cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computer-aided study of steady-state carrier lifetimes under arbitrary injection conditions

Abstract The steady-state minority and majority carrier lifetimes are calculated using an exact steady-state equivalent circuit model. The exact majority and minority carrier lifetimes are calculated as functions of position in a diffused silicon P / N junction diode doped with zinc, and as functions of bias voltage or injection level. Factors which affect carrier lifetimes are pointed out and illustrated. Lifetimes due to the presence of multiple energy level Shockley-Read-Hall centers are also discussed. The exact carrier lifetimes at very low and very high injection levels computed from this model agree well with those calculated from the analytical expressions derived by Shockley and Read.
On the Number and Placement of Actuators for Independent Modal Space Control

A new formulation of independent modal space control is developed to handle the attitude and shape control problem for large flexible spacecraft. The main advantage of this method is that one can obtain an analytical solution for the optimal control law for very high dimensional systems. The fundamental limitation of previous work—the requirement of one actuator for each mode to be controlled—is relaxed in the new formulation. The closed-loop design is obtained while independently assuring stability and the design may be iterated to improve closed-loop performance. The process is shown to be simple and efficient in a realistic numerical example of spacecraft shape and attitude control. The ease of control law generation by this approach is seen to be obtained at the expense of the ability to adjust directly the penalties on the actuator effort. Actuator placement is seen to be of fundamental importance, and methods are developed which are comparatively simple to use and which can determine optimal actuator locations.
The effect of subliminal suggestions on Sudden Moments of Inspiration (SMI) in the design process

The purpose of the study is to identify Sudden Moments of Inspiration (SMI) in the architectural design process to examine the effect of subliminal suggestions on SMI. In the study, two experienced designers were selected and were provided with a design task. While one designer was subjected to subliminal suggestions through a slide show presentation and a video clip, the other designer was not. The design sessions of both designers were recorded, coded and analyzed, using concurrent and retrospective protocol methods. Comparison of the two design protocols provided convincing evidence of the occurrence of SMI influenced by subliminal suggestions.
Joint lossless-source and channel coding using automatic repeat request

The susceptibility of arithmetic coding to errors is utilized for channel error recovery using an automatic repeat request (ARQ) scheme. The presented scheme optimizes the tradeoff between the redundancy added to overcome channel errors and detection capability. With this approach, the type of error pattern introduced by the channel does not affect the receiver's detection capability. This scheme is suitable for transmitting long files over low bit error rate channels, and it provides the assurance of reconstructing the original data, free from catastrophic errors.
A Case of Deep Brain Stimulation for Tourette's Complicated by Twiddler's Syndrome.

Keywords: deep brain stimulation; Gilles de la Tourette's syndrome; complications; Twiddler syndrome
Internal structure of rubber particles and craze break-down in high-impact polystyrene (HIPS)

Polystyrene can be substantially toughened by the addition of rubber particles, their role being to act as craze initiators permitting substantial plastic deformation to occur prior to fracture. The internal structure of these particles is variable: typically the smaller (∼1 μm) particles are solid rubber and the larger particles contain sub-inclusions of polystyrene. Thin films of a toughened high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) suitable for optical and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) have been prepared, and the interplay between the internal structure of the particles and the crazes they generate has been examined by TEM. It is found that as crazes form around the solid rubber particles, significant lateral contraction occurs accompanying their elongation in the tensile direction. As this contraction proceeds, decohesion occurs just beneath the particlecraze interface, resulting in the formation of a void. This void will grow under increasing stress, leading to premature failure of the craze. In contrast to this behaviour, occluded particles can accommodate the displacements due to crazing by local fibrillation of the rubber shell which surrounds each sub-inclusion, without the formation of large voids. Consequently, the occluded particles do not act as sites for early craze break-down. These results suggest that the optimum morphology for rubber particles in HIPS will consist of a large number of small PS occlusions, each surrounded by a thin layer of rubber, in which case the size of the inherent flaws introduced during crazing will be minimized.
Early Intervention for Preschoolers with Developmental Delays: The Case for Increased Child Collaboration

In this article are analyzed the four following premises that explain why early intervention programs for preschool children with mental retardation (and other disabilities) have tended to adopt a teacher-directed "cultural transmission" or remedial model of education, whereas preschool programs for children without disabilities have generally preferred a more child-directed "developmental" model. (1) The purpose of early intervention is to accelerate and remediate, rather than support, cognitive growth. (2) Learning and accountability are maximized by specific instructional objectives written into educational plans rather than by encouraging children's own constructivist efforts. (3) Children with retardation are defective, not just slow but otherwise normal and so require extensive adult direction. (4) Research findings are favorable rather than ambiguous towards demonstrating the effectiveness of existing instructional methods. The four premises are reviewed and critiqued. It is concluded that there is sufficient doubt about the cultural transmission remedial model to justify further expansion of the developmental approach in early intervention programs, at least for some children in some areas. Changes in attitudes and practices that such an expansion would entail are discussed.
Structural effects on cytochrome electron transfer: properties of HP1-65 from Horse Heart Cytochrome C

