cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systematic comparison of data-processing options for kinetic-based single-component determinations of non-catalysts: Part 2. One-rate, two-point/fixed-time, two-rate, three-point/fixed-time options

Abstract This paper describes and compares performance characteristics of four data-processing options for kinetic-based determinations. Options compared are two-point/fixed-time, one-rate, three-point/fixed-time and two-rate methods. Features evaluated are the effects of systematic changes in variables such as rate constants and reaction order as well as different levels of random noise. Both simulated and experimental data are used to evaluate effects of systematic changes in rate constants and simulated data are used to evaluate effects of random noise and systematic deviations from first-order behavior. All the options appear to be relatively independent of small changes (±0.1) in reaction order. The two-point/fixed-time and one-rate options have no inherent ability to reject effects of systematic changes in rate constants but optimum conditions can be identified that reduce effects of such changes. The latter two methods have the inherent ability to reject effects of systematic changes in rate constants but appear to be more dependent on random noise than the two-point/fixed-time and one-rate options. Application of the optimized two-point/fixed-time and one-rate methods and the three-point/fixed-time and two-rate options to experimental data for uric acid demonstrate 40- to 100-fold improvements in ruggedness for changes in the rate constant relative to non-optimized two-point/fixed-time and one-rate methods.
Epidemiology of Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

The importance of prevention as a first-line approach in the management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is becoming increasingly apparent, not only because the disease is all too often lethal by first clinical manifestation, but also because it remains incurable even if the patient survives. Over the past five decades, epidemiologic investigation, the science most relevant to establishing means of prevention, has identified a number of major contributors to the development of atherosclerotic CVD [1,2]. Because these “risk factors” are modifiable, and their treatment reduces the likelihood of developing vascular disease, risk factor assessment has become an important feature of primary and secondary prevention of CVD. Most risk factors for initial vascular events are also predictive of recurrent episodes, although risk of recurrence is dominated by severity of the first event.
The Coevolution of Mutation Rates

In order to better understand life, it is helpful to look beyond the envelop of life as we know it. A simple model of coevolution was implemented with the addition of genes for longevity and mutation rate in the individuals. This made it possible for a lineage to evolve to be immortal. It also allowed the evolution of no mutation or extremely high mutation rates. The model shows that when the individuals interact in a sort of zero-sum game, the lineages maintain relatively high mutation rates. However, when individuals engage in interactions that have greater consequences for one individual in the interaction than the other, lineages tend to evolve relatively low mutation rates. This model suggests that different genes may have evolved different mutation rates as adaptations to the varying pressures of interactions with other genes.
Reconciling Ethnic and National Identities in a Divided Society: The Nigerian Dilemma of Nation-State Building

« Reconcilier les Identites Ethniques et Nationales dans une Societe Divisee: Le Dilemme Nigerian de la Construction de l\'Etat-Nation ». Resume Il s\'agit ici d\'une analyse theorique et historique des enjeux de la construction de l\'Etat-Nation au Nigeria. La question centrale est de savoir comment un Etat post-colonial multi-ethnique promeut l\'integration nationale parmi ses citoyens dans un contexte de competition entre les identites ethniques. L\'etude porte une attention speciale sur le role de l\'Etat dans la lutte entre les differents groupes ethniques pour le controle du pouvoir politique et des ressources nationales. L\'auteur argumente que, tandis que l\'Etat a ete une source majeure d\'hostilite ethnique, il a egalement ete l\'objet de modifications nombreuses tendant a promouvoir l\'integration nationale et l\'harmonisation ethnique. En depit des problemes majeurs lies aux arrangements institutionnels au Nigeria, l\'article voit dans l\'experience nigeriane une lecon importante dans la construction de l\'Etat-Nation dans les pays post-coloniaux multi-ethniques. En plus de l\'approche institutionnelle, l\'article souligne l\'importance de l\'education civique, de l\'histoire collective et de la democratie dans la promotion de l\'integration nationale dans une societe divisee. This is a theoretical and historical analysis of the challenges of nationstate building in Nigeria. The central question is how a post-colonial multiethnic state promotes national integration among its citizens within a context of competing ethnic identities. The study pays special attention to the role of the state and the struggles among the major ethnic groups for control of political power and national resources. It argues that while the state has been a major source of ethnic animosity, it has also been the object of numerous modifications intended to promote national integration and ethnic harmony. Notwithstanding the major problems associated with the institutional arrangements in Nigeria, the paper sees the Nigerian experience as a valuable lesson for nation-state building in post-colonial multiethnic countries. In addition to the institutional design approach, the paper points to the importance of civic education, collective history, and democracy in promoting national integration in a divided society. Democracy & Development Vol.4(2) 2004: 31-48
The axially rotating segmented rod

Abstract A rod, composed of N rigid segments and N torsion springs at the joints, is rotated axially from one end. The equilibrium shape is governed by a nonlinear difference equation with a parameter B signifying the relative importance of centrifugal forces to the restoring forces of the springs. Linear analysis yields the eigenspeeds B c from which nontrivial solutions bifurcate. The nonlinear problem is solved numerically.
Popular Justice: Presidential Prestige and Executive Success in the Supreme Court, by Jeff Yates. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2002. 131 pp. $17.95 paper.

