cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In Vitro Antiviral Activity of Mycophenolic Acid and Its Reversal by Guanine-Type Compounds

With the agar diffusion test and BS-C-1 cells, mycophenolic acid was found to give a straight-line dose-response activity in inhibiting the cytopathic effects of vaccinia, herpes simplex, and measles viruses. Plaque tests have shown 100% reduction of virus plaques by mycophenolic acid over drug ranges of 10 to 50 μg/ml and virus input as high as 6,000 plaque-forming units (PFU) per flask. Back titration studies with measles virus inhibited by mycophenolic acid have indicated that extracellular virus titers were reduced by approximately 3 logs10 and total virus was reduced by 1 log10. The agar diffusion test system lends itself readily to drug reversal studies. Mycophenolic acid incorporated into agar at 10 μg/ml gave 100% protection to virus-infected cells. Filter paper discs impregnated with selected chemical agents at concentrations of 1,000 μg/ml (20 μg per filter paper disc) were placed on the agar surface. Reversal of the antiviral activity of mycophenolic acid was indicated by virus breakthrough in those cells in close proximity to the filter paper disc. Chemicals showing the best reversal of the antiviral activity of mycophenolic acid were guanine, guanosine, guanylic acid, deoxyguanylic acid, and 2,6-diaminopurine. The reversal of antiviral activity was confirmed by titrations of virus produced with various amounts of both mycophenolic acid and guanine present and by isotope tracer methods with uptakes of labeled uridine, guanine, leucine, and thymidine in treated and nontreated, infected and noninfected cells as parameters. All antiviral effects of mycophenolic acid at 10 μg/ml could be reversed to the range shown by untreated controls by the addition of 10 μg/ml of those chemicals exhibiting reversal activity. Images
Between the Strange and the Familiar: A Journey with the Motel

The tension between the roadside motel’s uncanny and familiar features ensures it a memorable place in contemporary culture. The motel’s uncanniness has developed into a kind of mythology, which has been employed to great effect by popular media, particularly film. In this role the motel is frequently portrayed as a “between” that is structured by its being neither fully home nor fully elsewhere. This article explores how the motel’s betweenness allows it to transcend its own liabilities and afford visitors a unique opportunity to discover what it means to become heimisch (homely) within its walls.
The Future of Drug Repositioning: Old Drugs, New Opportunities

Publisher Summary This chapter summarizes some of the novel methods used to accelerate the discovery of old drugs that could potentially treat new indications, either by the established mechanism of action or by the identification of new ones. Representative case studies of the approaches to therapeutic discoveries are also highlighted. Researchers have previously identified repositioned drugs by serendipity, novel insights, or target searching. The innovative strategies directed toward drug repositioning discussed in this chapter are phenotypic, high throughput, and in silico screening of commercial, public, and pharmaceutical compound libraries, the prospective mining of drug/activity databases, the exchange of compound information in collaborative networks, and data collection from the Internet and social networks. The term “drug repositioning” has been used interchangeably with “drug repurposing” or “drug reprofiling,” which is a promising field in drug discovery that identifies new therapeutic opportunities for existing drugs.
The Number N of Galactic Civilizations must be Either Very Large or Very Small

Life has the tendency to expand and adapt to occupy all available space and to evolve toward structures of higher organization. Interstellar travelling, on the other hand, at V=0.01−0.10c and the establishment of space colonies must be within the capabilities of technologically advanced civilizations. As a result, the complete colonization of the galaxy in a relatively short period of about 10 million years appears to be an unavoidable consequence of life and technology. If the number of advanced civilizations currently present in our galaxy was a moderate one, i.e., N=105−106, over the past several billion years there must have appeared in the galaxy 108−109 advanced civilizations. It seems therefore very unlikely that all these hundreds of millions of civilizations over billions of years were for some reason(s) prevented from following the natural trends of life and technology. Consequently we are led to the conclusion that either the colonization of the galaxy has already taken place, in which case N must be very large (1010−1011), or that the colonization has not yet occurred because very few advanced civilizations capable of initiating it have appeared in the galaxy over its past history, in which case N must be very small (100−101). The probability that the galaxy is in the process of being colonized now is very low (≃0.1%), because the infusion of intelligent life into the whole galaxy is bound to occur in about l/1000th of the life of the galaxy, i.e., in cosmic terms almost instantaneously.
Hilbert integrals, singular integrals, and Radon transforms I