The spectral and potential potentiometric behavior of HP1-65, a peptide derived from horse heart cytochrome c, are described. The effects of exogenous ligands on the spectra and formal potentials are discussed.
Who is early voting? An individual level examination

Abstract Objective. Early voting has been suggested as one method of increasing voter turnout. Allowing voters to cast their ballots during a longer time period may ameliorate some barriers to participation that exist. However, the question of whether early voting mobilizes previous nonvoting registrants or simply makes voting easier for those who would have participated anyway remains largely unanswered. Methods. We test these questions through the use of an individual level survey of voters in one Tennessee county. Using logistic regression, we consider the impact of demographic and attitudinal factors on the propensity to vote on election day or to use early voting. Results. We find marked differences between nonvoters and voters of either type, but we find few significant differences between early voters and traditional voters. We find little support for a mobilization effect and some evidence suggests that early voting merely conveniences those who would have voted anyway.
A study of the single radial hemolysis in gel system—II application of the model to mouse 19S hemolytic antibodies

Abstract A quantitative method for the determination of mouse anti-SRBC has been described in the previous paper (Hiramoto et al., 1971). The mathematical formulation used to derive the slope was least square; theoretical and practical uses of these comparisons are given below. In addition, reconstruction experiments were performed to further test this system. In the first experiment, an antiserum was partially diluted and then compared with a different antiserum standard. In the second experiment, the same antiserum was diluted by one-third and compared with the original.
Segmentation-free keyword spotting framework using dynamic background model

We propose a segmentation free word spotting framework using Dynamic Background Model. The proposed approach is an extension to our previous work where dynamic background model was introduced and integrated with a segmentation based recognizer for keyword spotting. The dynamic background model uses the local character matching scores and global word level hypotheses scores to separate keywords from non-keywords. We integrate and evaluate this model on Hidden Markov Model (HMM) based segmentation free recognizer which works at line level without any need for word segmentation. We outperform the state of the art line level word spotting system on IAM dataset.
Replisome assembly reveals the basis for asymmetric function in leading and lagging strand replication

The E. coli replicase, DNA polymerase III holoenzyme, contains two polymerases for replication of duplex DNA. The DNA strands are antiparallel requiring different modes of replicating the two strands: one is continuous (leading) while the other is discontinuous (lagging). The two polymerases within holoenzyme are generally thought to have asymmetric functions for replication of these two strands. This report finds that the two polymerases have equal properties, both are capable of replicating the more difficult lagging strand. Asymmetric action is, however, imposed by the helicase that encircles the lagging strand. The helicase contact defines the leading polymerase constraining it to a subset of actions, while leaving the other to cycle on the lagging strand. The symmetric actions of the two polymerases free holoenzyme to assemble into the replisome in either orientation without concern for a correct match to one or the other strand.
Short-Range Nonlinear Feedback Strategies for Aircraft Pursuit-Evasion

Prelinearizing transformations are combined with the linear quadratic pursuit-evasion game results to synthesize explicit nonlinear feedback strategies for aircraft pursuit-evasion in the endgame. Three-dimensional point-mass models for aircraft are employed in this work. Numerical results are given for two different engagement scenarios. Future applications include the derivation of collision avoidance strategies for aircraft, aircraft rendezvous, and guidance for coordinated maneuvering with other aircraft.
Opportunities for preventing rear-end crashes: findings from the analysis of actual freeway crash data

To date most traffic crash analyses have been conducted using aggregated crash data. The main focus was given to determining the relationship between crashes and corresponding variables such as traffic volume, speed, speed variance, and geometry conditions. Few studies have focused on the cause of crashes at the individual vehicular level. Recently, the Minnesota Traffic Observatory at the University of Minnesota developed a set of vehicle trajectory data containing five actual rear-end crashes. This article analyzes these data and attempts to establish a trigger factor for preventing crashes. An inverse of time-to-collision value of 0.4 detected all five actual crashes before the collision, but with a large number of false alarms. An additional trigger factor, the deceleration rate difference between leading and following vehicles greater than 15 ft/sec2, completely eliminated those false alarms. In addition, it was found that an advanced warning intended to alert the driver offers little help in preventing the crashes. This is because a driver reaction time of about 0.57 sec is required before initiating deceleration. Thus, the deceleration rate required to avoid a crash became impractical, resulting in actual avoidance of only 20% crashes. This indicated that an automated braking system should be applied to prevent crashes or effectively mitigate the crash impacts.
Valproic acid intensifies epileptiform activity in the hippocampal pyramidal neurons.

