cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Of pendulums, polymers, and robots: Computational mechanics with constraints

The motion of point masses under the influence of a potential can be computed by simple methods. However, if the trajectories are restricted by mechanical constraints such as strings, rails, crankshafts, and molecular bonds, special numerical techniques must be invoked. The need for efficient computational strategies is particularly pressing for molecular simulations, where large systems of compound molecules are tracked. The best strategy is the use of Cartesian coordinates in combination with constraint forces in the Lagrange formulation. This approach has led to the extremely successful SHAKE and RATTLE algorithms. The same ideas may be profitably applied in very different fields such as robotics, mechanics, and geometry, and the study of chaos in simple systems.
Design of Physics-based EMF Observer for sensorless control of PM synchronous machines

Design of Physics-based EMF Observer for 3-phase surface mounted permanent magnet synchronous machine (SMPMSM) using a physics-based back electromotive force (EMF) observer is presented. The mathematical modeling, stability, and transient analysis of the observer are developed and described in details. The sensorless operation of a 0.2 (kW) SMPMSM is verified numerically and experimentally for medium low and low speeds at different operational contingencies. The results show that despite of the increased noise level and temperature rise due to an over loading condition at low speeds, the speed control and rotor position estimator show great performances.
Plastic bags for collection of gas samples

Abstract Sealed bags fabricated from plastic films are especially applicable to collecting gas samples. Some films found to be compatible with selected gases and vapors are cited. Criteria for judging the storage stability of samples in plastic bags are described. Some suppliers of bags and of materials for fabricating bags are given for the convenience of persons wishing to apply this technique.
Warm-Season Soil-Moisture Deficits in the Southern United States

The interannual variability in warm-season soil-moisture deficits were examined for the Southern United States from 1895-2005. Moisture deficit values are computed using the Thornthwaite/Mather water budget technique. Five soil-moisture deficit regions were identified, each has a distinct pattern and magnitude of deficit. No long-term trends were evident but considerable interannual variability is observed. Severe deficits across the South are associated with high potential evapotranspiration in addition to reduced rainfall. The reduced precipitation across the region is associated with a decrease in frequency rather than any change in intensity. The role of atmospheric indices on affecting deficits, precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration was explored. In particular, the Bermuda High and PNA indices show the strongest correlations with soil-moisture deficits during the warm season.
William C. Patzert Receives 2010 Athelstan Spilhaus Award

[1] William C. Patzert received the Athelstan Spilhaus Award at the 2010 AGU Fall Meeting Honors Ceremony, held on 15 December 2010 in San Francisco, Calif. The award honors “individuals who have devoted portions of their lives to expressing the excitement, significance, and beauty of the Earth and space sciences to the general public.”
Construction and performance of a photobleaching recovery apparatus with microsecond time resolution

Abstract A fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) apparatus was constructed to measure sub-millisecond fluorescence recovery processes in living cells. The photobleaching pulse and probe beams were generated by modulating the intensity of a continuous wave Argon laser (4 W) by two acousto-optic modulators in series. The maximum intensity modulation was > 10 6 :1 with a rise time of t ≈ 15 μ s) which was subtracted for measurement of recoveries of
Native English speakers learning German as a second language: Devoicing of final voiced stop targets

Abstract In contrast to German and other languages that devoice underlying word-final, voiced obstruent targets, English maintains a surface contrast between voiced and voiceless obstruents. The present study investigated the issue of what occurs when native speakers of American English, in an early stage of learning German as a second language (L2), produce word-final voiced and voiceless stop consonant targets in German versus English. The fact that the underlying voicing contrast in German is reflected orthographically (e.g., “To d ” versus “to t ”) might make it more difficult for native speakers of English to learn to devoice German word-final, voiced targets. The findings of this investigation indicate that many of the 12 native English learners of L2 German who were studied showed at least a tendency toward devoicing voiced targets in German relative to their productions of orthographically similar words in English (e.g., “toad” and “tote”). Considerable inter-subject variability was observed, but in general, their partial devoicing in German (relative to their English productions) occurred as a result of producing somewhat shorter vowels before voiced consonant targets and/or less contrast between voiceless versus voiced consonant closure duration. Subjects who produced more characteristically “voiced” consonants when speaking English (i.e., with longer preceding vowel duration, etc.) also tended to devoice German final stops to a lesser extent.
Effect on Restaurant Tipping of a Helpful Message Written on the Back of Customers' Checks

Research has shown that servers can increase their tip percentages by writing “Thank you” or by drawing a happy face on the backs of customers' checks. In the current study, a third approach of this type was tested. An experiment was conducted in which a female server either did or did not write a helpful message about an upcoming dinner special on the backs of checks before delivering them to customers. It was predicted that adding the helpful message would increase tip percentages because of reciprocity, in which customers would tend to respond to the server's “tip” with an increased tip of their own. Results were consistent with this prediction: Mean tip percentages increased from about 17% to 20%.
Experimental Leading-Edge Impingement Cooling Through Racetrack Crossover Holes

