cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract P306: Increase of the Inflammatory Burden at a Young Age in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Introduction: Age and inflammation both are considered risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD) and the levels of inflammatory markers increase with aging. However, the role of age-induced inflammatory burden in CAD development is not fully understood. We investigated the trajectories of inflammatory markers with increasing age in subjects with or without CAD. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the rate of increase in inflammatory markers as a function of age would depend on the presence of CAD and differ between subjects with and without CAD. Methods: Systemic inflammatory burden was assessed by levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA) and fibrinogen in Caucasians (n=184) and African-Americans (n=154) (age range: 20-60 years). The presence of CAD was defined as the presence of ≥50% stenosis in any one of 15 coronary artery segments. Results: The prevalence of CAD was 46% (85 of 184) and 38% (58 of 154) in Caucasians and African-Americans, respectively. In both ethnic groups, subjects...
Shifting Administrative Burdens: An Examination of Iowa's Medicaid Payment Rules on Specialized Wheelchairs for Nursing Facility Residents

This white paper describes research done in the University of Iowa College of Law Clinical Law Program on Iowa's Medicaid payment rules for assistive technology for nursing home residents. Customized power wheelchairs provide elderly and disabled nursing facility residents with the freedom of independent mobility. Without this specialized equipment, residents may be bedridden, reliant on facility staff for mobility, and at risk for developing painful and dangerous pressure ulcers. In Iowa, and in other states with the minority rule, DHS Medicaid rules place the initial burden of paying for this expensive equipment on the nursing facilities. Often, facilities refuse to pay or simply cannot afford to do so, leaving residents without medically necessary life-improving equipment. Minnesota’s rule, on the other hand, allows a Medicaid recipient to receive direct reimbursement so long as the requested item is medically necessary and will be used exclusively by that recipient. A majority of states have adopted a rule like Minnesota’s. The majority rule is more efficient and avoids creating an adversarial relationship between the care giving facility and the resident. Medicaid recipients in Iowa nursing facilities can receive direct reimbursement only after applying for an exception to the default policy. Iowa DHS should embrace the exception as the rule and improve its Medicaid wheelchair reimbursement policy for nursing facility residents by adopting the superior majority payment rule.
Dynamic transition relation simplification for bounded property checking

Bounded model checking (BMC) is an incomplete property checking method that is based on a finite unfolding of the transition relation to disprove the correctness of a set of properties or to prove them for a limited execution length from the initial states. Current BMC techniques repeatedly concatenate the original transition relation to unfold the circuit with increasing depths. In this paper we present a method that is based on a dual unfolding scheme. The first unfolding is non-initialized and progressively simplifies concatenated frames of the transition relation. The tail of the simplified frames is then applied in the second unfolding, which starts from the initial state and checks the properties. We use a circuit graph representation for all functions and perform simplification by merging vertices that are functionally equivalent under given input constraints. In the noninitialized unfolding, previous time frames progressively tighten these constraints thus leading to an asymptotic simplification of the transition relation. As a side benefit, our method can find inductive invariants constructively by detecting when vertices are functionally equivalent across time frames. This information is then used to further simplify the transition relation and, in some cases, prove unbounded correctness of properties. Our experiments using industrial property checking problems demonstrate that the presented method significantly improves the efficiency of BMC.
An Experimental Analysis of the Effect of Usefulness and Incentives on Knowledge Contribution and Reuse

Knowledge management systems (KMS) are an important component of implementing successful knowledge management initiatives in organizations. In order for such systems to achieve their intended benefit, it is important that the knowledge workers both contribute knowledge to the systems, and that they reuse knowledge which has been contributed by others. It has previously been shown that there is often reluctance on the part of employees to participate in both of these activities. This study explores the effect of the usefulness of a knowledge management system and incentives on intention to contribute and reuse knowledge, controlling for tolerance of ambiguity. The results of a pilot laboratory study measuring the effects of usefulness and incentives on intention to contribute and reuse knowledge are presented in this paper.
On the Construction of Coprime Factorization of Nonlinear Feedback Control Systems

In this paper, we present a new approach for constructing left and right coprime factorizations for a large class of (stable and unstable) nonlinear feedback control systems developed recently by the authors [7], under relatively weak conditions. The coprime factorization under investigation here was formulated by Hammer mer [14]. We will describe the proposed constructive scheme for obtaining explicit and closed-form solutions. The same technique presented in this paper works also for the left coprime factorization for a class of nonlinear control systems described by standard vector-valued nonlinear ordinary differential equations formulated by Verma [20], which has been demonstrated in the authors' [6].
Adhesion and Degranulation-Promoting Adapter Protein (ADAP) Positively Regulates T Cell Sensitivity to Antigen and T Cell Survival