This monograph will likely please students of the United States Supreme Court or the U.S. presidency more than it will profit students of political communication. Institutional specialists will pro...
Bombesin promotes synergistic stimulation of DNA synthesis by ethanol and insulin in fibroblasts.

Abstract In NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and several other cellular systems, ethanol (50–80 mM) was previously shown to greatly enhance the mitogenic effects of insulin particularly in the presence of zinc. Here we report that in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts the combined stimulatory effects of ethanol and insulin on DNA synthesis can be further increased by bombesin both in the absence and presence of zinc. Bombesin also enhanced insulin-plus-ethanol-induced DNA synthesis in mouse Swiss 3T3 and Balb/c 3T3 fibroblasts, but in these cells bombesin was effective only in the presence of zinc. In NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, the potentiating effects of ethanol on insulin-induced DNA synthesis by the zinc-dependent and bombesin-dependent mechanisms were additive. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (PI3K), prevented the comitogenic effect of ethanol in the presence of bombesin but not in the presence of zinc. Furthermore, bombesin, but not ethanol, was found to enhance the stimulatory effect of insulin on PI3K activity. Rapamycin, an indirect inhibitor of p70 S6 kinase actions, inhibited the comitogenic effects of ethanol in the presence of both zinc and bombesin. However, only ethanol, but not bombesin, enhanced the stimulatory effect of insulin on p70 S6 kinase activity; this effect of ethanol was zinc-dependent. Neither ethanol nor bombesin enhanced the stimulatory effects of insulin on the phosphorylation (activation) of p38/p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinases. The results suggest that in mouse fibroblasts maximal stimulation of DNA synthesis by physiologically relevant concentrations of ethanol occurs if both PI3K and p70 S6 kinase are activated. These data suggest a mechanism by which ethanol may affect growth in affected human tissues during its tumor promoting actions.
The Resources of Ambiguity: Context, Narrative, and Metaphor in Richard Dawkins’s The Selfish Gene

Richard Dawkins’s The Selfish Gene illustrates the power of ambiguity in scientific discourse. The rhetorical and epistemic resources that ambiguity provide are most apparent at the level of metaphor but are also central to the exigency for Dawkins’s argument and to the narrative form that the argument takes. Using ratios derived from Burke’s dramatistic pentad, I analyze how ambiguous language helped Dawkins to link different theoretical conceptions of the gene and consequently posit connections between genes and organisms that had not yet been empirically established. I thus demonstrate at a conceptual and textual level how ambiguity contributes to the construction of novel scientific arguments. For Dawkins, ambiguity provided a discursive space in which he could speculate on connections and developments for which he did not yet have evidence, data, or terminology. Despite his insistence that his use of figurative motive language was simply a ‘‘convenient shorthand’’ for more technical language, The Sel...
Ramanujan's Extensions of the Gamma and Beta Functions

(1980). Ramanujan's Extensions of the Gamma and Beta Functions. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 87, No. 5, pp. 346-359.
iCER Interns: Engaging Undergraduates in High Performance Computing

The Institute for Cyber-Enabled Research (iCER) at Michigan State University (MSU) has an internship program to provide undergraduate students with hands-on experience in advanced computational research. The goals of the iCER Intern program are: (1) to give students in-depth exposure to Advanced Computing; (2) to leverage students' knowledge and skills to support iCER administrators, staff and researchers; and (3) to minimize the investment of mentors' time and resources, while maximizing student productivity. This paper details the evolution and structure of the iCER Intern program, which provides a rich educational experience for undergraduates while efficiently managing the efforts of iCER mentors. The program structure helps iCER staff quickly assess the interests and skills of new student interns and encourages productivity among the undergraduates. The result is a net positive return on the investment of mentors' time and effort, and a valuable professional learning experience for students. The methodology described here is based on lessons learned in mentoring more than 50 undergraduate students, and other institutions or high performance computing centers could readily adopt this program structure and approach.
Targeting K-ATP channel in diabetic nephropathy: opening or closing?

To the Editor: The effects of oral antidiabetic agents on diabetic nephropathy have been thought to be due to their ability to control blood glucose levels, and few studies have examined whether these agents may also have direct effects on the kidney.
Origin of rectangular and aligned lakes in the Beni Basin of Bolivia