Proper and efficient cooling of the turbine airfoil leading edge is imperative in increasing the airfoil life and overall efficiency of the gas turbine. To enhance the heat transfer coefficient in the leading-edge cavities, they are often roughened on three walls with ribs of different geometries. The cooling flow for these geometries usually enters the cavity from the airfoil root and flows radially to the airfoil tip or, in the most recent designs, enters the leading edge cavity from the adjacent cavity through a series of crossover holes on the partition wall between the two cavities. In the latter case, the cross-over jets impinge on a smooth leading-edge wall and exit through the showerhead film holes, “gill” film holes on the pressure and suction sides, and, in some cases, forms a cross-flow in the leading-edge cavity and is ejected through the airfoil tip hole. In this investigation, the impingement heat transfer coefficient was measured on both smooth and roughened leading-edge walls. Most reported studies cover the impingement on a flat smooth surface with round jets. This investigation dealt with two new features in airfoil leading-edge cooling concept: a curved and roughened target surface as well as impingement with racetrack shaped holes. Results of circular crossover jets impinging on the same surface geometries were reported by these authors previously. Experimental heat transfer results are presented for the impingement of racetrack shaped cross-over jets, with major hole (jet) axes at 0° and 45° angles to the cooling cavity’s radial axis, on 1) a smooth curved leading-edge wall, 2) a wall roughened with conical bumps, and 3) a wall roughened with tapered radial ribs. The tests were run for a range of inlet and exit flow arrangements and jet Reynolds numbers and the results were compared with those of round cross-over jets. The major conclusions of this study are: a) racetrack crossover holes are much more efficient than circular holes in cooling of the leading-edge surface, b) the overall heat transfer performance of 0° racetrack cross-over holes is superior to that of 45° racetrack cross-over holes, c) there is a heat transfer enhancement of up to 70% for roughening the target surface, and d) the driving factor in heat transfer enhancement is the increase in surface area.© 2001 ASME
Hypocaloric Lipid Emulsions and Amino Acid Metabolism in Injured Rats

The present study was designed to determine the degree and mechanism by which administration of medium-chain triglyceride emulsions spare body protein after injury. Forty male rats underwent venous catheterization and received nonsterile bilateral femur fractures. All rats received 2.5 g/day amino acids and either no additional calories (group I) or 20 kcal/day of either glucose (group II), a long-chain triglyceride emulsion (group III), a medium-chain triglyceride emulsion (group IV), or a structured lipid emulsion composed of 40% sunflower oil and 60% medium-chain triglycerides (group V). The diets were administered for 3 days, and rates of plasma leucine flux, oxidation, and incorporation into protein as well as tissue protein synthetic rates in liver and muscle were measured using the constant infusion of L-[1-14C]leucine. Results demonstrated that the administration of glucose or various lipid emulsions improved cumulative nitrogen balance significantly when compared to a diet containing amino acids alone. In addition, the administration of glucose or lipid emulsions significantly stimulated protein synthesis in liver and muscle. Moreover, a structured lipid emulsion of medium- and long-chain fatty acids produced significant increases in liver protein synthesis greater than that observed with either glucose or long-chain triglyceride emulsions. We conclude that added energy as fat or glucose reduces net protein catabolism and improves tissue protein synthesis in these injures rats and that lipid emulsions are as effective as dextrose. A structured triglyceride emulsion synthesized from medium- and long-chain fatty acids appears to better support hepatic protein synthesis.
INOS signaling interacts with COX-2 pathway in colonic fibroblasts

COX-2 and iNOS are two major inflammatory mediators implicated in colorectal inflammation and cancer. Previously, the role of colorectal fibroblasts involved in regulation of COX-2 and iNOS expression was largely ignored. In addition, the combined interaction of COX-2 and iNOS signalings and their significance in the progression of colorectal inflammation and cancer within the fibroblasts have received little investigation. To address those issues, we investigated the role of colonic fibroblasts in the regulation of COX-2 and iNOS gene expression, and explored possible mechanisms of interaction between COX-2 and iNOS signalings using a colonic CCD-18Co fibroblast line and LPS, a potential stimulator of COX-2 and iNOS. Our results clearly demonstrated that LPS activated COX-2 gene expression and enhanced PGE(2) production, stimulated iNOS gene expression and promoted NO production in the fibroblasts. Interestingly, activation of COX-2 signaling by LPS was not involved in activation of iNOS signaling, while activation of iNOS signaling by LPS contributed in part to activation of COX-2 signaling. Further analysis indicated that PKC plays a major role in the activation and interaction of COX-2 and iNOS signalings induced by LPS in the fibroblasts.
The effects of mitochondrial complex I blockade on ATP and permeability in rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in culture (PMVEC) are overcome by coenzyme Q1 (CoQ1).