The hemopoietic specific adapter protein ADAP (adhesion and degranulation-promoting adapter protein) positively regulates TCR-dependent, integrin-mediated adhesion and participates in signaling pathways downstream of the TCR that result in T cell activation. The specific role of ADAP in regulating Ag-dependent T cell interactions with APCs and T cell activation following Ag stimulation is not known. We used ADAP-/- DO11.10 T cells to demonstrate that ADAP promotes T cell conjugation to Ag-laden APCs. Complementary in vitro and in vivo approaches reveal that ADAP controls optimal T cell proliferation, cytokine production, and expression of the prosurvival protein Bcl-xL in response to limiting Ag doses. Furthermore, ADAP is critical for clonal expansion in vivo independent of Ag concentration under conditions of low clonal abundance. These results suggest that ADAP regulates T cell activation by promoting Ag-dependent T cell-APC interactions, resulting in enhanced T cell sensitivity to Ag, and by participating in prosurvival signaling pathways initiated by Ag stimulation.
Function of T4 gene 55: II. RNA synthesis by temperature-sensitive gene 55 mutants

Abstract T4 protein-dependent late messenger RNA and DNA synthesizing capacities accumulate simultaneously between 7 and 11 minutes after infection at 30 °C. While actual DNA replication starts at six to eight minutes after infection, late messenger RNA is first observed at 11 to 12 minutes after infection (i.e. 4 to 5 min after the first appearance of the proteins required for the early-late switch). This lag probably reflects the time intervening between the initiation of DNA synthesis and the formation of the first late transcription competent template. T4 gene 55 product exerts a positive, continuous and probably direct control on late transcription. Shift-up to 43 °C of cells infected by a gene 55 temperature-sensitive mutant ( ts 553) leads to an arrest in late transcription within three minutes. Under the same conditions, lysozyme synthesis drops by an order of magnitude in about 15 minutes. If cells infected by ts 553 at 43 °C are shifted to 30 °C, late transcription resumes immediately even if protein synthesis is inhibited by the addition of chloramphenicol.
Surface Solar Radiation in North America: A Comparison of Observations, Reanalyses, Satellite, and Derived Products

AbstractObservations of daily surface solar or shortwave radiation data from over 4000 stations have been gathered, covering much of the continental United States as well as portions of Alberta and British Columbia, Canada. The quantity of data increases almost linearly from 1998, when only several hundred stations had data. A quality-control procedure utilizing threshold values along with computing the clear-sky radiation envelope for individual stations was implemented to both screen bad data and rescue informative data. Over two-thirds of the observations are seen as acceptable. There are 15 different surface solar radiation products assessed relative to observations, including reanalyses [Twentieth-Century Reanalysis (20CR), CFS Reanalysis and Reforecast (CFSRR), ERA-Interim, Japanese 55-year Reanalysis Project (JRA-55), MERRA, NARR, and NCEP–NCAR Reanalysis 1 (NCEP-1)], derived products [observations from the CRU and NCEP-1 (CRU–NCEP); Daily Surface Weather and Climatological Summaries (Daymet); Glob...
The Classical Constitution: Roman Republican Origins of the Habeas Suspension Clause

The Framers were substantially influenced by ancient history and classical political theory, as exemplified by their education, the availability of classical readings, and their inculcation in classical republican values. Roman republican models of American constitutionalism, including the theory of mixed government as applied to the Roman constitution, and the distribution of powers among the organs and institutions of the Roman republic, were also well-understood by the Framers. This Article examines the deployment of Executive power in the Roman republic and its limitation by the Roman law doctrine of provocatio and the plebian tribune's power of auxilium, providing substantial protection to a Roman citizen's individual liberties and privileges under the law. Provocatio and auxilium could, however, be suspended under the Roman constitution by a decree in the Roman senate for the executive magistrates to take all measures necessary to safeguard the Republic. The Framers appreciated Roman constitutional history, and applied its lessons in designing many features of Executive authority in the U.S. constitution, particularly in the development and interpretation of the Habeas Suspension Clause. Roman analogues of provocatio and auxilium are relevant to three contemporary debates about the meaning and scope of the Suspension Clause: (1) whether the president may unilaterally suspend the privilege of habeas corpus, without prior congressional authorization; (2) whether Congress's determination of the conditions for suspension are ever subject to judicial review; and (3) whether a suspension can ever be performed retroactively for those already held in detention. Understanding the classical foundations of the American constitution can thus have a significant impact on the principles and methodologies for divining original intent, as well as appreciating the Constitution's structural and rights-protecting aspects.
THE COMPOSITION OF SAPPHIRINE FROM SALVADOR, BAHIA AND CONDITIONS OF ITS FORMATION