Abstract The origin of aligned, rectangular shaped lakes in the Beni Basin of Bolivia has been investigated utilizing Landsat imagery, Shuttle Imaging Radar and the available scientific literature. The lakes tend to line up in two preferred orientations, northwest and northeast. They occur in Cenozoic sediments of the Beni Basin situated between the Brazilian Shield and the Andean Foredeep. Available evidence suggests that the shapes and orientations of the lakes are primarily controlled by a nearly orthogonal fracture pattern propagated upward from the underlying granitic (Brazilian Shield) basement. These orientations and shapes may reflect a reactivated ancient global fracture pattern or may be the result of an E-W greatest principal compressive stress ( σ 1 ) and subsequent downwarping and uplifting of the Beni Basin during the Cenozoic Andean orogeny. The lakes themselves may occupy down-dropped basement blocks induced in the gently upwarped basement. While unusual, these lakes are not unique. This suggests that transmission of basement structure through overlying sediments may occur in other regions, but that special conditions such as little or no lateral compression of the sediments, the absence of high trees and vegetation, stability of surface material from drifting, and a high water table are necessary to preserve and enhance such surface features.
Abr and Bcr are multifunctional regulators of the Rho GTP-binding protein family

Abstract Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukemias result from the fusion of the BCR and ABL genes, which generates a functional chimeric molecule. The Abr protein is very similar to Bcr but lacks a structural domain which may influence its biological regulatory capabilities. Both Abr and Bcr have a GTPase-activating protein (GAP) domain similar to those found in other proteins that stimulate GTP hydrolysis by members of the Rho family of GTP-binding proteins, as well as a region of homology with the guanine nucleotide dissociation-stimulating domain of the DBL oncogene product. We purified as recombinant fusion proteins the GAP- and Dbl-homology domains of both Abr and Bcr. The Dbl-homology domains of Bcr and Abr were active in stimulating GTP binding to CDC42Hs, RhoA, Rac1, and Rac2 (rank order, CDC42Hs > RhoA > Rac1 = Rac2) but were inactive toward Rap1A and Ha-Ras. Both Bcr and Abr acted as GAPs for Rac1, Rac2, and CDC42Hs but were inactive toward RhoA, Rap1A, and Ha-Ras. Each individual domain bound in a noncompetitive manner to GTP-binding protein substrates. These data suggest the multifunctional Bcr and Abr proteins might interact simultaneously and/or sequentially with members of the Rho family to regulate and coordinate cellular signaling.
TMV-RNA associated with ribosomes of tobacco leaves infected with TMV.

Abstract Cytoplasmic ribosomes were extracted from tobacco leaf tissue infected with TMV. Ribosomes associated with rapidly labeled RNA were stable in 3 × 10 −4 M Mg 2+ and were easily separated from the bulk using sucrose density gradients. Some RNA extracted from such ribosomes was rendered resistant to ribonuclease when annealed with TMV-specific, double-stranded RNA, but not with TMV-RNA. The same results were obtained when rapidly labeled RNA was dissociated from ribosomes in dilute EDTA and annealed with TMV-specific, double-stranded RNA. The presence of TMV-specific RNA in the ribosome complex did not arise from contamination with intact or fragmented virus particles. The possible association of unincorporated nascent viral RNA with ribosomes during extraction was also investigated.
Conformation and electronic structure of poly(3,4-diisopropylidenecyclobutene), a cross-conjugated conductive polymer

Abstract It has been reported recently that the title polymer, 1 , synthesized by a novel olefin-metathesis route, can be oxidatively doped to yield materials with moderate conductivities. Theoretical studies reveal that, due to steric crowding, polymer 1 cannot achieve a planar, fully-conjugated structure in either its undoped or doped states. Rather, the structure consists of essentially orthogonal tetramethylhexatriene units. Such a structure is incompatible with conventional conduction mechanisms involving polarons or bipolarons. It is proposed that, instead, conduction involves intra- and/or inter-chain charge transfer.
The Role of Integrin-linked Kinase in Liver Wound Healing

Liver wound healing is an integrated process in which hepatic stellate cells play a major role. We hypothesized that the cellextracellular signaling protein integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is important in transducing signals from the extracellular matrix to stellate cells and thus plays a critical role in stellate cell activation and fibrogenesis during liver injury. Liver injury and subsequent stellate cell activation led to a 3-fold increase in ILK expression and increased kinase activity. Overexpression of ILK in isolated stellate cells led to enhanced motility and adhesion as well as increases in smooth muscle alpha-actin and type I collagen mRNA expression. The effects of ILK on stellate cell phenotypes were phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-dependent. Forced expression of ILK in vivo led to increases in type I collagen, smooth muscle alpha-actin, transforming growth factor-beta, and extra domain A (EDA) fibronectin mRNAs (by 3.2-, 3.5-, 2.5-, and 2.2-fold, respectively; n = 8, p < 0.05 for each versus the control), whereas inhibition of ILK in vivo led to significant reductions in these mRNAs. Morphometric analysis revealed that ILK overexpression led to a 31.4% increase in liver collagen content (n = 8, p < 0.05 versus the control); in contrast ILK knockdown in vivo led to a significant reduction in fibrogenesis. We conclude that ILK plays an important pathophysiological role in vivo in liver wound healing.
Phenylacetylene hydrogenation in a three-phase catalytic packed-bed reactor: experiments and model

Abstract A mathematical model was developed for the cocurrent operation of a three-phase catalytic packed-bed reactor under both trickling- and pulsing-flow regimes. The local fluctuations of liquid–solid mass transfer, liquid flow rate, and liquid holdup in unsteady pulsing-flow were simulated as periodic square-wave functions. The transport properties employed in the model were obtained using published correlations, while expressions for the intrinsic reaction kinetics were taken from our previous work. The model results were found to be in good agreement with experimental data obtained from a laboratory-scale reactor, and verified the advantage of pulsing-flow operation over trickling-flow.
Secondary ion mass spectrometry signatures for verifying declarations of fissile-material production.