Abstract In isolated rat lung perfused with a physiological saline solution (5.5 mM glucose), complex I inhibitors decrease lung tissue ATP and increase endothelial permeability (Kf), effects that are overcome using an amphipathic quinone (CoQ1) [Free Radic. Biol. Med. 65:1455–1463; 2013]. To address the microvascular endothelial contribution to these intact lung responses, rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in culture (PMVEC) were treated with the complex I inhibitor rotenone and ATP levels and cell monolayer permeability (PS) were measured. There were no detectable effects on ATP or permeability in experimental medium that, like the lung perfusate, contained 5.5 mM glucose. To unmask a potential mitochondrial contribution, the glucose concentration was lowered to 0.2 mM. Under these conditions, rotenone decreased ATP from 18.4±1.6 (mean±SEM) to 4.6±0.8 nmol/mg protein, depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) from −129.0±3.7 (mean±SEM) to −92.8±5.5 mV, and decreased O2 consumption from 2.0±0.1 (mean±SEM) to 0.3±0.1 nmol/min/mg protein. Rotenone also increased PMVEC monolayer permeability (reported as PS in nl/min) to FITC–dextran (~40 kDa) continually over a 6 h time course. When CoQ1 was present with rotenone, normal ATP (17.4±1.4 nmol/mg protein), O2 consumption (1.5±0.1 nmol/min/mg protein), Δψm (−125.2±3.3 mV), and permeability (PS) were maintained. Protective effects of CoQ1 on rotenone-induced changes in ATP, O2 consumption rate, Δψm, and permeability were blocked by dicumarol or antimycin A, inhibitors of the quinone-mediated cytosol–mitochondria electron shuttle [Free Radic. Biol. Med. 65:1455–1463; 2013]. Key rotenone effects without and with CoQ1 were qualitatively reproduced using the alternative complex I inhibitor, piericidin A. We conclude that, as in the intact lung, PMVEC ATP supply is linked to the permeability response to complex I inhibitors. In contrast to the intact lung, the association in PMVEC was revealed only after decreasing the glucose concentration in the experimental medium from 5.5 to 0.2 mM.
Increasing 11th grader's interest in STEM majors via a NAE Grand Challenge: Securing cyberspace-themed project

This paper will explore a project associated with the National Science Foundation STEM GK-12 Program at Drexel University titled "Catalyzing STEM Education via the NAE Grand Challenges" (http://www.engineeringchallenges.org) that serves to address the need for more STEM educated workers. Specifically, the Drexel NSF STEM GK-12 program pairs ten College of Engineering graduate students (Fellows) with ten School District of Philadelphia high school teachers to help introduce engineering concepts to high school students through the context of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) Grand Challenges. This work in progress explores a high school project facilitated by a fellow/teacher partnership at the Philadelphia High School for Girls, an all-girls urban school. There are about 70 general education 11th grade students in environmental science classes participating in this project. The goal of the project is to increase awareness and interest for STEM fields in the students as well as increase awareness of privacy issues relating to electronic media/devices.
Cause and essence

Essence and causation are fundamental in metaphysics, but little is said about their relations. Some essential properties are of course causal, as it is essential to footprints to have been caused by feet. But I am interested less in causation's role in essence than the reverse: the bearing a thing's essence has on its causal powers. That essencemight make a causal contribution is hinted already by the counterfactual element in causation; and the hint is confirmed by the explanation essence offers of something otherwise mysterious, namely, how events exactly alike in every ordinary respect, like the bolt'ssuddenly snapping and its snapping per se, manage to disagree in what they cause. Some prior difference must exist between these events to make their causal powers unlike. Paradoxically, though, it can only be in point of a property, suddenness, which both events possess in common. Only by postulating a difference in themanner — essential or accidental — of the property's possession is the paradox resolved. Next we need an account of causation in which essence plays an explicit determinative role. That account, based on the idea that causes should becommensurate with their effects, is thatx causesy only if nothing essentially poorer would have done, and nothing essentially richer was needed.
Challenging the notion of innate phonetic boundaries.

Numerous studies of infants’ speech perception abilities have demonstrated that these young listeners have access to acoustic detail in the speech signal. Because these studies have used stimuli that could be described in terms of adult-defined phonetic categories, authors have concluded that infants innately recognize stimuli as members of these categories, as adults do. In fact, the predominant, current view of speech perception holds that infants are born with sensitivities for the universal set of phonetic boundaries, and that those boundaries supported by the ambient language are maintained, while those not supported by the ambient language dissolve. In this study, discrimination abilities of 46 infants and 75 3-year-olds were measured for several phonetic contrasts occurring in their native language, using natural and synthetic speech. The proportion of children who were able to discriminate any given contrast varied across contrasts, and no one contrast was discriminated by anything close to all of the children. While these results did not differ from those reported by others, the interpretation here is that we should reconsider the notion of innate phonetic categories and/or boundaries. Moreover, success rates did not differ for natural and synthetic speech, and so a minor conclusion was that children are not adversely affected by the use of synthetic stimuli in speech experiments.
Results of large-caliber internal urethrotomy