Analyses of two sapphirine specimens from Salvador, Bahia, Brazil along with partial analyses of some associated minerals were made by electron microprobe. These sapphirines are similar to other analysed specimens, but are among the most iron rich (9.2 and 9.8 wt % total iron as FeO). Nearly half of this iron must be present as Fe +3 substituting for Al. Field petrographic and chemical evidence suggests that the sapphirine developed by adition of silica to a spinel bearing bronzitite body. Further introduction of silica apparently produced reaction of sapphirine to cordierite in parts of the body. The temperature of formation given by Al 2 O 3 content of the orthopyroxene was near 1000oC; the pressure is estimated to be in the range 5 to 8 kilobars.
Northern Hemispheric cryosphere response to volcanic eruptions in the Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project 3 last millennium simulations

[1] We analyzed last millennium simulations (circa 850–1850 Common Era) from the Paleoclimate Modeling Intercomparison Project 3 (PMIP3) project to determine whether current state-of-the-art models produce sudden changes and persistence of cold conditions after large volcanic eruptions as inferred from geological records and previous climate modeling. Snow cover over Baffin Island in the eastern Canadian Arctic shows large-scale expansion (as seen in proxy records) in two of the five models with snow cover information available, although it is not sustained beyond a decade. Sea ice expansion in the North Atlantic is seen in some PMIP3 models after large eruptions, although none of these models produce significant centennial-scale effects. Warm Baffin Island summer climates stunt snow expansion in some models completely, and model topography tends to miss the critical plateau elevations that could sustain snow on the island. Northern Hemisphere sea ice extent is lower in six of the eight models than in reconstructions over the past millennium. Annual average Northern Hemisphere mean climates have a range of 3 K across models, while Arctic summer land-only climates span more than 6 K. This has critical consequences on ice and snow formation and persistence in regions such as the Arctic where temperatures are near the freezing point and small temperature changes affect ice and snow feedback that could induce further climate changes. Thus, it is critical that models accurately represent absolute temperature.
CorrigendumCorrigendum to “Dissolved oxygen extrema in the Arctic Ocean halocline from the North Pole to the Lincoln Sea”

Corrigendum to ‘‘Dissolved oxygen extrema in the Arctic Ocean halocline from the North Pole to the Lincoln Sea’’ Kelly Kenison Falkner , Michael Steele, Rebecca A. Woodgate, James H. Swift, Knut Aagaard, James Morison College of Oceanic & Atmospheric Sciences, 104 Ocean Admin Bldg., Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-5503, USA Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, 1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, WA 98105-6698, USA UCSD Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093-0214, USA
Growth and survival of three marine invertebrate species in sediments from the hudson-raritan estuary, New York

Sediments in the Hudson-Raritan estuary are known to contain high concentrations of anthropogenic contaminants, and marine organisms from this region exhibit numerous contaminant-related effects. To assess the pattern of sediment toxicity in depositional areas of this region, and to compare lethal and sublethal end points for different bioassay organisms, three benthic marine invertebrate species were exposed to sediments from 17 sites in the Hudson-Raritan estuary. Growth and mortality of the polychaete Armandia brevis and the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus were measured in all 17 sediments, while mortality and reburial ability of the amphipod Rhepoxinius abronius were assessed in nine sediments. Growth of polychaetes was determined by measuring the difference in weight after a 20-d exposure, whereas growth of sand dollars was assessed by measuring the difference in length and weight after a 28-d exposure. Amphipod mortality and reburial tests were conducted using the standard 10-d sediment bioassay. Significant growth reduction of polychaetes and sand dollars occurred in 11 of 17, and 3 of 17 sediments, respectively. Polychaete weight and sand dollar length correlated inversely and significantly with total sediment concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and some selected elements. In contrast, significant mortality of polychaetes and amphipods occurred in 1 of 17 and 2 of 9 sediments, respectively, and impaired reburial ability of amphipods was not observed. Results of this study demonstrate that sediment contamination at depositional sites with the Hudson-Raritan estuary has potential to cause deleterious biological effects in indigenous benthic organisms. In addition, sublethal growth bioassays using polychaetes and sand dollars appear to be more sensitive in measuring the effects of sediment contamination than does the mortality-based bioassay using the amphipod Rhepoxinius abronius.
A nonstoichiometric structural model to characterize changes in the nickel hydroxide electrode during cycling

Experimental capacities and mass changes are recorded using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance during the first nine charge and discharge cycles of nickel hydroxide thin films cycled in 3.0 weight percent (wt%) potassium hydroxide electrolyte. For the first time, the film capacities have been corrected for the oxygen evolution side reaction, and the data used as input into a point defect-containing structural model to track the changes that occur during short-term cycling. Variations in capacity and mass during formation and charge/discharge cycling are related to changes in the point defect parameters, thus providing a structural origin for the unique experimental variations observed here and often reported in the literature, but previously unexplained. Proton-, potassium-, and water-content vary in the active material during charge/discharge cycling. The observed capacity loss, or “capacity fade,” is explained by incomplete incorporation of potassium ions in (or near) the nickel vacancy during charge, as additional protons are then allowed to occupy the vacant lattice site. The increase in water content during reduction parallels the expansion of the electrode that is well known during cycling. This result confirms the origin of the swelling phenomenon as being caused by water incorporation. The model and methodology developed in this paper can be used to correlate electrochemical signatures with material chemical structure.
Low versus high prolactin responders to fenfluramine challenge: marker of behavioral differences in adult male cynomolgus macaques.