Abstract The effects of large concentrations of valproic acid (VPA) on veratridine-induced epileptiform activity (veratridine model) were investigated in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons. Studies were performed on the veratridine model in rat brain slices using conventional electrophysiological intracellular techniques. Large concentrations of VPA (5 mM or more) enhanced rather than inhibited epileptiform activity induced by veratridine. During the proepileptic phase of VPA, a membrane depolarization accompanied by a decrease in membrane input resistance were evident. The voltage-dependent proepileptic effect of VPA was blocked by tetrodotoxin (TTX; 100 nM) but not by the calcium channel blockers, diltiazem (5 μM) or ω-conotoxin GVIA (5 μM). VPA did not induce a proepileptic effect when it was superfused at high concentration (0.5–10 mM) on sodium channel-independent models such as the bicuculline or magnesium-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid. Large concentrations of VPA had no significant effect on untreated neurons. The VPA-enhanced veratridine bursting is probably related to the reported proepileptic activities observed in patients taking high doses of this drug. These data also suggest the involvement of sodium channels in the proepileptic effect of VPA.
Integrating Knowledge of Vertically Aligned Large-Scale Spaces

The acquisition and integration of configurational knowledge of spatial layout was studied in a large building complex containing several levels. Twenty-four college students learned two separate routes by walking around the complex; the two were located one above the other, although this was not visibly apparent. Subjects were then given a description that allowed them to integrate their knowledge of the two routes. Straight-line pointing errors and latencies revealed that subjects acquired considerable configurational knowledge about each route and about their relationship, although pointing was slower and less accurate between than within routes. The study demonstrates integration of separately learned spaces in a naturalistic setting, important to theories of environmental learning. It also provides data on learning in vertically aligned spaces and further evidence of the utility of self-report sense of direction as an individual-difference measure.
14-3-3 protein targets misfolded chaperone-associated proteins to aggresomes

The aggresome is a key cytoplasmic organelle for sequestration and clearance of toxic protein aggregates. Although loading misfolded proteins cargos to dynein motors has been recognized as an important step in the aggresome formation process, the molecular machinery that mediates the association of cargos with the dynein motor is poorly understood. Here, we report a new aggresome-targeting pathway that involves isoforms of 14-3-3, a family of conserved regulatory proteins. 14-3-3 interacts with both the dynein-intermediate chain (DIC) and an Hsp70 co-chaperone Bcl-2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3), thereby recruiting chaperone-associated protein cargos to dynein motors for their transport to aggresomes. This molecular cascade entails functional dimerization of 14-3-3, which we show to be crucial for the formation of aggresomes in both yeast and mammalian cells. These results suggest that 14-3-3 functions as a molecular adaptor to promote aggresomal targeting of misfolded protein aggregates and may link such complexes to inclusion bodies observed in various neurodegenerative diseases.
Biofiltration for the removal and ‘detoxification’ of a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds

A study was performed to determine the effectiveness of using biofiltration for the removal of a complex mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) air-stripped from petroleum hydrocarbons. A biofilter was constructed which contained 264 cm3 of packing material (Celite® R-635). The unit was inoculated with a mixed culture containing a hydrocarbon-degrading Pseudomonas sp and an Alcaligenes sp. Several of the major compounds in the VOC mixture were monitored individually, along with the total VOCs, using gas chromatography. The average influent concentration of the VOC mixture was 320 ppmv and the average total VOC removal rate was over 56%, with the average removal rate of the monitored individual compounds ranging from 49–90%. After 30 days of operation the average overall removal rate was 69% and the removal of the major compounds averaged 92%. The toxicity and mutagenicity of the air stream was monitored using the Microtox and Ames assays, respectively. These data show marked decreases in toxicity and mutagenicity of the air stream as a result of the biofiltration treatment. The biofiltration system, therefore, was not only effective in removing VOCs from the air stream over an extended time-period, but was also effective in greatly reducing the toxicity and mutagenicity associated with the remaining VOCs.
Donor CD4+ T and B cells in transplants induce chronic graft-versus-host disease with autoimmune manifestations

Chronic graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality of long-term survivors of allogeneic hemato-poietic cell transplantation (HCT). Chronic GVHD can have features of an autoimmune collagen vascular disease with clinical manifestations similar to autoimmune scleroderma and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the pathogenesis of chronic GVHD is poorly understood. It is unclear how autoreactive T and B cells are generated in chronic GVHD recipients. We have recently developed a new chronic GVHD model by transplantation of donor DBA/2 (H-2d) spleen cells into major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-matched but minor antigen-mismatched sublethally irradiated BALB/c (H-2d) recipients as well as athymic BALB/cnu/nu and adult-thymectomized BALB/c recipients. Both euthymic and athymic BALB/c recipients developed high levels of serum IgG autoantibodies, sclerodermatous skin damage, and glomerulonephritis. Disease induction required both donor CD25-CD4+ T and B cells in transplants. In contrast, donor CD25+CD4+ T regulatory (Treg) cells prevented the disease induction. These results indicate that host thymus is not required for induction of chronic GVHD and that quiescent autoreactive T and B cells in transplants from nonautoimmune donors may be activated and expanded to cause chronic GVHD with autoimmune manifestations in allogeneic recipients, and donor Treg cells can suppress this process.
The politics of indigeneity: Indigenous strategies for inclusion in climate change negotiations