Abstract Direct analysis of uranium enrichment facility components were performed using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). A standard protocol was developed to enable preparation of SIMS samples from a corroded pipe piece without disturbing the corrosion layer. Unique uranium, oxygen and fluorine containing signatures were discovered in the corrosion layer by performing a mass scan of the region of interest from 230 to 280 amu. These signatures identified the source of the corrosion layer as uranium hexafluoride (UF6) or an associated hydrolysis product. Isotopic analysis of the corrosion layer determined enrichment of 235U to a value of 0.0116±0.0019 for the 235U/238U isotopic ratio as compared to the NIST traceable standard (CRM 112-A) with a natural 235U/238U isotopic ratio of 0.007254±0.000004. SIMS depth analysis revealed that the corrosion layer was isotopically homogenous to a depth of ~23.5 µm. Optical profilometry measurements prior to and following SIMS depth analysis were used to determine a sputter rate of 0.48 nm/s for 18.5 keV O− ion bombardment of the corrosion layer. The data presented is conclusive evidence that SIMS depth analysis can be used to identify novel nuclear archeology signatures from uranium enrichment components and perform meaningful isotopic analysis of these signatures.
Students’ perceptions of dialogue journals used in college methods courses in language arts and reading

Abstract This paper describes an informal study using dialogue journals in language arts/reading courses. It details advantages of the activity and procedures for using journals with undergraduate and graduate students. It indicates student reaction to dialogue journals as described by students through free writing in their journals and on an anonymous questionnaire.
Cancer and Leukemia Group B Surgery Committee

Surgeons play a vital role in the Cancer and Leukemia Group B by providing patients and specimens for studies of the common solid tumors, and more recently, by serving as investigators who conduct surgically focused research protocols and contribute to the correlative science studies in the Group. Surgical activities encompass thoracic, gastrointestinal, breast, and genitourinary cancers and melanoma. Surgical quality assurance is also an important focus. This article will describe the development and importance of a robust and vigorous surgical component to a strong cooperative group and highlight the many trials conducted by the Cancer and Leukemia Group B surgeons and their contributions to advancement of the care of the patient with solid organ malignancy.
Immunohistochemical analysis of rhinovirus infection of lower airway tissues

Abstract Rationale Rhinovirus (RV) infections can alter lower airway physiology, yet the characteristics of RV replication in lower airway cells and their relationship to inflammation are incompletely understood. We hypothesized that RV infections extend to the lower airway and may persist for over a week. Methods To test this hypothesis, bronchoscopy with bronchial biopsies and brushings was performed 4 and 15 days after nasal inoculation of 11 subjects (4 normal and 7 with allergic asthma) with RV16. Samples were paraffin-embedded, sectioned and then stained with a monoclonal antibody against RV16. Results All subjects had clinical colds confirmed by titration of virus from nasal lavages. None of the bronchial samples taken from subjects pre-inoculation had any positively-staining cells. Post inoculation, virus was detected by staining in 9 of 11 subjects, and in 39 and 48% of the samples taken after 4 and 15 days, respectively. Infected epithelial cells were distributed in discrete patches and were typically present in only one or two out of 4 to 5 available biopsy samples obtained during the acute cold. There were no significant differences between normal and asthmatic subjects. Conclusions These results confirm that the lower airway is infected during the acute and convalescent cold, with a patchy distribution of infected cells, similar to that reported in upper airway tissues. Extension of RV into lower airways could be one mechanism responsible for pulmonary symptoms and altered respiratory physiology seen in susceptible individuals.
Diphosphoinositol Polyphosphates: What are the Mechanisms?

In countries where being 18 years old grants you all the benefits of adulthood, 2011 can be the point at which the diphosphoinositol polyphosphates might formally be described as “coming of age”, since these molecules were first fully defined in 1993 (Menniti et al., 1993; Stephens et al., 1993b). But from a biological perspective, these polyphosphates cannot quite be considered to have matured into the status of being independently-acting intracellular signals. This review has discussed several of the published proposals for mechanisms by which the diphosphoinositol polyphosphates might act. We have argued that all of these hypotheses need further development. We also still do not know a single molecular mechanism by which a change in the levels of a particular diphosphoinositol polyphosphate can be controlled. Yet, despite all these gaps in our understanding, there is an enduring anticipation that these molecules have great potential in the signaling field. Reflecting our expectations of all teenagers, it should be our earnest hope that in the near future the diphosphoinositol polyphosphates will finally grow up.
A high-performance host interface for ATM networks