Low Versus High Prolactin Responders to Fenfluramine Challenge: Marker of Behavioral Differences in Adult Male Cynomolgus Macaques
Detection of long-term trends in global stratospheric temperature from NMC analyses derived from NOAA satellite data

Abstract Since 24 September 1978 global daily fields of temperature and geopotential height at 8 stratospheric pressure levels 70 to 0.4 mb (18–55 km) have been produced at the U.S. National Meteorological Center. Temperature profiles derived from NOAA operational satellites constitute the sole data source for the upper stratospheric levels 5, 2, 1, and 0.4 mb (35, 42, 48 and 55 km). Significant changes in upper stratosphere reported temperatures have accompanied each of the eight changes in either operational satellite or method of data processing. Comparisons with rocketsonde data from 1978 to 1986 show bias changes of 1 to 5 Celsius degrees at various levels. For detecting long term trends of ambient stratospheric temperature, adjustments based on rocket comparisons must be applied to the NMC fields. Lack of data at north polar latitudes and in the southern hemisphere limits comprehensive characterization of temperature uncertainty. We discuss in detail our ability to characterize temperature uncertainty of the NMC stratospheric analyses. We specifically discuss our ability to detect a trend in the middle stratosphere temperature of about 1.5 celsius degrees per decade, the amount of change indicated likely by current theoretical models.
Spatially scaled response of a Lazuli Bunting population to fire

We examined the response of Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) to fire in Gambel oak (Quercus gambe- lii) woodland at Camp Williams, Utah, during 1993-1998. Overall, Lazuli Bunting abundance on the study area increased significantly during the 2 years after a stand-replacing wildfire, which covered 800 ha of Gambel oak wood- land. This increase suggested that Lazuli Buntings respond positively to fire. However, a comparison of pre- and post- fire abundance of Lazuli Bunting for 2 groups of monitoring plots with different fire histories showed that abundance was significantly greater during the post-fire period for both burned and unburned plots. When we examined our data at a spatial scale appropriate to Lazuli Bunting, we found that post-fire increases observed on unburned plots were limited to plots in close proximity to the burned area. A comparison of pre- and post-fire abundance of Lazuli Bunting for 3 groups of monitoring plots located at various distances from the burned area revealed that post-fire abundance was simi- lar only for plots within the fire boundary and for those ≤1000 m from the fire boundary; plots located >1000 m from the fire boundary had fewer individuals per plot post-fire. However, prefire Lazuli Bunting abundance was similar among all 3 categories. This differential, spatially scaled response of Lazuli Bunting to fire at the landscape level may support a hierarchical view of habitat selection.
How supine postural preferences of infants can contribute toward the development of handedness

During their first three months postpartum, infants manifest an asymmetrically lateralized head position preference, typically turned to the right. This head position preference elicits an asymmerical tonic neck reflex, which places one hand in the infant's visual field. As a result, infants have differential visual experience of their two hands. The majority of infants have more visual experience with their right hands than their left. Knowledge of which hand an infant has had more visual experinece of, as a result of its postural preference, reliably predicts the hand that will be used most in a visually-elicited reaching task at 12 weeks postpartum. Therefore, the origin of human handedness status may reside in an asymmetrical postural preference during early infancy, which biases visual experience of the hands, giving one hand an advantage in eye-hand coordination tasks.
Synthesis and structure of [(CH2)4Ga-μ-AstBu2]2. The first example of a gallacyclopentane

Abstract The first gallacyclopentane, [( CH 2 ) 4 G a-μ-AstBu2]2 (4) has been synthesized in 61% yield by treatment of Li(CH2)4Li with Cl2GaAstBu, in Et2O solution. The structure of 4 has been established by X-ray crystallography: monoclinic, space group I 2/m (No. 12) with a = 8.624(6), b = 11.389(12), c = 14.921(13) A, β = 95.330(10)°, and Z = 4 (monomeric units).
THE ORIGIN OF ECHINOID HATCHING ENZYME MESSENGER RNA

To determine if echinoid hatching enzyme messenger RNA is newly synthesized from embryonic chromatin or is a maternal mRNA stored in the unfertilized egg, hybrid andromerogones have been constructed containing a sea urchin (Stvongylocentrotus purpuratus) genome in sand dollar (Dendraster excentricus) cytoplasm. Such hybrid andromerogones developed at a normal rate to the blastula stage but failed to hatch. Diploid hybrids or merogones containing at least one complement of sand dollar genome hatched on the normal maternal schedule. Since the sea urchin hatching enzyme is not able to digest the sand dollar fertilization membrane, this failure to hatch is evidence that new mRNA synthesis from embryonic chromatin is required before hatching enzyme can be synthesized.
A Statistical Characterization of the Effects of Mistuning in Multistage Bladed Disks