Abstract Thirty-five patients undergoing internal urethrotomy for urethral stricture disease were reviewed retrospectively. Eight patients had conventional urethrotomies (less than 36 F) while 27 had large-caliber urethrotomies (greater than 40 F). Large-caliber urethrotomy tends to give longer symptom free intervals immediately postoperatively, but long-term results show little difference between the two groups.
Measurements and analysis of sidemode noise for a diode laser in an external grating cavity

We measure variations in optical and radio frequency (rf) noise for a diode laser operating single mode in an external grating cavity (EGC). The laser operates at fixed current and temperature; and its frequency is varied within a single EGC mode by changing the length of the EGC using a piezo-electric transducer. The major features of the rf noise spectrum are a doublet occurring near the EGC mode separation, and its multiples, and a low frequency rf continuum in the 0-100 MHz frequency range. The optical spectrum, which is measured using a scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer, consists of the lasing mode and subthreshold nonlasing sidemodes. The origin of these sidemodes is four-wave mixing in the laser crystal. As the laser frequency is varied within a given EGC mode, the features of the rf spectra and the optical sidemode spectra all vary systematically. Some of the observed variations can be explained simply and others cannot.
Relationship of psychological, demographic, and legal variables to court decisions of competency to stand trial among mentally retarded criminal defendants

Abstract Competency to stand trial is a constitutional requirement of the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. In the criminal justice system, psychologists play a crucial role in the determination of a defendant’s competency whenever the issue is raised during a criminal trial. This study of 288 criminal defendants diagnosed as mentally retarded explores the construct validity of competency to stand trial by examining the potential contributing factors in psychologists’diagnoses of mental retardation and its relationship to the judges’decisions on competency to stand trial. The results showed that the most important predictor of judges’ decisions on competency to stand trial was psychologists’ evaluations. Defendants’ criminal history and prior experience of incompetency adjudication were also correlated with judges’ adjudications on competency of current charges. A defendant was less likely to be adjudicated as competent to stand trial if he or she previously had been found incompetent to stand trial. Demographic variables such as race had no relationship to judges’ decisions.
Variational formulation of particle algorithms for kinetic plasma simulations

Abstract Common time-explicit numerical methods for kinetic simulations of plasmas in the low-collisions limit fall into two classes of algorithms: momentum conserving (also known as particle-in-cell (PIC)) and energy conserving. Each has certain drawbacks. The PIC algorithm does not conserve total energy, which may lead to spurious numerical heating (grid heating). Its overall accuracy is at most second due to the nature of the force interpolation between grid and particle position. Energy-conserving algorithms do not exhibit grid heating, but because their formulation uses potentials, computationally undesirable matrix inversions may be necessary. In addition, compared to PIC algorithms for the same accuracy, these algorithms have higher numerical noise due to the restricted choice of particle shapes. Here we formulate time-explicit, finite-size particle algorithms using particular reductions of the particle distribution function. These reductions are used in two variational principles, a Lagrangian-based and a Hamiltonian-based in conjunction with a non-canonical Poisson bracket. The Lagrangian formulations here generalize previous such formulations. The Hamiltonian formulation is presented here for the first time. Many drawbacks of the two classes of particle methods are mitigated. For example, restrictions on particle shapes are relaxed in energy conserving algorithms, which can decrease the numerical noise in these methods. The Hamiltonian formulation of particle algorithms is done in terms of fields instead of potentials, thus avoiding solving Poisson’s equation. An algorithm that conserves both energy and momentum is presented. Other features of the algorithms include a natural way to perform coordinate transformations, the use of various time integrating methods, and the ability to increase the overall accuracy beyond second order, including all generalizations. For clarity of presentation, we restrict our discussion to one-dimensional, non-relativistic, unmagnetized, electrostatic plasmas.
Analysis of mathematical models used in data extrapolation.

(1976). Analysis of Mathematical Models Used in Data Extrapolation. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 9, No. 5, pp. 791-797.
Making Space for Experimentation, Collaboration, and Play: Re-imagining the Drop-in Visitor Experience

In late 2006, the Columbus Museum of Art education department adopted a new framework that established creativity as the lens for learning and visitor experiences. But what does creativity look like in a gallery experience? What are visitor attitudes toward creativity? This article explores how the drop-in visitor experience was reimagined at the museum.
Quantitated Trauma Following Radial Keratotomy in Rabbits

Radial keratotomy was performed in 33 rabbits using an eight-incision technique. At various postoperative intervals up to 90 days, these eyes were enucleated and subjected to increasing quantitated trauma until ocular rupture occurred. Control animals (13 eyes) were subjected to similar trauma. The eyes that had surgery required approximately 50% of the control energy to rupture over the 90-day period ( P P = 0.02). Consistent rupture patterns resulted, both grossly and microscopically.
Designing fecal pellet surveys for snowshoe hares