A host interface 1 for an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network comprises a Segmenter 2 and Reassembler 3. The host interface 1 is connected to a Sunshine ATM switch 7 via an electrical to optical converter 6 and an IBM RS/6000 workstation 4 via a MicroChannel bus 5. The Reassembler 3 comprises three components, respectively referred to as the Linked List Manager, Dual Port Reassembly Buffer and SONET Interface and VCI Lookup Controller, that are capable of concurrent operation once they are initialized and configured. Those components are capable of reassembling an ATM cell in less than 2.7 microseconds.
Scale length of mantle heterogeneities: Constraints from helium diffusion

Abstract A model of coupled He production/diffusion is used to constrain the question of whether Earth's peridotitic mantle contains ubiquitous mesoscale veins or slabs of other lithologies. The high diffusion rates of helium preclude survival of He isotope heterogeneities on scales smaller than a few tens of meters, especially if they represent long term in-growth of 4 He in the mantle. For 1.5 Gyr residence times, and a diffusion coefficient of 10 − 10 m 2 /s, 0.5 km slabs or 2 km cylinders will lose > 90% of in-grown 4 He. However, substantial 3 He/ 4 He variations may persist in slabs or be induced in adjacent mantle, depending on initial He, U and Th contents. We have modeled three cases of 3 He/ 4 He equilibration between mantle domains: an ocean crust (OC) slab in depleted upper mantle (DMM) or in enriched mantle (BSE), and a BSE slab in DMM. For a 1 km OC slab in DMM (8 Ra today), the slab today will have 3 He/ 4 He of only 3 Ra, and will have influenced the surrounding mantle with 4 He for > 7 km on either side. The average 3 He/ 4 He of this mixed zone will be 16 km wide. Even with a 60 km melt sampling width, the average 3 He/ 4 He will be > 15 Ra. Slabs may lose their He signature by diffusion, but their presence will be recorded in the surrounding mantle. We have evaluated 3 along-axis N-MORB ridge-crest data sets in this context (MAR 25.7–26.5°S; EPR 19–23°S; SWIR 16–24° E), with a view to defining scale-lengths of He isotope variability. The average 3 He/ 4 He variability for these 3 areas is very small, and independent of spreading rate: 0.13, 0.19 and 0.21 Ra (± 1 σ ). Since these ridges range from ultra-slow to very fast-spreading, the variability in size of along-axis magma chambers will lead inevitably to various scales of melt averaging. We conclude that these ridge areas are not sampling mantle that contains enriched veins or recycled oceanic crust slabs of significant size (> tens of meters). It appears difficult to sustain a view of the upper mantle as a ubiquitous mixture of veins and depleted matrix, with MORB always representing an averaging of this mixture.
Analysis of a class of multi-stage, multistep Runge-Kutta methods

Abstract In this paper, a class of methods that numerically solve initial-value problems for second order ordinary differential equations of the form y″ = f(x, y(x)) is investigated. Methods in this class are two step implicit Runge-Kutta methods with s internal stages that do not require an update of y′. There are many examples in the literature of methods which conform to our format. Using a type of Nystrom tree and a corresponding special type of Nystrom series, the order conditions for this method are developed. With this technique of putting order conditions in terms of trees, we obtain a set of simplifying conditions that serve as a framework for generating and analyzing higher order methods. Our analysis affords the development of a two-parameter family of eight-order methods. The issue of maximum obtainable order for unconditionally stable s stage methods is investigated for s = 1, 2. When implemented, these methods, in general, require at each step the solution of an algebraic equation of the form Y = (M ⊗ Im) F(Y), Y ∈ R n, where M is an (s + 1) × (s + 1) matrix. To facilitate solving this equation, we develop a method where M is lower triangular.
An ultrasonic Bragg scattering technique for the quantitative characterization of marbling in beef

Abstract A feasibility study, applicable to in vitro texture differentiation of marbling in beef, was conducted using an ultrasonic Bragg scattering technique. Using separate transmitter and receiver, the spacing of reflecting surfaces is mathematically predicted from an ultrasonic signature of the fluctuations in integrated, scattered energy plotted against transducer angle. With the transducers adjusted in equal increments along an arc centred on a tissue sample, the signature is referred to as a double-angle scan. The spatial frequencies of this signature are indicative of the two-dimensional spacing of the intramuscular reflecting fat surfaces. Statistical analysis of these frequencies allows accurate prediction of the traditionally obtained quality grade of beef, which is based on the degree of visible marbling.
Thermal conductivity of diamond nanorods: Molecular simulation and scaling relations.