On introduit deux nouvelles classes d'operateurs, on etudie leur relation et on montre comment on peut les appliquer a l'etude des problemes aux valeurs limites
Optical coherence tomography used for internal biometrics

Traditional biometric technologies used for security and person identification essentially deal with fingerprints, hand geometry and face images. However, because all these technologies use external features of human body, they can be easily fooled and tampered with by distorting, modifying or counterfeiting these features. Nowadays, internal biometrics which detects the internal ID features of an object is becoming increasingly important. Being capable of exploring under-skin structure, optical coherence tomography (OCT) system can be used as a powerful tool for internal biometrics. We have applied fiber-optic and full-field OCT systems to detect the multiple-layer 2D images and 3D profile of the fingerprints, which eventually result in a higher discrimination than the traditional 2D recognition methods. More importantly, the OCT based fingerprint recognition has the ability to easily distinguish artificial fingerprint dummies by analyzing the extracted layered surfaces. Experiments show that our OCT systems successfully detected the dummy, which was made of plasticene and was used to bypass the commercially available fingerprint scanning system with a false accept rate (FAR) of 100%.
Pregabalin as a treatment for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a meta-analysis.

Background and Objectives Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is an increasingly prevalent disorder that is best managed through a multimodal approach. We examined the effects of pregabalin on pain control, sleep disturbance, and the patient's global impression of change (PGIC) for the treatment of this disorder. Methods Studies were identified using the National Library of Medicine's PubMed and EMBase databases (1966 to July 15, 2007). Inclusion criteria were randomized trials comparing pregabalin to placebo in the treatment of DPN for adult patients. A total of 13 abstracts were identified of which 3 met inclusion criteria. Data were collected from each article and results were recorded. Primary outcome was pain at the conclusion of the study. Secondary outcomes included number of patients with 50% reduction in mean pain score, PGIC ratings at endpoint, and adverse events. A random-effects model was used. Results The 3 studies yielded 728 total subjects from 5 centers, of which 476 received pregabalin (dose range 75 to 600 mg/day) and 252 received placebo. Pregabalin treatment was associated with a significant decrease in pain scores (weighted mean difference, 1.15), higher likelihood to achieve at least a 50% reduction in mean pain score (relative risk [RR], 4.05), and improved PGIC ratings (RR = 1.45). Pregabalin was associated with an increased risk of somnolence, dizziness, and edema. Conclusions Pregabalin has significant effects on the pain associated with DPN as well as secondary endpoints that affect patients' quality of life.
The swinging pendulum

After the landmark National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project–B27 study, which showed no survival difference between mastectomy and lumpectomy with radiation, breast conservationsurgery (BCS)emergedas thepreferredoption for early-stagecancers.1,2 This ledtoasteady increase in BCS, but the seminal article in this issue by Kummerow et al3 reveals a surprising rise in the rate of mastectomy for early-stage cancers. The authors attribute this rate increase to developments in reconstructive techniques, better served by mastectomy. This study raises several questions.Were all patients BCS candidates? This is difficult to assess without accounting for findings onmagnetic resonance imaging, familyhistory, clinical stage, and tumor to breast ratio, all ofwhich arenow taken into consideration.What was the actual availability of reconstruction and newer techniques such as skinand nipplesparing mastectomies? Kummerow et al3 show that the postmastectomy reconstruction rate rose while the rate of mastectomywithout reconstruction fell. These points hint at amore basic question:Why aremore women opting for mastectomy over BCS, and are those reasons valid? Most important, younger agewas associatedwithmastectomy and there was a disproportionate rise in bilateral mastectomies for unilateral, early-stage cancers. Understandably, concern for genetic predisposition carries influence, as does recent media exposure. It is crucial to properly address these concerns. While the choice to pursuemastectomy over BCS is never wrong, it must be made for the right reasons, a topic recently addressed in JAMA Surgery.4 Current guidelines use the rate of BCS as a qualitymeasure based on cancer stage.5 So, when presenting these surgical options, we must ensure that decisions are not based onmisconceptions. Existing guidelines are in place to ensure that patients are offered the appropriate options. The article by Kummerow et al3 should at least serve as awake-up call that aswe fulfill that responsibility, and use everymodality of care to give patients the best quality of life and survival advantage, the guidelines may need to change again.
Relativistic Hartree-Slater Values for K and L X-Ray Emission Rates