Abstract Index methods can be valuable for monitoring forest-dwelling vertebrates over broad spatial or temporal scales. Fecal pellet counts are often used as an index of density or habitat use of snowshoe hares, Lepus americanus , but previous surveys have used different plot types and sample sizes, leading to problems comparing results from different studies and questions about the inferential power of each study. In this paper, we use field data and simulations to examine how the precision, bias, and efficiency of four commonly used plot types vary with plot type, pellet density, and sample size. Although no one plot type was consistently superior, we recommend thin rectangles (5.08 cm × 305 cm (2 in. × 10 ft), 0.155 m 2 ) or 1 m 2 circles over 0.155 m 2 circles or 10 cm × 10 m (1 m 2 ) rectangles. We recommend that researchers explicitly address the power of their survey design to detect different pellet densities, because much larger sample sizes are needed at low pellet densities than at high pellet densities to obtain similar precision. Small sample sizes are also much more likely to be biased, which could lead to incorrect inferences about management of snowshoe hare populations. Both uncleared and cleared plots performed well and will have value in different research contexts.
Cervical myelopathy from calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition: a case report

Calcification of the ligamentum flavum secondary to calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) deposition may be a rare cause of cervical myelopathy. We present a 56-year-old man with spinal stenosis secondary to CPPD disease and subacute cervical myelopathy following minor trauma. The patient had no history of CPPD disease. Posterior C4-C6 decompression and instrumented fusion were performed. Intraoperative findings were densely thickened ligamentum flavum and distortion of the cervical dura mater due to impingement. Histological sections of discs and ligamentum flavum specimens showed CPPD crystals. Postoperatively, neck pain and paresthesias improved immediately. At 2 weeks after spinal surgery, the patient experienced acute right knee swelling. Standard radiographs showed chondrocalcinosis of the knee menisci.
Dopamine, schizophrenia, mania, and depression: Toward a unified hypothesis of cortico-striatopallido-thalamic function

Considerable evidence from preclinical and clinical investigations implicates disturbances of brain dopamine (DA) function in the pathophysiology of several psychiatric and neurologic disorders. We describe a neural model that may help organize theseindependent experimental observations. Cortical regions classically associated with the limbic system interact with infracortical structures, including the nucleus accumbens, ventral pallidum, and dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus. In our model, overactivity in forebrain DA systems results in the loss of lateral inhibitory interactions in the nucleus accumbens, causing disinhibition of pallidothalamic efferents; this in turn causes rapid changes and a loss of focused corticothalamic activity in cortical regions controlling cognitive and emotional processes. These effects might be manifested clinically by some symptoms of psychoses. Underactivity of forebrain DA results in excess lateral inhibition in the nucleus accumbens, causing tonic inhibition of pallidothalamic efferents; this perpetuates tonic corticothalamic activity and prevents the initiation of new activity in other critical cortical regions. These effects might be manifested clinically by some symptoms of depression. This model parallels existing explanations for the etiology of several movement disorders, and may lead to testable inferences regarding the neural substrates of specific psychopathologies.
Experimental and clinical evaluation of synthetic anti-histaminic drugs.

Abstract β-dimethylaminoethyl benzhydryl ether hydrochloride (benadryl) and pyridil-N′-benzyl-N-dimethylethylenediamine (pyribenzamine) are two new synthetic substances possessing marked anti-histaminic and anti-anaphylactic properties. They are being used in many allergic disorders with varying degrees of success. Side effects are frequent and varied, limiting the dosage employed. Both drugs appear most successful in controlling the lesions of urticarial dermatoses, and are of value in other conditions in which an anti-pruritic effect is desirable. Their action in allergic rhinitis and seasonal hay fever is less definite. Beneficial results in asthma are questionable. Where successful, the action of both compounds is of a palliative and not of a curative nature. Their effect is of relatively brief duration, and symptoms almost invariably recur a short time after withdrawal. The importance of determining allergic factors responsible in each case is not diminished by their use.
Perspective on the applications of NMR in nutrition

Abstract NMR spectroscopy is currently a powerful analytical technique for the evaluation of critical metabolic, nutritional and physiological processes, both in vitro and in vivo . Key metabolic pathways can be investigated non-destructively in tissue extracts, isolated cells and intact perfused organs. With recently developed spectroscopic imaging techniques, NMR applications have been extended to non-invasive studies of metabolic processes in specific tissues and organs of intact animals and humans. This review presents a perspective on 3 H NMR techniques for the detailed evaluation of protein structure, 31 P NMR methods for studying energy metabolism, 13 C NMR for the detailed study of intermediary metabolism, and 19 F NMR for studying specific metabolic processes.
Estimation and decision for linear systems with elliptical random processes