Thermal conductivities of diamond nanorods are estimated from molecular simulations as a function of radius, length, and degree of surface functionalization. While thermal conductivity is predicted to be lower than carbon nanotubes, their thermal properties are less influenced by surface functionalization, making them prime candidates for thermal management where heat transfer is facilited by cross-links. A scaling relation based on phonon surface scattering is developed that reproduces the simulation results and experimental measurements on silicon nanowires.
Formation of elongated starch granules in high-amylose maize

GEMS-0067 maize starch contains up to 32% elongated starch granules, much higher than amyloseextender (ae) single-mutant maize starch (7%) and normal (non-mutant) maize starch (0%). These elongated granules are highly resistant to enzymatic hydrolysis at 95–100 C, which function as resistant starch. The structure and formation of these elongated starch granules, however, were not known. In this study, light, confocal laser-scanning, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy were used to reveal the structure and formation of these elongated starch granules. The transmission electron micrographs showed fusion through amylose interaction between adjacent small granules in the amyloplast at the early stage of granule development. A mechanistic model for the formation of elongated starch granules is proposed.
FPGA-based design and implementation of direct torque control for induction machines

We present a field programmable gate array (FPGA) based implementation for direct torque control (DTC) of induction motor drives. The proposed design utilizes several improvements to execute the functional blocks in DTC that reduce the execution time and improve the sampling frequency. The FPGA system is implemented on a Xilinx Virtex-5 board using VHDL code assembled from scratch and the DSP based solution is implemented using dSPACE DS 1104. Both systems are validated experimentally with hardware-in-the-loop, on a small 200 W, 3 phase induction machine. Experimental results indicate that the proposed design enables a far higher sampling frequency (up to 800 kHz), compared to typical digital signal processors (DSP) based solutions which are limited to 20kHz. The higher sampling frequency helps mitigate torque ripple which is a well known limitation of DTC. Additionally, the short execution times suggest the possibility of extending the use of such FPGA implementations to serve auxiliary motor diagnostic functions.
Direct Method for Optimization of a Centrifugal Compressor Vaneless Diffuser

A Direct Method for Optimization (DMO) is developed for investigating pressure rise and energy loss in a vaneless diffuser of a generic compressor used in shipboard air-conditioning systems. The scheme uses Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) results and evaluates gradients of a predetermined objective function. The current Direct Method for Optimization differs from the popular Inverse Design Method in the process of obtaining final configurations and in the final configurations obtained. The Direct Method for Optimization achieves a final shape from maximizing/minimizing a nonlinear function; i.e., the objective function. Both gradient and non-gradient Direct Methods for Optimization are compared with respect to accuracy and efficiency.The coupled DMO/RANS optimization code is benchmarked using a plane turbulent diffuser also investigated by Zhang et al. using an adjoint method. The benchmark indicates that if a global optimum exists, the result should be independent of the methodologies or design parameters used.The DMO/RANS method is applied to redesign a 3-D centrifugal vaneless diffuser used in a modern generic compressor. The objective function is a composite function of the diffuser’s pressure rise and total energy loss. The new optimum diffuser has a minimum width at a location far beyond the conventional diffuser pinch point. The new diffuser also provides an efficient section for pressure recovery, which takes place after the minimum width location. Test data for the new diffuser validates the current approach at the design condition. Furthermore, improved performance is also recorded experimentally at off-design conditions for the optimized diffuser.Copyright © 2000 by ASME
Influence of sympathetic tone on ventricular fibrillation threshold during experimental coronary occlusion.

Abstract The effects of increased and decreased cardiac sympathetic tone and coronary occlusion on ventricular fibrillation threshold were determined in 14 open chest dogs anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. Heart rate was kept constant by pacing the right atrium at cycle lengths of 500 msec. Ventricular fibrillation threshold was measured by delivering 350 msec trains of constant current stimuli with a frequency of 100 hertz and 2 msec duration. The minimal current of the train that induced fibrillation was taken as the ventricular fibrillation threshold. In seven animals, the effects of stellate stimulation were studied. Ventricular fibrillation threshold was measured during control periods, after 2 minutes of coronary occlusion, after 2 minutes of stellate stimulation and after 2 minutes of stellate stimulation and coronary occlusion. Coronary occlusion alone decreased ventricular fibrillation threshold an average of 35 percent of control values and stellate stimulation alone decreased the threshold an average of 42 percent of control values. The combination of both these Interventions decreased ventricular fibrillation threshold an average of 63 percent of control values. The effects of stellate ablation were studied in seven animals. Ventricular fibrillation threshold was measured during control periods, and during coronary occlusion before and after stellate ganglionectomy. Stellectomy increased the threshold an average of 31 percent above control values. After stellectomy, coronary occlusion decreased ventricular fibrillation threshold by only 11 percent of control values, a value 26 percent higher than the threshold during coronary occlusion before stellectomy. These findings may have therapeutic implications for the management of arrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction or some forms of central nervous system disease.
Local convergence of Newton’s method in the classical calculus of variations

Sufficient conditions for a weak local minimizer in the classical calculus of variations can be expressed without reference to conjugate points. The local quadratic convergence of Newton’s method follows from these sufficient conditions. Newton’s method is applied in the minimization form; that is, the step is generated by minimizing the local quadratic approximation. This allows the extension to a globally convergent line search based algorithm (which will be presented in a future paper).
Studies in chemical process design and synthesis part VII: Systematic synthesis of multipass heat exchanger networks