A great deal of research has been conducted on the effects of small random variations in structural properties, known as mistuning, in single stage bladed disks. Due to the inherent randomness of mistuning and the large dimensionality of the models of industrial bladed disks, a reduced order modeling approach is required to understand the effects of mistuning on a particular bladed disk design. Component mode mistuning (CMM) is an efficient compact reduced order modeling method that was developed to handle this challenge in single stage bladed disks. In general, there are multiple stages in bladed disk assemblies, and it has been demonstrated that for certain frequency ranges accurate modeling of the entire bladed disk assembly is required because multi-stage modes exist. In this work, a statistical characterization of structural mistuning in multi-stage bladed disks is carried out. The results were obtained using CMM combined with a multi-stage modeling approach previously developed. In addition to the statistical characterization, a new efficient classification method is detailed for characterizing the properties of a mode. Also, the effects of structural mistuning on the characterization of the mode is explored.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Power considerations when a continuous outcome variable is dichotomized

An investigator can compare two groups with respect to a continuous outcome variable, F, by comparing the means of F or by collapsing that variable into categories. For example, antihypertensive treatments can be compared on the basis of blood pressure measurements, or on the basis of the proportions of patients with blood pressure in prespecified ranges. This reportis concerned with the loss of power when inherently continuous variables are dichotomized. The report will focus on the power loss when a normally distributed variable with a known, common variance in each of two groups is dichotomized. Power is shown to depend on the relationship between the means of the two groups and the cutoff point, and it varies from negligible to substantial. The results will be applied to data from the Lovastatin Restenosis Trial. Initially the trial considered a dichotomous outcome (proportion of patients with elevated percent diameter stenosis), but the endpoint was later changed to the mean percent diameter stenosis...
Evolution of the "Red Book": from (paper) rags to riches

Each summer, Academic and Research Computing (ARC) produces a guide for Mobile Computing Program participants describing the specifics of the selected laptop computer and providing a general introduction to computing at Rensselaer. The guide has evolved over the last few years from a red loose-leaf binder of printed pages (hence the name, "Red Book") to an on-line series of web pages. This year, we made the decision to use the Luwak technology, presented and well received at last year's conference [2], to create the guide making it an easy-to-use tool for the students in addition to facilitating staff editing and updating. The Luwak technology is currently used by ARC for the Help Desk web site (j2ee.rpi.edu/helpdesk) where the student consultants can add their hints and tips quickly and easily. This was explained in a paper I presented at last year's conference [1]. This paper will discuss how the new format will create an improved "Computing at Rensselaer/Red Book" guide and, in a more general way, how the Luwak technology is changing ARC documentation.
Outer and inner bounds on tresca limit loads of cylindrical shells

Abstract The theory of piecewise linear plasticity is applied, with particular reference to circular cylindrical shells with simply supported ends subjected to uniform internal pressure. Tresca's yield condition of maximum shear is used and is expressed in terms of the stress resultants relative to the problem. The exact Tresca yield curve is approximated by means of a general hexagon and a general square in stress space. In terms of certain parameters describing these approximations the plastic velocity fields, stress fields and collapse loads are obtained for a general hexagonal approximation and range of shell parameters covering “short” and “long” shells. In particular results are presented for inscribed and circumscribed hexagonal approximations to the exact Tresca yield curve. Following Hodge's (1) results in using a square approximation to the exact yield curve collapse loads are obtained for an inscribed and a circumscribed square and are compared to the results obtained from the hexagonal approximations.
Desorption kinetics of phenol on activated carbon

Abstract Phenol absorbed on activated carbon from aqueous solutions is a complex chemical system. When samples are thermally regenerated, the rate of desorption and the chemical species desorbed depend on the treatment prior to heating. It was found that only phenol is desorbed at temperatures in the range 110–200°C from samples prepared at 25°C and maintained in a desiccator at that temperature. Kinetics of desorption of such samples was studied by measuring weight and rate of weight change in runs at constant temperature (110–200°C) and at constant heating rate (6°C/min). The data did not agree with first order kinetics using a constant activation energy, but could be explained by employing an exponential distribution of sites over a range of activation energies. Desorption was not complete even when samples were heated to 800°C. Our results and that of others indicate that the residue is most likely formed by reaction of phenol during the adsorption stage and during storage of the samples.
PM Fine Standards and Implied Modeling/Analysis Needs.