A random variable is said to have elliptical distribution if its probability density is a function of a quadratic form. This class includes the Gaussian and many other useful densities in statistics. It is shown in this paper that this class of densities can be expressed as integrals of a set of Gaussian densities. This property is not changed under linear transformation of the random variables. It is also proved in this paper that the conditional expectation is linear with exactly the same form as the Gaussian case. Many estimation results of the Gaussian case can be readily extended. Problems of computing optimal estimation, filtering, stochastic control, and team decisions in various linear systems become tractable for this class of random processes.
Anti-β2-glycoprotein I antibodies do not increase TF activity by de-encryption

Abbreviations: TF, tissue factor; LPS, lipopolysaccharide; BS, 20 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4; APS, antiphospholipid yndrome; h2GPI, h2-glycoprotein I; PEG, polyethylene glycol; BS, phosphate-buffered saline. * Corresponding author. Department of Pathology and Laboatory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 16A Brinkhous Bullitt Building, CB #7525, Chapel Hill, NC 27599525, USA. Tel.: +1-919-966-2617; fax: +1-919-966-6718. E-mail address: alisa_wolberg@med.unc.edu (A.S. Wolberg). H s P
A Unique 33-kD Cysteine Proteinase Accumulates in Response to Larval Feeding in Maize Genotypes Resistant to Fall Armyworm and Other Lepidoptera

Plants respond to insect feeding with a number of defense mechanisms. Using maize genotypes derived from Antiquan germ plasm that are resistant to Lepidoptera, we have demonstrated that a unique 33-kD cysteine proteinase accumulates in the whorl in response to larval feeding. The abundance of the proteinase increased dramatically at the site of larval feeding after 1 hr of infestation and continued to accumulate for as long as 7 days. The 33-kD cysteine proteinase was most abundant in the yellow-green portion of the whorl—the normal site of larval feeding and the tissue that has the greatest inhibitory effect on larval growth in bioassays. The proteinase was expressed in response to wounding and was found in senescent leaves. It may be a marker of programmed cell death. The gene coding for the proteinase, mir1, has been transformed into Black Mexican Sweet callus. When larvae were reared on callus expressing the proteinase, their growth was inhibited ∼60 to 80%. The expression of a cysteine proteinase, instead of a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, may be a novel insect defense mechanism in plants.
PTSD Symptoms in Young Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence

Intimate partner violence (IPV) places infants and young children at risk for development of trauma symptoms. However, this is an understudied consequence of IPV because young children pose particular difficulties for assessment of trauma symptoms. The authors collected maternal reports on mothers' and children's posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and IPV yearly, from ages 1 to 7. Approximately half of the children exposed to IPV at each time period developed some trauma symptoms, and frequency of IPV witnessed was associated with PTSD symptoms. Maternal and child PTSD symptoms were correlated, suggesting that young children may be particularly vulnerable to relational PTSD due to their close physical and emotional relationship with their parents.
Transforming Growth Factor β/Smad3 Signaling Regulates IRF-7 Function and Transcriptional Activation of the Beta Interferon Promoter

The rapid induction of alpha interferon (IFN-alpha) and IFN-beta expression plays a critical role in the innate immune response against viral infection. We studied the effects of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and its intracellular effectors, the Smads, on the function of IRF-7, an essential transcription factor for IFN-alpha and -beta induction. IRF-7 interacted with Smads, and IRF-7, but not IRF-3, cooperated with Smad3 to activate IFN-beta transcription. This transcriptional cooperation occurred at the IRF-binding sequences in the IFN-beta promoter, and dominant-negative interference with TGF-beta receptor signaling and Smad3 function decreased IRF-7-mediated transcription. Furthermore, elimination of Smad3 expression in Smad3(-/-) fibroblasts delayed and decreased double-stranded RNA-induced expression of endogenous IFN-beta, whereas restoration of Smad3 expression enhanced IFN-beta induction. The IRF-7-Smad3 cooperativity resulted from the regulation of the transactivation activity of IRF-7 by Smad3, and dominant-negative interference with Smad3 function decreased IRF-7 activity. Consistent with the regulation by Smad3, the transcriptional activity of IRF-7 depended on and was regulated by TGF-beta signaling. Our studies underscore a role of TGF-beta/Smad3 signaling in IRF-7-mediated induction of IFN-beta expression.
Social and Political Cultural Effects on the Outcomes of Mediation in Militarized Interstate Disputes

The article investigates the relationship between cultural similarities and differences on the part of the representatives of contending states and mediators, and outcomes of mediation efforts in militarized disputes. A distinction is made between social culture, defined primarily in terms of religious identity, and political culture, defined according to the state's political system. Analysis of 752 mediation attempts in militarized disputes occurring between 1945 and 1995 yields support for the hypothesis that mediation is more likely to succeed when the parties are from similar social cultures. The results, however, suggest that the relationship is more complex than that suggested by a simple categorization of states based on Huntington's “clash of civilizations” thesis. We also find that mediation is more likely to succeed when the parties share democratic political cultures, a finding that is consistent with the cultural/normative explanation for the democratic peace.
Narrow-waisted Gaussian beam discretization for short-pulse radiation from one-dimensional large apertures