Synthese systematique de reseaux optimaux en ce qui concerne l'energie et de cout minimal, qui peuvent utiliser des echangeurs de chaleur multipasses, des rechauffeurs et des refroidisseurs
A Novel Simple Method for Determining CYP2D6 Gene Copy Number and Identifying Allele(s) with Duplication/Multiplication

Background Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) gene duplication and multiplication can result in ultrarapid drug metabolism and therapeutic failure or excessive response in patients. Long range polymerase chain reaction (PCR), restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequencing are usually used for genotyping CYP2D6 duplication/multiplications and identification, but are labor intensive, time consuming, and costly. Methods We developed a simple allele quantification-based Pyrosequencing genotyping method that facilitates CYP2D6 copy number variation (CNV) genotyping while also identifying allele-specific CYP2D6 CNV in heterozygous samples. Most routine assays do not identify the allele containing a CNV. A total of 237 clinical and Coriell DNA samples with different known CYP2D6 gene copy numbers were genotyped for CYP2D6 *2, *3, *4, *6, *10, *17, *41 polymorphisms and CNV determination. Results The CYP2D6 gene allele quantification/identification were determined simultaneously with CYP2D6*2, *3, *4, *6, *10, *17, *41 genotyping. We determined the exact CYP2D6 gene copy number, identified which allele had the duplication or multiplication, and assigned the correct phenotype and activity score for all samples. Conclusions Our method can efficiently identify the duplicated CYP2D6 allele in heterozygous samples, determine its copy number in a fraction of time compared to conventional methods and prevent incorrect ultrarapid phenotype calls. It also greatly reduces the cost, effort and time associated with CYP2D6 CNV genotyping.
Using simulation to determine the signature data distribution of a given CASTFOREM scenario

A segment of the modeling and simulation community and key decision makers still hold to the misconception that a vehicle can have a single or a representative thermal "signature" for a given scenario-such as daytime summer or night time summer. In truth, a vehicle in a "daytime summer Northeast Asia" scenario can manifest many different types of detectabilities and signature manifestations throughout the day and under differing weather conditions. A reasonable approach toward representing a vehicle's signature characteristics would be to understand that data spread and choose the best value or values that address the question asked of a particular simulation. The Army Materiel Systems Analysis Activity (AMSAA) is moving towards addressing this problem and is seeking to use modeling and Simulation (M&S) tools to populate its databases in a reasonable manner. Using the latest M&S tools, the authors will present unclassified results of measurements and simulations demonstrating this data spread and the resulting CASTFOREM sensitivity analysis. Images and the Delta T-RSS metric will be used to demonstrate the concept of the data distribution. By moving toward the signature data spread mentality, the research and development community can help the sensor and operations community pick the appropriate values for particular analyses--even for vehicles that are in the concept design phase.
Sonographic appearance of uterine scar dehiscence

We describe the sonographic appearance of two cases of uterine scar separation in patients with prior cesarean deliveries. In the first case, the anteriorly located placenta appeared to be a placenta previa with accreta and in the second case the placenta was also located directly beneath the uterine scar thus masking a separation until the third stage of labor was complete. These two cases demonstrate an unusual sonographic and clinical presentation of uterine scar separation involving anteriorly located placentas.
Correlations between fluorine-19 nuclear magnetic resonance chemical shift and the secondary and tertiary structure of 5-fluorouracil-substituted tRNA

Abstract To complete assignment of the 19F nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrum of 5-fluorouracil-substituted Escherichia coli tRNAVal, resonances from 5-fluorouracil residues involved in tertiary interactions have been identified. Because these assignments could not be made directly by the base-replacement method used to assign 5-fluorouracil residues in loop and stem regions of the tRNA, alternative assignment strategies were employed. FU54 and FU55 were identified by 19F homonuclear Overhauser experiments and were then assigned by comparison of their 19F NMR spectra with those of 5-fluorouracil-labeled yeast tRNAPhe mutants having FU54 replaced by adenine and FU55 replaced by cytosine. FU8 and FU12, were assigned from the 19F NMR spectrum of the tRNAVal mutant in which the base triple G9-C23-G12 substituted for the wild-type A9-A23-FU12. Although replacement of the conserved U8 (FU8) with A or C disrupts the tertiary structure of tRNAVal, it has only a small effect on the catalytic turnover number of valyl-tRNA synthetase, while reducing the affinity of the tRNA for enzyme. Analysis of the 19F chemical shift assignments of all 14 resonances in the spectrum of 5-fluorouracil-substituted tRNAVal indicated a strong correlation to tRNA secondary and tertiary structure. 5-Fluorouracil residues in loop regions gave rise to peaks in the central region of the spectrum, 4.4 to 4.9 parts per million (p.p.m.) downfield from free 5-fluorouracil. However, the signal from FU59, in the T-loop of tRNAVal, was shifted more than 1 p.p.m. downfield, to 5.9 p.p.m., presumably because of the involvement of this fluorouracil in the tertiary interactions between the T and D-loops. The 19F chemical shift moved upfield, to the 2.0 to 2.8 p.p.m. range, when fluorouracil was base-paired with adenine in helical stems. This upfield shift was less pronounced for the fluorine of the FU7 · A66 base-pair, located at the base of the acceptor stem, an indication that FU7 is only partially stacked on the adjacent G49 in the continuous acceptor stem/T-stem helix. An unanticipated finding was that the 19F resonances of 5-fluorouracil residues wobble base-paired with guanine were shifted 4 to 5 p.p.m. downfield of those from fluorouracil residues paired with A. In the 19F NMR spectra of all fluorinated tRNAs studied, the farthest downfield peak corresponded to FU55, which replaced the conserved pseudouridine normally found at this position.
INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF ACIDIFIED SOIL ON THE SOYBEAN/BRADYRHIZOBIUM SYMBIOSIS