Indigenous environmental activists have clearly articulated their views on global climate change policy. The content of these views was explored during the 10-day 2008 World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Barcelona. Data were primarily collected through interviews and participant observation. In addition, policy statements and declarations made by indigenous environmental activists from 2000 to 2009 were analysed to place the perspectives of indigenous leaders and environmental activists in the context of their decade-long struggle to gain negotiating power at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This study examines the rhetorical strategies indigenous leaders from around the world use to gain political recognition and legitimacy in climate change negotiations. Two core principles, relating to a particular representation of indigenous environmental knowledge are identified as fundamental rhetorical tools. These are a belief that the earth is a living being with rights and the conviction that it is the responsibility of indigenous peoples to protect the earth from over-exploitation. However, reference to indigenous environmental knowledge is not the only rhetorical mechanism used by indigenous leaders in the climate debates. When faced with specific United Nations policies to combat climate change that could have a profound impact on their land rights, some indigenous leaders adopt a more confrontational response. Fearing that new polices would reinforce historical trends of marginalisation, indigenous leaders seeking recognition in climate change debates speak less about their ecological knowledge and responsibility to the earth and more about their shared histories of political and economic marginalisation and land dispossession, experienced first through colonialism and more recently through globalisation.
Expression of the Catalytic Subunit of Human DNA Polymerase δ in Mammalian Cells Using a Vaccinia Virus Vector System

The catalytic polypeptide of human DNA polymerase δ was overexpressed in BSC-40 cells (African green monkey kidney cell line) using the vaccinia virus/pTM1 system. The recombinant human DNA polymerase δ was purified to homogeneity in two steps using an immunoaffinity column and a single-stranded DNA-cellulose column. Levels of expression were about 1% of soluble cytosolic protein. The recombinant catalytic subunit was fully active and exhibited enzymatic properties similar to that of the native two-subunit enzyme including the possession of an associated 3′ to 5′ exonuclease activity. Recombinant pol δ was stimulated by proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA); however, the degree of stimulation was lower than that of the native human enzyme. Analysis of a double mutant of the catalytic subunit, H142R/F144S, showed that it had a greatly reduced sensitivity to PCNA, suggesting that the PCNA binding site of pol δ may be located in this region of the N terminus.
Equitable access to the global networked environment through U.S. public libraries: too little too late?

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104) provided sweeping reforms to the US telecommunications industry, to developing concepts and applications of Universal Service, and to supporting libraries and schools to connect to the global networked information environment. Indeed, the Clinton Administration has a long record of supporting improved and equitable access, to the Internet and supporting public libraries in that role. But the Universal Service aspects of the law, and especially the awarding of monies to schools and libraries through the E-rate, to support Universal Service continue to be controversial (Gilroy, 1999). For a combination of reasons, it may be that the expectations of how public libraries will serve to promote equitable access to the Internet and a range of networked services and resources are simply unreasonable, are unfunded, and unlikely to be realized. A question to consider is the degree to which public libraries can: take on additional responsibilities for providing community access to the Internet; assist residents in how to best use the Internet so they can find the services and resources needed; and deploy a range of networking infrastructure, hardware, and software are needed for high quality public access to the Internet.
Tissue protein-bound fucose in carcinoma of the female breast (tumor fucose in breast carcinoma).

A positive relationship between serum protein-bound fucose levels and carcinoma of the female breast has been demonstrated in previous reports. In this study, breast tissue fucose levels were determined and the value of a ratio between malignant tumor and control tissue levels was found to correlate directly with serum fucose levels. This evidence is presented as further confirmation of a relationship between the sugar l-fucose and breast carcinoma.
Microfabricated actuators and their application to optics