New National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) were promulgated for fine particulate matter (FPM) in July 1997. This paper summarizes likely timing for implementing programs to meet these standards, which have a bearing on future modeling/analysis needs. The paper notes technical requirements implied by the nature of the NAAQS, as well as feedback the agency has received concerning modeling/analysis through Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) subcommittee work groups. Conclusions and recommendations drawn from recently completed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)- sponsored workshops on modeling and other source attribution techniques are also described. Efforts to respond to needs implied by the NAAQS and feedback are noted by outlining major topics and issues that future guidance on use of modeling and other analyses used for attainment demonstrations will need to address. The paper concludes by highlighting several as yet unmet modeling/analysis needs to support a well-founded strategy for meeting air quality goals for FPM. These are suggested as potential areas for policy-relevant research.
Dimethyl methylphosphonate decomposition on fully oxidized and partially reduced ceria thin films

Abstract The thermal decomposition of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) on crystalline ceria thin films grown on Ru(0 0 0 1) was studied by temperature programmed desorption (TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and infrared absorption reflection spectroscopy (IRAS). TPD experiments show that methanol and formaldehyde desorb as the two main products at 575 K, while water, formaldehyde and CO are produced above 800 K. IRAS studies demonstrate that DMMP adsorbs via the phosphoryl oxygen at 200 K, but the P O bond converts to a bridging O P O species at 300 K. DMMP decomposition initially occurs via P OCH 3 bond scission to form methyl methylphosphonate (MMP) and methyl phosphonate (MP) between 300 and 500 K; XPS and IRAS data are consistent with a methoxy intermediate on the surface at these temperatures. The more stable P CH 3 bonds remain intact up to 700 K, and the only surface intermediate at higher temperatures is believed to be PO x . Although the presence of PO x decreases activity for DMMP decomposition, some activity on the ceria surface remains even after 7 cycles of adsorption and reaction. The ceria films become reduced by multiple DMMP adsorption-reaction cycles, with the Ce +4 content dropping to 30% after seven cycles. Investigations of DMMP reaction on reduced ceria surfaces show that CO and H 2 are produced in addition to methanol and formaldehyde. Furthermore, DMMP decomposition activity on the reduced ceria films is almost completely inhibited after only 3 adsorption-reaction cycles. Similarities between DMMP and methanol chemistry on the ceria films suggest that methoxy is a key surface intermediate in both reactions.
Self-Assembled Monolayers of 7-(10-Thiodecoxy)coumarin on Gold: Synthesis, Characterization, and Photodimerization

As is true in solution, irradiation at 350 nm of 7-(10-thiodecoxy)coumarin (1) as a self-assembled monolayer on polycrystalline gold (Au-1) produces [2 + 2] photodimers. In the monolayer, photodimerization is indicated by differences in the grazing angle surface FTIR spectra, sessile drop contact angles, and surface fluorescence spectra before and after irradiation. The photodimerization can be reversed by irradiation at 254 nm, as demonstrated by changes in these same structural probes. Better photochemical reversibility and regioselectivity are observed when the in situ photodimerization is conducted as a dry solid monolayer than when in contact with benzene. A comparison of the structure of a self-assembled monolayer of a syn head-to-head (H-H) dimer of 7-(10-thiodecoxy)coumarin on polycrystalline gold (Au-2) with that of the photodimers generated by irradiation of Au-1 demonstrates that surface reorganization is accomplished in the photodimerization−photoreversion cycle.
A comparative assessment of alignment angle of the knee by radiographic and physical examination methods.

Objective To compare the knee-alignment angle from a full-limb radiograph (mechanical axis) with the anatomic-axis angle as measured by physical examination using a goniometer and by 2 other radiographic methods. Methods The knee-alignment angle was measured in 114 knees of 57 subjects who had radiographic osteoarthritis (OA), with a Kellgren/Lawrence grade of ≥1 in at least one knee. The mechanical axis was defined as the angle formed by the intersection of 2 lines, one from the center of the head of the femur to the center of the tibial spines, and a second from the center of the talus to the center of the tibial spines. The anatomic axis was defined as the angle formed by 2 lines, each originating from a point bisecting the femur and tibia and converging at the center of the tibial spine tips. The anatomic-axis angle was measured by 3 methods: 1) physical examination using a goniometer, 2) a posteroanterior (PA) fixed-flexion knee radiograph (anatomicPA axis), and 3) an anteroposterior (AP) full-limb radiograph (anatomicAP axis). Results Significant correlations were found between the mechanical-axis angle and the anatomic-axis angle measured by each of the 3 methods: by goniometer (r = 0.70, P < 0.0001), by anatomicPA axis (r = 0.75, P < 0.0001), and by anatomicAP axis (r = 0.65, P < 0.0001). The anatomic axis was offset a mean 4.21° valgus from the mechanical axis (3.5° in women, 6.4° in men), which was consistent across all methods. Conclusion Knee alignment assessed clinically by goniometer or measured on a knee radiograph is correlated with the angle measured on the more cumbersome and costly full-limb radiograph. These alternative measures have the potential to provide useful information regarding the risk of progression of knee OA when a full-limb radiograph is not available.
Recent progress and current trends in fiber-optic sensing