The x-ray emission rates for the filling of K - and L -shell vacancies, calculated with the relativistic Hartree-Slater theory, are given for elements with Z =5 to 104. Account was taken of the finite extent of nuclear-charge distributions. Presented are ratios of the major K -shell components, the total K - and L -shell radiative decay rates, and the rates of emission of individual x-ray lines.
Precipitate Contribution to the Acoustic Nonlinearity in Nickel-Based Superalloy

The influence of γ' precipitate on the acoustic nonlinearity is investigated for a nickel-based superalloy, which is subjected to creep deformation. During creep deformation, the cuboidal γ' precipitate is preferentially coarsened in a direction perpendicular to the applied stress axis. The length and shape factor of the γ' precipitate increase with creep time. The increase of relative acoustic nonlinearity with increasing fraction of creep life is discussed in relation to the rafting of γ' precipitate, which is closely related to the scattering and distortion of the acoustic wave.
Alternative to piperidine in Fmoc solid-phase synthesis.

4-Methylpiperidine is fully equivalent to piperidine in removal of Fmoc protecting group in solid phase synthesis. This reagent is not a controlled substance and its use does not require any paperwork.
Ankle/brachial blood pressure in men >70 years of age and the risk of coronary heart disease.

Low ankle/brachial blood pressure index (ABI) is a marker of generalized atherosclerosis in the elderly, although its association with coronary heart disease (CHD) has not been well established. The purpose of this report is to examine the relation between ABI and the risk of CHD in a sample of elderly men. Findings are based on the ABI that was measured in 2,863 Japanese-American men aged 71 to 93 years at an examination that occurred from 1991 to 1993 in the Honolulu Heart Program. All men were free of total CHD at that time and followed for nonfatal myocardial infarction and death from CHD over a 3- to 6-year period. During follow-up, 186 had a coronary event. Age-adjusted incidence declined significantly from 15.3% in men with an ABI <0.8 to 5.4% in men with an ABI ≥1.0 (p <0.001). The effect of ABI on disease was similar across a variety of risk factor strata, although it seemed strongest in the presence of hypertension and in past and current cigarette smokers. Adjustment for other risk factors failed to diminish the relation between ABI and CHD. We conclude that a low ABI increases the risk of CHD in elderly men. If findings can be extended to other elderly population segments, simple measurement of ABI in an outpatient setting could be an important tool for assessing the risk of CHD in the elderly.
Angiotensin-II-directed glomerulosa cell function in fetal adrenal cells

These studies were undertaken to examine the role of angiotensin II (A-II) in the regulation of adrenal glomerulosa cell differentiation. We were interested particularly in the ability of A-II to support aldosterone production in fetal adrenal cells. Many in vitro studies on acute A-II stimulation of aldosterone synthesis in adrenocortical cells have been documented. However, it is the long-term modification of steroid-metabolizing enzyme expression that leads to the formation and release of specific adrenal steroids. Herein, we used primary cultures of fetal bovine adrenal (FBA) cells to examine the effects of A-II on aldosterone production and the expression of aldosterone synthase cytochrome P450 (P450c18). A-II treatment caused the primary cultures to maintain glomerulosa cell functions. Cells treated for 3 days with A-II increased aldosterone production by 10-fold. A-II stimulation of aldosterone production occurred rapidly (within 30 min) and in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, A-II enhanced the activity of P450c18, the enzyme responsible for conversion of corticosterone to aldosterone. A-II also suppressed ACTH-promoted cortisol production, while increasing ACTH-stimulated release of aldosterone. It appears that these effects of chronic treatment with A-II were mediated through an A-II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor since the AT(1) receptor antagonist, Dup753, blocked aldosterone production and the increased P450c18 activity. Receptor binding studies suggest that FBA cells possess approx. 110,000 AT(1) binding sites/cell with K(d) = 1.8 × 10(-9) M. Via AT(1) receptors, A-II was able to stimulate both inositol phosphates and cAMP production. The stimulation of cAMP production, however, was much less than seen following ACTH treatment. These data give support to the hypothesis that A-II is involved in the differentiation of fetal adrenal cells into glomerulosa cells. This process appears to be mediated through regulation of steroid-metabolizing enzyme expression and the activation of steroid production.
EXPLOITING UNCERTAINTY—INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES AS REAL OPTIONS: A NEW WAY OF THINKING IN ENGINEERING ECONOMICS