Effects of acidic soil factors (Al, H-ion, Mo, and Mn) upon the soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. Essex)/Bradyrhizobium japonicum symbiosis were examined in acidified soil. Plants were grown under full sunlight in pots containing N-deficient soil (pH 6.7) or similar soil amended with sufficient Al2(SO4)3 or elemental S to give soil pH values of 4.8 and 4.6, respectively, and water-extractable Al levels of 30 and 14 μM, respectively. Other treatments consisted of the addition of inorganic N or inoculation with commercial or locally-isolated B. japonicum. Acidification did not reduce shoot or root weights of plants receiving inorganic N but reduced (P≤0.05) shoot and root dry weights, nodule dry weights and numbers, shoot N concentrations, and chlorophyll levels of inoculated plants. Shoot dry weights and nodulation of inoculated plants were greater (P≤0.05) in Al2(SO4)3-amended soil than in S-amended soil. Addition of Mo was not beneficial. It was concluded that reduced plant growth was caused by the effects of acidified soil on nodulation and that H-ion toxicity was probably the most limiting factor. Effects of Al, Mn, or Mo appeared less likely.
Signal Recovery From Signal Dependent Noise

It is well known that the noise processes corrupting an image are in general signal-dependent. An interesting aspect of signal-dependent noise is that there is a certain amount of signal-information embedded in the noise. Most of the image restoration techniques, however, attempt to suppress the noise terms to obtain an estimate of the image and do not exploit the additional signal information contained in the noise. A simple technique designed to demonstrate the potential for signal extraction from signal-dependent noise is presented in this paper.© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Immunosuppression of congenitally athymic (nude) mice with heterologous anti-immunoglobulin heavy-chain antisera.

Abstract Congenitally athymic (nude) mice have been shown to be far more sensitive than their phenotypically normal littermates to immunosuppression by anti-Ig antisera. Anti-μ suppression of nude mice was seen to result in complete and stable loss of IgM and IgA as well as severe reductions in IgG1 and IgG2 levels. Anti-α treatment of nudes resulted only in complete and stable loss of IgA; similarly, anti-γ1γ2 treatment achieved only class-specific reductions of IgG1 and IgG2 levels, but these reductions recovered slightly during suppression. Nude mice were more severely immunosuppressed than their phenotypically normal littermates upon anti-Ig treatment and demonstrated much less ability to recover from such suppressive effects. The significance of these observations regarding thymus dependency of immunoglobulin synthesis in nude mice is discussed.
Microstructure — Property relationships in nanocrystalline oxide thin films

Results of studies of the preparation, structure and physical properties of nanocrystalline CeO2, ZrO2:16%Y (YSZ) and SrCeO3:5%Yb oxide thin films are presented. A polymeric precursor spin coating technique has been used to obtain dense specimens with stable and uniform microstructure controlled in the grain size range of 1–400 nm. A variety of characterization techniques including X-ray diffraction, impedance spectroscopy, Raman scattering and optical absorption have been used for the evaluation of the microstructure-property relationships. Nanocrystalline specimens are characterized by enhanced electrical conductivity and different stoichiometry compared with microcrystalline materials. A direct comparison has been achieved between the conductivity and quantum confinement effects observed in optical measurements and correlated with a defect model.
Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits: An Historical Perspective

Monolithic microwave integrated-circuit (MMIC) technology as it exists today has evolved from events that occurred during the middle-to-late 1950's and early 1960's. These events are reconstructed through a review of the published literature, government contract reports and proposals, U.S. patents, and private communications with individuals directly involved in early MMIC development. No single point in time can be viewed as that historical moment when the idea of an MMIC was formalized; rather, the idea evolved over a period of time as a direct result of the successful development of analog and digital IC's and the push by the military services (primarily the Air Force at Wright Patterson) to apply semiconductor technology in defense systems, the evolutionary period is presented in chronological order and includes a discussion of the role played by the Molecular Electronics for Radar Applications program. Early development activities were pursued, with both silicon and GaAs used as the monolithic material. These activities, the early problems encountered with both materials, and the influence the problems had in molding today's technology are described.