We develop a Gabor-based Gaussian beam (GB) algorithm for representing two-dimensional (2-D) radiation from finite aperture distributions with short-pulse excitation in the time domain (TD). The work extends previous results using 2-D frequency-domain (FD) narrow-waisted Gaussian beams. The FD algorithm evolves from the rigorous Kirchhoff integration over the aperture distribution, which is then parameterized via the discrete Gabor basis and evaluated asymptotically for high frequencies to furnish the GB propagators to the observer. The TD results are obtained by Fourier inversion from the FD and yield pulsed beams (PB). We describe the resulting TD algorithm for several aperture distributions, ranging from simple linearly phased (linear delay) to arbitrary time delay profiles; the latter accommodate the important case of focusing TD aperture fields. For modulated pulses with Gaussian envelopes, we compute accurate closed form analytic solutions, which have been calibrated against numerical reference data. Our results confirm that the previously established utility of the Gabor-based narrow-waisted FD-GB algorithm for radiation from distributed apertures remains intact in the TD.
The Sleep-Modulating Peptide Cortistatin Augments the h-Current in Hippocampal Neurons

Cortistatin (CST) is a sleep-modulating peptide found exclusively in the brain. Although CST is closely related to somatostatin (SST) and binds to SST receptors, CST has effects on sleep and neuronal activity in cortex and hippocampus that differ from SST. To uncover the cellular mechanisms affected by CST, we studied the electrophysiological postsynaptic effects of CST and assessed its interaction with SST on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. CST altered intrinsic membrane properties and occluded SST effects, indicating that both peptides similarly augment the sustained K+ M- and leak-currents (IM and IK(L)). In the presence of SST, however, CST elicited an additional inwardly rectifying component in the hyperpolarized range. This effect was unaffected by barium, used to block K+ currents, but was completely prevented by the selective h-current (Ih) blocker ZD7288. CST, but not SST, selectively increased Ih in a concentration-dependent manner by augmenting its maximum conductance. CST did not shift the Ih activation curve, and the peptide effect was unaffected by a membrane-permeable analog of cAMP. We conclude that CST and SST similarly increase K+ conductances in hippocampal neurons, most likely by activating SST receptors. However, CST additionally augments Ih, a voltage-dependent current that plays a key role in the modulation of synaptic integration and regulates oscillatory activity. Our results indicate that CST targets a specific conductance unaffected by SST to modulate cellular mechanisms implicated in sleep regulation.
Hydrogen storage characteristics of nanograined free-standing magnesium-nickel films

Free-standing magnesium–nickel (Mg–Ni) films with extensive nanoscale grain structures were fabricated using a combination of pulsed laser deposition and film delaminating processes. Hydrogen sorption and desorption properties of the films, free from the influence of substrates, were investigated. Oxidation of the material was reduced through the use of a sandwiched free-standing film structure in which the top and bottom layers consist of nanometer-thick Pd layers, which also acted as a catalyst to promote hydrogen uptake and release. Hydrogen storage characteristics were studied at three temperatures, 296, 232, and 180°C, where multiple sorption/desorption cycles were measured gravimetrically. An improvement in hydrogen storage capacity over the bulk Mg–Ni target material was found for the free-standing films. As shown from a Van’t Hoff plot, the thermodynamic stability of the nanograined films is similar to that of Mg2Ni. These results suggest that free-standing films, of which better control of material compositions and microstructures can be realized than is possible for conventional ball-milled powders, represent a useful materials platform for solid-state hydrogen storage research.
Gator's Adventures: A Lesson in Literacy and Community.

This article describes a take-home literacy project in which kindergartners took home books, a stuffed animal, a camera, and a shared writing activity to complete with their families. The children later shared their writing and experiences in school. The resulting written responses and photographs depicted a level of involvement with the families that was not expected. At the end of the year, the writings and photographs were collected and each child was given a book that included all of children's writings and photographs. These books became treasured keepsakes of their year in kindergarten and a wonderful artifact not only of reading and writing for relevant purposes but also of a meaningful home activity that became a community-building project as well.
Muscular Christianity and its makers: sporting monks and churchmen in Anglo-Norman society, 1000-1300.