Several authors have given overviews of microelectromechanical systems, including microactuators. In our presentation we will review some of these results, and provide a brief description of the basic principles of operation, fabrication, and application, of a few selected microactuators (electrostatic and surface tension driven). We present a description of a three-level mechanical polysilicon surface-micromachining technology with a discussion of the advantages of this level of process complexity. This technology, is capable of forming complex, batch-fabricated, interconnected, and interactive, microactuated micromechanisms which include optical elements. The inclusion of a third deposited layer of mechanical polysilicon greatly extends the degree of complexity available for micromechanism design. Two examples of microactuators fabricated using this process are provided to illustrate the capabilities and usefulness of the technology. The first actuator is an example of a novel actuation mechanism based on the effect of surface tension at these micro-scale dimensions and of a microstructure within a microstructure. The second is a comb-drive-based microengine which has direct application as a drive and power source for micro optical elements, specifically, micro mirrors and micro shutters. This design converts linear oscillatory motion from electrostatic comb drive actuators into rotational motion via a direct linkage connection. The microengine provides output in the form of a continuously rotating output gear that is capable of delivering drive torque to a micromechanism.
Determination of the Stress Intensity Factor for a Transverse Shear Crack in a Beam Specimen

By the method of superposition of stressed states, we deduce a formula for the stress intensity factor KІІ under the conditions of transverse shear of an I-beam specimen. The comparison of the results of calculations with the theoretical data obtained earlier by the finite-element method reveals their satisfactory convergence within a broad range of relative crack lengths.
Characterizing the topography of membrane receptors and signaling molecules from spatial patterns obtained using nanometer-scale electron-dense probes and electron microscopy

The flow of information through a cell requires the constant remodeling of cell signaling networks. Thus, spatially and temporally resolved microscopy of signaling components is needed to understand the behavior of normal cells as well as to uncover abnormal behavior leading to human disease. Nanoprobe labeling and transmission electron microscopy of cytoplasmic face-up sheets of cell membrane have been developed as a high-resolution approach to map the interactions of proteins and lipid during cell signaling. Membrane sheets are labeled with 3-15 nm electron-dense probes for receptors, signaling proteins and lipids and micrographs record the distributions of the probes relative to each other and to surface features. Here, we establish computational methods to extract spatial coordinates of probes from micrographs, to analyze and statistically validate the clustering and co-clustering of these probes and to integrate results between experiments in order to establish the relative spatial distributions of single and multiple probes. Our analyses, and the resulting programs for automating data collection and for carrying out statistical and clustering analyses provide toolboxes specialized for the spatiotemporal analysis and modeling of signal transduction pathways.
Small bowel Procardia XL tablet bezoar mimicking cystic pneumatosis intestinalis

Procardia XL Extended Release Tablets are being used with increasing frequency in the treatment of angina and hypertension. Bezoar formation, secondary to retained insoluble medication shells, is an important but less well-known complication. We report the first case of a small bowel bezoar due to this unique medication system.
Selfish DNA and the origin of genes.

A palindromic repeat of about 150 base pairs was found by H. Ogata and colleagues to be inserted into many protein-coding genes of Rickettsia conorii , the bacterium that causes Mediterranean spotted fever (Reports, 13 Oct., p. [347][1]). The corresponding amino acids encoded by these repeats are
Optical excitation and control of electron spins in semiconductor quantum wells

We present our recent work on optical excitation of electron spins and the resulting dynamics in semiconductor quantum wells. We primarily use the transient Faraday/Kerr rotation technique in several different experiments to give a more complete picture of spin polarization, manipulation, transport, decoherence, and the influence of disorder. Using two color time-resolved techniques is particularly valuable for resolving spin dynamics of different species by spectral selection. Experiments in lightly n-doped quantum wells show that spin polarization of the electron gas is generated through trion formation, with spin coherence partially lost through exciton spin relaxation. We also demonstrate that existing electron spin polarization can be rotated without excitation of excitons or trions through a below-resonance adiabatic Raman process. Diffusion of electron spins is also measured using transient spin gratings for different optical excitation conditions. Spin diffusion is shown to accelerate with increasing density or energy of the optically excited carriers. Finally, we examine the spin coherence of the electron gas with different densities, in CdTe quantum wells with different doping densities, and through a mixed type GaAs quantum well, where the electron density can be varied through optical excitation. We characterize the disorder potential by measuring the electron g-factor dependence on density, and show that spin coherence is lost from the interplay between localization by disorder and dynamical scattering.
Optimal Twist and Polarization Angles for the Reflective Liquid Crystal Light Modulator

Abstract We determine the twist angle and the input polarization angle that optimize the efficiency, modulation sensitivity, and contrast ratio for the reflective liquid crystal modulators (especially the liquid crystal light valve). If a monochromatic light source is used, and when the input polarization is parallel to the front molecular director of the liquid crystal, the conventionally used 45° twist has a theoretical maximum reflectance of only 81%. However, a 63·6° twist angle yields the highest efficiency (theoretical maximum reflectance of 100%) as well as a higher modulation sensitivity. When the input polarization is not parallel, different options that yield a high efficiency and an increased modulation sensitivity are available. If the light source is not monochromatic but has a narrow bandwidth, the dispersion effect tends to reduce the contrast ratio, so that a tradeoff between contrast and sensitivity must be made. We show that a configuration with 65–75° twist angle has an efficiency close...
Ischemic Memory Imaging in Nonhuman Primates with Echocardiographic Molecular Imaging of Selectin Expression