(Invited) Fiber-optic sensors have been under development for well over 15 years and continue to attract strong research interest. This paper reviews recent progress in the field and discusses current trends in the technology.
Laser thermal ablation

Continuous wave and pulsed laser ablation of tissue is described as an explosive event. A subsurface temperature maximum and superheated tissue produce high pressures that eject fragments from the tissue. Decreased water content due to dehydration and vaporization decreases thermal conductivity which reduces heat conduction. Also, a decrease in water content dramatically alters the local rate of heat generation of laser radiation above 1.3 microns since water is the primary absorber. In contrast, at UV wavelengths protein and DNA are the primary absorbers so destruction of tissue bonds is due to direct absorption of the laser light rather than heat transfer from water.
Experimental results on a wall interference correction method with interface measurements

A wall interference assessment and correction method for subsonic two-dimensional wind tunnel testing is presented. This method calculates a pressure coefficient and angle of attack correction based on velocity measurements on interfaces inside of the wind tunnel. A mathematical representation of the test article is not required. An experimental verification of the suggested technique is given. A NACA 0012 airfoil is tested at a Mach number of 0.70 and at two different angles of attack. Calculated blockage corrections show reasonable agreement with results based on Hackett's method. Corrected surface pressures compare favorably to free-air flow field data if the tunnel flow field is subsonic. The present wall interference correction method can be applied to transonic tunnel flow fields with some restrictions. Errors are estimated and it is shown that the expected error in calculating the pressure coefficient correction on the model surface is in the order of the error of pressure coefficient measurement on interfaces. Necessary testing equipment in existing tunnels can easily be modified if the present method is applied.
Three-dimensional phase dynamics in a cylinder wake

Recently there has been a new surge of interest in three-dimensional wake patterns, from both an experimental and analytical standpoint. One of the central discoveries is that the patterns of vortex shedding are dependent on the specific end conditions of a long cylinder span. However, a number of outstanding questions have remained unanswered, in part because techniques had not existed to control such patterns in a continuous fashion and from outside a test facility. In the present work, we have devised a method to control the end conditions of a cylinder span by non-mechanical and continuously-variable means, namely by the use of end suction. The technique allows a continuous variation of end conditions and admits transient or impulsive control. With the method, the classical steady-state patterns, such as parallel or oblique shedding or the ‘chevron’ patterns are simply induced. These experiments demonstrate that the wake, at a given Reynolds number, is receptive to a continuous (but limited) range of oblique shedding angles (θ), rather than to discrete angles. There is excellent agreement in these results with the ‘cos θ’ formula for collapsing oblique-shedding frequencies onto a single ‘universal’ frequency curve. The use of suction has avoided the grossly unsteady motions at the ends of the cylinder span brought about by the wakes of mechanical end manipulators, and we show that the laminar shedding regime exists up to Reynolds numbers (Re) of 205. The surprisingly large disparity among reported measurements of criticalRe for wake transition (Re=140−200), over the last forty years, can now be explained in terms of spanwise end contamination.
Thyroid hormone status regulates preprotachykinin-A gene expression in male rat anterior pituitary.

Substance P (SP) and substance K (SK) are mammalian tachykinin peptides derived from a single preprotachykinin- A (PPT-A) gene and are widely but selectively distributed in neural and endocrine tissues. SP is present in the rat anterior pituitary, and its content there varies with the thyroid status of the animal. The present studies were undertaken to determine whether the PPT-A gene is expressed in the anterior pituitary and if so, whether PPT-A messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance is regulated by thyroid hormone status. Male rats were surgically or chemically thyroidectomized or made hyperthyroid by thyroid hormone (T3) injection. Total RNA was isolated from individual anterior pituitaries, and PPT-A mRNA abundance was determined by dot blot procedures. In parallel groups of rats, anterior pituitaries were extracted for measurement of SP and SK by specific RIAs. Surgical or chemical thyroidectomy increased PPT-A mRNA abundance 4 to 6-fold and increased both SP and SK content in the anterior pituitary. Admini...
Localization of antioxidant enzymes and oxidative damage products in normal and malignant prostate epithelium.

BACKGROUND The risk for prostate cancer seems to be reduced by certain antioxidant compounds (vitamins E and A, and selenium). METHODS Antioxidant enzymes and oxidative damage products were localized in normal prostatic epithelium and malignant glands in primary and metastatic prostatic adenocarcinomas, using well-characterized antibodies and immunoperoxidase techniques. RESULTS Antioxidant enzymes and four markers of oxidative damage were compared in basal and secretory cells of normal prostatic epithelium and prostate adenocarcinoma cells, and each cell type had unique patterns of enzymes and oxidative damage products. One marker of oxidative damage, a fluorophore derived from 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-lysine adduction, was found in secretory cells of normal but not malignant epithelium, demonstrating a different oxidative metabolism in normal vs. malignant prostate epithelium. Metastatic lesions from primary prostate cancer had higher levels of manganese superoxide dismutase and nuclear oxidative damage products than did primary tumors. CONCLUSIONS Antioxidant enzymes and oxidative damage products are modulated in metastatic compared to primary prostate cancer. Prostate 44:144–155, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Protein aggregation induced during glass bead lysis of yeast