(1984). Muscular Christianity and its makers: sporting monks and churchmen in Anglo‐Norman society, 1000–1300. The International Journal of the History of Sport: Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 109-124.
Oxidation Kinetics of Cu-Ni Alloy Observed by in situ UHV-TEM

The nucleation and growth of Cu2O and NiO islands due to oxidation of Cu-24%Ni(001) films were monitored at various temperatures by in situ ultra-high vacuum (UHV) transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In remarkable contrast to our previous observations of Cu and Cu-Au oxidation, irregular-shaped polycrystalline oxide islands were observed to form with respect to the Cu-Ni alloy film, and an unusual second oxide nucleation stage was noted. Similar to Cu oxidation, the cross-sectional area growth rate of the oxide island is linear indicating oxygen surface diffusion is the primary mechanism of oxide growth.
PARSE: a tool for parallel application run time sensitivity evaluation

Run time variability of parallel application codes continues to be a significant challenge in clusters. We are studying run time variability at the communication level from the perspective of the application, focusing on the network. To gain insight into this problem our earlier work developed a tool to emulate parallel applications and in particular their communication. This framework, called parallel application communication emulation (PACE) has produced interesting insights regarding network performance in NOW clusters. A parallel application run time sensitivity evaluation (PARSE) function has been added to the PACE framework to study the run time effects of controlled network performance degradation. This paper introduces PARSE and presents experimental results from tests conducted on several widely used parallel benchmarks and application code fragments. The results suggest that parallel applications can be classified in terms of their sensitivity to network performance variation.
Characterizing alloy additions to carbon high-nitrogen steel:

AbstractAlloy compositions are designed for specific industrial needs and applications. In this study, alloying elements that are known to enhance specific material properties of commercial Fe-Cr-Ni stainless steels were found to be similarly successful when added to Fe-15Cr-15Mn stainless steels. Unique to this study is the alloy addition of both carbon and nitrogen in excess of approximately 0.4 wt%. The nitrogen and carbon remained as interstitials without the formation of nitride or carbide precipitates even in carbon and nitrogen concentrations as high as 2wt%. Nitrogen and carbon alloying increased hardness, strength (σYIELD 850 MPa and σTMAX 2 GPa), toughness and wear resistance. Precipitate formers such as niobium and solid solution additives such as silicon and molybdenum enhanced σYIELD but to a much smaller extent than interstitial alloying. Additions of silicon and molybdenum significantly improved oxidation protection at all temperatures and are necessary to prevent spallation at temperatures...
High CJD infectivity remains after prion protein is destroyed

The hypothesis that host prion protein (PrP) converts into an infectious prion form rests on the observation that infectivity progressively decreases in direct proportion to the decrease of PrP with proteinase K (PK) treatment. PrP that resists limited PK digestion (PrP-res, PrP(sc)) has been assumed to be the infectious form, with speculative types of misfolding encoding the many unique transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) agent strains. Recently, a PK sensitive form of PrP has been proposed as the prion. Thus we re-evaluated total PrP (sensitive and resistant) and used a cell-based assay for titration of infectious particles. A keratinase (NAP) known to effectively digest PrP was compared to PK. Total PrP in FU-CJD infected brain was reduced to ≤0.3% in a 2 h PK digest, yet there was no reduction in titer. Remaining non-PrP proteins were easily visualized with colloidal gold in this highly infectious homogenate. In contrast to PK, NAP digestion left 0.8% residual PrP after 2 h, yet decreased titer by >2.5 log; few residual protein bands remained. FU-CJD infected cells with 10× the infectivity of brain by both animal and cell culture assays were also evaluated. NAP again significantly reduced cell infectivity (>3.5 log). Extreme PK digestions were needed to reduce cell PrP to <0.2%, yet a very high titer of 8 logs survived. Our FU-CJD brain results are in good accord with the only other report on maximal PrP destruction and titer. It is likely that one or more residual non-PrP proteins may protect agent nucleic acids in infectious particles.
A Review of Non-halogen Flame Retardants in Epoxy-Based Composites and Nanocomposites: Flame Retardancy and Rheological Properties

Since more environmental regulations restricted to the use of halogen-based flame retardants are issued the halogen-free flame retardants have been gradually increased in demand at electronics applications. Several DOPO derivatives and recently developed phosphorus containing flame retardants are introduced into the market as a counterpart of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBA). This short review paper focuses on their flame retardancy and material properties in epoxy resins. The inclusions of inorgano-metallic compounds and nanoparticles are also briefly reviewed for their potential opportunities in the epoxy composites.
Montage and the interpretation of literature

(1952). Montage and the interpretation of literature. Central States Speech Journal: Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 15-17.
Interframe image coding with 3-dimensional edge detection

A new predictor has been developed for interframe image coding. This predictor uses a three-dimensional edge detection technique to predict the present pixel from the three previous frames. The assumption in this research is that the motion is approximately linear within a few frames in the normal videophone sequences. The three-dimensional (spatio-temporal) gradient vector is estimated, using three-dimensional edge operator masks; the tangent plane to this vector is then calculated and projected to the current frame, which is two time units behind the center pixel of the 3-d edge masks. The prediction pixel is found in the previous frame along the intersection with the tangent plane. The masks in the spatial domain are enlarged when the prediction value is not close to the center pixel two frames behind. The comparison with the Netravali pixel recursion method shows that the mean square errors are lower at similar bit rates in most of the frames tested. >