Background Selectins are adhesion molecules that are expressed by the vascular endothelium upon activation and may be an imaging target for detecting myocardial ischemia long after resolution. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that molecular imaging of selectins with myocardial contrast echocardiographic (MCE) molecular imaging could be used to detect recent brief ischemia in closed-chest nonhuman primates. Methods Myocardial ischemia was produced in anesthetized adult rhesus macaques ( n = 6) by percutaneous balloon catheter occlusion of the left anterior descending or circumflex coronary artery for 5 to 10 min. Three separate macaques served as nonischemic controls. MCE perfusion imaging was performed during coronary occlusion to measure risk area and at 100 to 110 min to exclude infarction. MCE molecular imaging was performed at 30 and 90 min after reperfusion using a lipid microbubble bearing dimeric recombinant human P-selectin glycoprotein ligand–1 (MB-YSPSL). Collection of blood for safety data, electrocardiography, and echocardiography were performed at baseline and before and 10 min after each MB-YSPSL injection. Results Vital signs, oxygen saturation, electrocardiographic results, ventricular systolic function, pulmonary vascular resistance, and serum safety markers were unchanged by intravenous injection of MB-YSPSL. On echocardiography, left ventricular dysfunction in the risk area had resolved by 30 min, and there was no evidence of infarction on MCE perfusion imaging. On selectin-targeted MCE molecular imaging, signal enhancement was greater ( P Conclusions In primates, MCE molecular imaging of selectins using MB-YSPSL, a recombinant ligand appropriate for humans, is both safe and effective for imaging recent myocardial ischemia. This technique may be useful for detecting recent ischemia in patients with chest pain even in the absence of necrosis.
Simulation of cellular biochemical system kinetics

The goal of realistically and reliably simulating the biochemical processes underlying cellular function is achievable through a systematic approach that makes use of the broadest possible amount of in vitro and in vivo data, and is consistent with all applicable physical chemical theories. Progress will be facilitated by establishing: (1) a concrete self-consistent theoretical foundation for systems simulation; (2) extensive and accurate databases of thermodynamic properties of biochemical reactions; (3) parameterized and validated models of enzyme and transporter catalytic mechanisms that are consistent with physical chemical theoretical foundation; and (4) software tools for integrating all these concepts, data, and models into a cohesive representation of cellular biochemical systems. Ongoing initiatives are laying the groundwork for the broad-based community cooperation that will be necessary to pursue these elements of a strategic infrastructure for systems simulation on a large scale. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2011 3 136–146 DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.116 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website
Effects of License Plate Attributes on Automatic License Plate Recognition

This paper describes an experiment designed to develop a comprehensive and thorough understanding of the readability of North Carolina's license plates with an automatic license plate recognition system. This research focused on law enforcement applications and used two infrared camera systems for data collection in a controlled environment involving more than 900 license plates. The field test was conducted in a controlled environment under the following settings and conditions: a test vehicle traveling at 25 mph, nighttime evaluation, closed test track, 40 ft of spacing of license plates, 9 ft of lateral offset between the license plates and camera, standard issue and specialty plate types, standard syntax and personalized plates, and various license plate ages and conditions. The key finding of this research project is that the current, standard issue license plate with characters in blue ink has the highest capture and read rates among the plates tested in this study. Factors that decreased the captur...
Nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium effects in stratospheric HF by collisional energy transfer from electronically excited O2 and implications for infrared remote sensing

A possible nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) effect involving stratospheric HF arising from the direct photochemical excitation of vibrationally excited HF by collisional energy transfer from electronically excited O2 is presented. Although this non-LTE effect is smaller that one associated with the direct solar excitation of both HF(nv = 1) and HF(nv = 2), calculations show that inclusion of the mechanism into retrieval algorithms is necessary if correct daytime upper stratosphere HF profiles are to be inferred in future IR thermal emission measurements.
Large deflections of cantilever beams of nonlinear materials

Abstract This paper deals with the large deflections (finite) of thin cantilever beams of nonlinear materials, subjected to a concentrated load at the free end. The stress-strain relationships of the materials are represented by the Ludwick relation. Because of the large deflections, geometrical nonlinearity arises and, therefore, the analysis is formulated according to the nonlinear bending theory. Consequently, the exact expression of the curvature is used in the moment-curvature relationship. The resulting second-order nonlinear differential equation is solved numerically using fourth-order Runge-Kutta method. For comparison purposes, the differential equation is solved for linear material and the results are compared to the exact solution which uses elliptic integrals. Deflections and rotations along the central axis of beams of nonlinear materials are obtained. The numerical algorithm was performed on the UNIVAC 1110.
Generation of optimal artificial neural networks using a pattern search algorithm: Application to approximation of chemical systems