Yeast cell lysates produced by mechanical glass bead disruption are widely used in a variety of applications, including for the analysis of native function, e.g. protein–protein interaction, enzyme assays and membrane fractionations. Below, we report a striking case of protein denaturation and aggregation that is induced by this lysis protocol. Most of this analysis focuses on the type 1 casein kinase Yck2, which normally tethers to the plasma membrane through C-terminal palmitoylation. Surprisingly, when cells are subjected to glass bead disruption, non-palmitoylated, cytosolic forms of the kinase denature and aggregate, while membrane-associated forms, whether attached through their native palmitoyl tethers or through a variety of artificial membrane-tethering sequences, are wholly protected from denaturation and aggregation. A wider look at the yeast proteome finds that, while the majority of proteins resist glass bead-induced aggregation, a significant subset does, in fact, succumb to such denaturation. Thus, yeast researchers should be aware of this potential artifact when embarking on biochemical analyses that employ glass bead lysates to look at native protein function. Finally, we demonstrate an experimental utility for glass bead-induced aggregation, using its fine discrimination of membrane-associated from non-associated Yck2 forms to discern fractional palmitoylation states of Yck2 mutants that are partially defective for palmitoylation.
Structure-activity relationships of the azide metabolite, azidoalanine, in S. typhimurium

Azide is metabolized to the proximate mutagen, L-azidoalanine in bacterial systems. While this novel mutagenic metabolite plays a key role in azide mutagenesis, the biochemistry of this role is unknown. The chemical synthesis of authentic racemic azidoalanine and several derivatives thereof allowed the exploration of structure-activity relationships with this unique mutagen. We found that whereas azide, azidoalanine and azidoalanine tert.-butyl ester were of comparable mutagenic potency, derivatives which lack the free amino group, such as azidopropionic acid and amino-blocked azidoalanine, were orders of magnitude less active. These findings demonstrate that the free amino group is essential for significant activity, while the carboxyl group may be less important. This conclusion together with the finding that DL-azidoalanine is a less potent mutagen than azide itself, suggests that the metabolite, while necessary for azide mutagenicity, may not be the ultimate mutagenic species. Instead, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that azidoalanine requires further bioactivation.
Energy conversion efficiency of dielectric elastomer energy harvesters under pure shear strain conditions

A simple analytical relationship for the efficiency of a constant charge dielectric elastomer energy harvesting cycle is derived for the case of pure shear. The relationship takes into account the nonlinear nature of elastomer materials and the effects of electrically induced strains during relaxation. It is explicitly shown that efficiency is dependent on the applied strain, the shape of the stress-strain curve, and on a lumped parameter (Z') containing the applied electric field, stiffness and permittivity. We show that any term in the lumped parameter can be offset by the other terms; thus a stiff material may require a higher permittivity or electric field to attain the same efficiency as a similar soft material.
The MONARC toolset for simulating large network-distributed processing systems

The next generation of High Energy Physics experiments have envisaged the use of network-distributed Petabyte-scale data handling and computing systems of unprecedented complexity. The general concept is that of a "Data Grid Hierarchy" in which the central facility at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics (CERN) in Geneva will interact and coherently manage tasks shared by and distributed amongst national "Tier1 (National) Regional Centres" situated in the US, Europe, and Asia. CERN and the Tier1 Centers will further communicate and task-share with the Tier2 Regional Centers, Tier3 centers serving individual universities or research groups, and thousands of "Tier4" desktops and small servers.The design and optimization of systems with this level of complexity requires a realistic description and modeling of the data access patterns, the data flow across the local and wide area networks, and the scheduling and workload presented by hundreds of jobs running concurrently on large scale distributed systems exchanging very large amounts of data.The simulation toolset developed within the "Models Of Networked Analysis at Regional Centers" - MONARC project provides a code and execution time-efficient design and optimisation framework for large scale distributed systems. A process-oriented approach for discrete event simulation has been adopted because it is well suited to describe various activities running concurrently, as well the stochastic arrival patterns typical of this class of simulations. Threaded objects or "Active Objects" provide a natural way to map the specific behaviour of distributed data processing (and the required flows of data across the networks) into the simulation program.This simulation program is based on Java2(™) technology because of the support for the necessary methods and techniques needed to develop an efficient and flexible distributed process oriented simulation. This includes a convenient set of interactive graphical presentation and analysis tools, which are essential for the development and effective use of the simulation system.The design elements, status and features of the MONARC simulation tool are presented. The program allows realistic modelling of complex data access patterns by multiple concurrent users in large scale computing systems in a wide range of possible architectures. Comparison between queuing theory and realistic client-server measurements is also presented.