, the level of catalase activity as well as flavin-dependent oxidases was restored by riboflavin repletion. These results suggest that hydrogen peroxide, the substrate for catalase produced by several flavoprotein oxidases, induces catalase in mammals as has been indicated for certain bacteria.
Development of an international internet-based neurofibromatosis Type 1 Patient registry

Internet technology provides unprecedented opportunities to assemble large numbers of individuals with rare diseases from across the world to conduct clinical research studies. One such rare disease is Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1), a cancer predisposition syndrome affecting ~1/3000-4000 individuals worldwide. To enable large epidemiological research studies on NF1, we developed an online NF1 Patient Registry Initiative (NPRI) (https://nf1registry.wustl.edu/). Our objective is to describe the methods for registry development and implementation as well as the characteristics of participants during the first year of registry operation. Following electronic consent, participants completed a 30-45 minute questionnaire with 11 sections that asked about demographic, health, and social information. During the first year, 308 individuals from 44 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and 19 countries participated. Of these, 98% provided demographic information and ~85% completed all questionnaire sections, of which 95% reported the presence of at least two NF1 diagnostic criteria. Most participants who completed the questionnaire indicated willingness for future contact (99%) and for providing biological samples (94%). Based on this first year of experience, we conclude that online registries provide a valuable tool for assembling individuals with a rare disease from across the world for research studies.
Identification and inventory of the international forested-wetlands resource: Conference summary

Abstract A summary is given of the topics presented in an IUFRO conference on the identification and inventory of international forested-wetlands resources. Two resolutions drafted at the end of the conference are presented; one concerns the need for continued efforts in accurately defining forested wetlands, and continued efforts in constantly monitoring the world's forested wetlands; the second resolution calls for the development of a satellite system to provide low-cost digital images of natural resources, especially forested wetlands.
HEDGING FIXED‐RATE PREFERRED STOCK INVESTMENTS

Corporations seeking to maximize the return on their cash reserve resources have an incentive to invest in traditional preferred stock because of their right to exclude 70% of the dividends from taxation. Nevertheless, fixed-rate preferred stock investments may contribute significantly to the return volatility of a cash portfolio and cause unacceptable losses to the corporate investors. As a result, many corporations might consider such higher-return investments only if they can hedge away a sufficient amount of risk. The research presented in this article seeks to evaluate how much of the return variation of fixed-rate preferred equity portfolios can be reduced with various hedging strategies. This research shows that it is possible to reduce the risk of preferred stock investments significantly through the use of hedges employing some combination of fixed income futures and/or options. Although some risk remains even with the hedged preferred stock portfolio, the author demonstrates that money market assets can be combined with a hedged preferred stock portfolio to create a position that has no material chance of loss but expected after-tax returns higher than those on money market investments. In addition, the article also shows the high level of profitability associated with a strategy of increasing the size of liquid reserves in order to allow for losses related to an unhedged preferred stock component of those reserves.
An Epac-dependent pain pathway.

Editor's Note: With this issue, the Journal launches a new feature, Journal Club, that will appear on a regular basis. These short reviews of a recent paper in the Journal , written exclusively by graduate students or postdoctoral fellows, are intended to mimic the journal clubs that exist in your
Magnet/Superconductor Nanostructures

In Magnet/Superconductor Nanostructures it is possible to control magnetism and conductivity at the nanoscale by using localized magnetic fields from structural (dots, stripes, wires) and topological (vortices's, skyrmions and domain walls) textures in magnet and/or superconductor subsystems of the hybrid material. We review experimental and theoretical results in the field of nanostructured magnet/superconductor systems.
Suppression of human peripheral blood mononuclear cell function by methadone and morphine

Recent studies have shown that in vitro exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to morphine results in suppressed respiratory-burst activity of monocytes and impaired interferon-y (IFN-y) production by lymphocytes. To investigate the potential in vivo effect of an opiate on these cell functions, PBMC were obtained from patients maintained on methadone. These freshly isolated mononuclear cells had a significantly impaired capacity to generate superoxide anion (O2") in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), while production of IFN-y by concanavalin A-stimulated cells was intact. After cell culture for 48 h, the defective O2" generating capacity was sustained. Also, culturing PBMC from healthy controls in the presence of methadone or morphine at concentrations as low as 10"12 M caused significant suppression of PMA-stimulated O2' release. Because reactive oxygen intermediates produced by PBMC may participate in host defense against opportunistic pathogens in AIDS, these results underscore the need for investigations of the biological consequences of opiate-mediated immunosuppression. Cell-mediated immunity is dependent upon the integrated activities of T lymphocytes and mononuclear phagocytes. Because this aspect of host defense is altered in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [1], it is imperative to define the impact on cell-mediated immunity of cofactors in the pathogenesis of AIDS. Intravenous drug abuse is a high-risk activity for acquiring HIV infection [2, 3]. While transmission of HIV through sharing of needles is undoubtedly a key factor in the epidemiology of AIDS in drug abusers, a contributory role of opiates in the pathogenesis is suggested by a growing body of evidence indicating that this class of
Cerebral regional oxygen saturation monitoring in pediatric malfunctioning shunt patients

Background Shunt malfunction produces increased intracranial pressure causing decreased cerebral regional perfusion and tissue O2sat. Cerebral regional oxygen saturation (rSO2) by near-infrared spectroscopy represents tissue perfusion and oxygen saturation. Cerebral rSO2 is used to detect cerebral ischemia in pediatric clinical settings.