A pattern search optimization method is applied to the generation of optimal artificial neural networks (ANNs). Optimization is performed using a mixed variable extension to the generalized pattern search method. This method offers the advantage that categorical variables, such as neural transfer functions and nodal connectivities, can be used as parameters in optimization. When used together with a surrogate, the resulting algorithm is highly efficient for expensive objective functions. Results demonstrate the effectiveness of this method in optimizing an ANN for the number of neurons, the type of transfer function, and the connectivity among neurons. The optimization method is applied to a chemistry approximation of practical relevance. In this application, temperature and a chemical source term are approximated as functions of two independent parameters using optimal ANNs. Comparison of the performance of optimal ANNs with conventional tabulation methods demonstrates equivalent accuracy by considerable savings in memory storage. The architecture of the optimal ANN for the approximation of the chemical source term consists of a fully connected feedforward network having four nonlinear hidden layers and 117 synaptic weights. An equivalent representation of the chemical source term using tabulation techniques would require a 500 × 500 grid point discretization of the parameter space.
Conjugation Methods in Immunofluorescence

We have described methods of labeling antibody preparations with FITC, TMRI, and RBI. The degree of labeling with FITC can be precisely controlled by using well-defined conjugation procedures and FITC of a known degree of purity. Our experience shows that relatively high F/P ratios of the order of 20 to 25 mug/mg are desirable for antibacterial conjugates. Many commercial preparations of rhodamine isothiocyanate are of very poor quality and are unsatisfactory for use in conjugate preparation. Therefore, one should analyze the rhodamine isothiocyanate product before preparing immune conjugates. Our experience indicates that very satisfactory conjugates of immune IgG or pure antibody can be prepared with TMRI of about 60% purity by using a dye-protein ratio of 20 mug/mg. The optimal dye-IgG ratio for labeling with RBI appears to be about two times that for labeling with TMRI because of the lower specific absorbance and fluorescence emission of RBI. Rhodamine conjugates may be preferred to FITC conjugates in certain situations where tissue autofluorescence interferes with the observation of the yellow-green emission of FITC. Furthermore, mixed rhodamine and FITC conjugates of different specificity can be used to great advantage in double-staining techniques that allow simultaneous screening for two antigenically different organisms on a single microscope slide.
Design and production of wax compensators for electron treatments of the chest wall

The primary aim of electron treatment planning for the post mastectomy chest wall is to encompass the volume between the skin surface and the lung-rib interface while limiting dose to the lung. Electron energies for treatment of the chest wall are chosen based on the thickness of tissue between these two areas. Surgical defects or surface irregularities often result in differing thicknesses of tissue across the treatment volume, and patient-specific compensation is necessary to achieve the desired dose distribution. This is true whether the treatment plan is designed using fixed or rotational electrons to treat the chest wall. These clinical requirements are often met using custom shaped wax of varying thickness which conforms to the chest surface. This paper will discuss the treatment planning process used to design these compensators, creation and use of an exact duplicate of the patient's chest wall to aid in the production of these compensators, the production process itself, and verification of the completed compensator.
Reel-to-reel x-ray diffraction and Raman microscopy analysis of differentially heat-treated Y-BaF2-Cu precursor films on metre-length RABiTS

Reel-to-reel x-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman micro-spectroscopy are being evaluated as potential diagnostic tools for on-line feedback in the manufacturing of long-length coated conductors. To facilitate this evaluation, a procedure based on differentially heat-treated Y–BaF2–Cu precursors exposed to time-synchronized phase composition gradients has been developed. Two time-gradient-processed Y Ba2Cu3O7−x (YBCO) tapes of different thicknesses were fabricated using this procedure. The two techniques (used in combination) provided detailed phase and microstructure information as a function of temperature and heat treatment time and identified the same optimum processing time domain windows. More importantly, these deduced optimum times were found to be in close agreement with transport Jc measurements on replicate tapes. In addition, Raman data provided unambiguous identification of key intermediate phases such as BaF2, CuO, Y2Cu2O5, and barium cuprates. Using these results, a hypothetical Y–BaF2–Cu to YBCO reaction mechanism is proposed.
K-Estimator: calculation of the number of nucleotide substitutions per site and the confidence intervals.

UNLABELLED K-Estimator 4.5 is a Windows program that estimates the number of nucleotide substitutions per site (divergence) when comparing two aligned nucleotide sequences, both protein-coding and non-coding. Confidence intervals of the divergence estimates are obtained by Monte Carlo simulation. AVAILABILITY The program is available for non-profit use via anonymous ftp at ftp.bio.indiana. edu/molbio/mswin. CONTACT jcomeron@midway.uchicago.edu
Oxidation Kinetics of Manganese Cobaltite Spinel Protection Layers on Sanergy HT for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Interconnect Applications

Chromia forming ferritic stainless steels (SS) exhibit many desirable qualities for intermediate temperature solid oxide fuel cell interconnect applications. However, with these alloys, there is a need to prevent chromia volatilization and the associated chromium poisoning at the cathode–electrolyte interface, while ensuring low interfacial electrical resistance with the cell electrodes; a need that has generated renewed interest in the development of oxidation resistant, electrically conductive coatings. In the present study, screen printed (Mn,Co)3O4 coatings were applied to a newly developed ferritic SS alloy, Sanergy HT(Cr—21.9%, Ni—0.5%, Mo—0.88%, Nb—0.60%, and Si—0.05%). The oxidation behavior of both the coated alloy and the bare alloy were evaluated at 800°C in air for exposures times up to 1500 h. The oxidation kinetics, investigated using weight gain and scale thickness measurements, exhibited parabolic behavior for the bare alloy. The oxidation behavior of the coated material could not be explained by a single parabolic mechanism. The calculated parabolic thickening rate constants were compared with published data on other ferritic SS alloy compositions.
A polysaccharide from the human commensal Bacteroides fragilis protects against CNS demyelinating disease

The intestinal microbiome may have a critical roll in susceptibility or resistance to immune-mediated diseases. Alterations of the gut microflora after oral antibiotic treatment can regulate encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model for human multiple sclerosis (MS). We now show that a zwitterionic capsular polysaccharide A (PSA) of Bacteroides fragilis can protect against central nervous system demyelinating disease. Oral administration with purified PSA protected mice against EAE prophylactic and therapeutically. PSA treatment enhanced CD103 expressing dendritic cells (DCs) that accumulated in the cervical lymph nodes. Exposure of naive DCs to PSA induced the conversion of naive CD4(+) T cells into interleukin (IL)-10-producing FoxP3(+)Treg cells. Protection against EAE was completely abrogated in IL-10-deficient mice. Our results show an important role for a molecule from human commensal bacteria in protecting against EAE and suggest the possibility for protection in MS.
Detection of block DCT-based steganography in gray-scale images

In this paper, a new approach, the steganography detection system (SDS) is proposed and applied to the detection of block DCT-based steganography in gray-scale images, segmented into 8/spl times/x8 blocks. The differences in the coefficients of the block DCT transforms of the original are treated as features. SDS utilizes statistical preprocessing, over an observation region of each image, that generates feature vectors over the regions. These vectors are then fed into a simple neural network classifier. For the experiments conducted here, using 42 images, SDS achieves perfect detection rate with no misclassifications errors.
Content of nuclear estradiol receptor complex in rat corpora lutea during pregnancy: relationship to estrogen concentrations and cytosol receptor availability.

The content of estradiol receptor in cytosol and nuclear cell fractions of rat corpora lutea changed during pregnancy. The binding of [3H]estradiol to luteal cell cytosol was high early in pregnancy between days 3–11, decreased on days 12 and 15 and was low throughout the remainder of pregnancy. In contrast, the binding of [3H]estradiol to nuclear receptor, as measured by nuclear exchange assay, was low early in pregnancy, increased between days 10–15, remained high through day 18 and decreased on days 20 and 22. The administration in vivo of estradiol-17β(40 µg) 1 hr prior to sacrifice stimulated an increase in nuclear receptor content early in pregnancy (days 3, 6, 8, 10-12) butnot later in pregnancy (days 15, 18, 20 and 22). These results suggested that the estradiol binding component(s) present in rat luteal cell cytosol early in pregnancy represented available estradiol receptor capable of being translocated to the nucleus in the presence of sufficient estradiol. However, once available receptor has ...
The Fine Print of Security

Simple views of systems are often convenient in their design and analysis. However, attackers may attempt to exploit any oversimplification. For security, it is therefore useful to understand the value and the limitations of simplistic models. Computational-soundness theorems, which are the main subject of this lecture, can sometimes shed light on this question. We discuss them first in the context of security protocols. There, two distinct, rigorous views of cryptography have developed over the years. One of the views relies on a simple but powerful symbolic approach; the other, on a detailed computational model that considers issues of probability and complexity. In the last decade, however, we have made substantial progress in bridging the gap between these views. This progress, of which a paper with Phil Rogaway was one of the early steps, is due to many researchers. By now, this line of work provides computational justifications for formal treatments of cryptographic operations and security protocols, and also explores hybrid approaches. Similar ideas can apply in the domain of software protection, although they are less mature in this domain. Specifically, we can relate high-level security guarantees, of the kind offered by programming-language semantics, with lower-level properties of implementations. Layout randomization, one popular and effective implementation technique, again brings up issues of probability and complexity. The lecture introduces some recent work with Gordon Plotkin on this topic.