Abstract A new trend in corporate planning is to exploit uncertainty by taking investment opportunities as real options. This options approach is to complement the conventional net present value (NPV) criterion in evaluating risky investments. In this paper, we take a broad look at the real options approach to various engineering economic decision problems, laying out how it provides an immediate and important perspective on value creation in an uncertain world. Unlike financial options, real options analysisdeals with investments in real assets, which is one of the primary interest areas in engineering economics. For that reason, we believe that any advancement in the real options decision framework will benefit the field of engineering economics.
Patient preferences for treatment of lupus nephritis

Objective To examine the amount of improvement in renal survival that lupus patients require before choosing cyclophosphamide over azathioprine for the treatment of lupus nephritis. Methods Patients were presented with descriptions of cyclophosphamide and azathioprine and asked to indicate their preferred choice if each conferred an equal probability of renal survival. Strength of preference was assessed by systematically increasing the probability of renal survival of the more toxic treatment until the respondent's choice switched. Results Ninety-three well-educated women (mean age ± SD 40 ± 7 years) participated in the study. Ninety-eight percent (91/93) of the participants chose azathioprine over cyclophosphamide when both drugs conferred an equal probability of renal survival. Although most subjects switched preferences to cyclophosphamide for better renal survival, 31% (28/91) were unwilling to switch from azathioprine to cyclophosphamide for improved short-term renal survival, and 15% (14/91) were unwilling to switch from azathioprine to cyclophosphamide for improved long-term renal survival. Conclusion Although the majority of patients switched preferences to cyclophosphamide for better renal survival, a substantial minority was unwilling to accept the toxicity associated with cyclophosphamide, even if it was much better than azathioprine at preventing renal failure.
Solvent Specified Conformation in Poly(α-l-glutamic acid) Thin Films

The ability to control conformational properties of polypeptides in their films is of considerable interest for many possible applications of these materials. By rational choice of the solvent system for film fabrication, control over the conformation of the main chain, the intermolecular hydrogen bonding in the side chain is easily achieved in poly(α-l-glutamic acid) (PLGA) thin films. The spectral data from circular dichromism (CD), FT-IR, and solid state 13C NMR spectroscopies suggest that the β-sheet conformation is dominant in PLGA films cast from trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution, whereas the right-handed α-helix is dominant in those cast from pyridine or DMF solution. In comparison with films cast from TFA solutions, the films fabricated from pyridine or DMF solutions exhibit strong intermolecular hydrogen bondings between −COOH groups and have a more ordered arrangement of side chains. Moreover, the extent of α-helix conformation of the PLGA backbone in films cast from pyridine or DMF solution i...
CH bond cleavage for ethylene and acetylene on Ni(100)

Abstract The decomposition of isotopically labeled acetylene and ethylene was studied on Ni(100) using static secondary-ion mass spectrometry (SSIMS) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). Both acetylene and ethylene adsorb molecularly at 90 K. Only H2 and the parent molecule are found in TPD. There is a strong isotope effect in the molecular ethylene desorption and in its decomposition to form vinyl (CHCH2) species. The vinyl subsequently decomposes to form acetylide (CCH) and there is no isotope effect in the decomposition of the latter. As the coverage of ethylene increases, there is no inhibition of initial vinyl formation, but strong inhibition of its decomposition. For acetylene, there is an isotope effect in its decomposition to form acetylide but, as for ethylene. none in the decomposition of acetylide. The TPD spectra of H2 from surfaces saturated with ethylene and acetylene are very different: there is much more H2 at high temperatures for acetylene. This difference, which disappears for low coverages, is discussed in terms of CH bond breaking in two distinct local environments — the first containing one or more vacant Ni sites and the second containing only carbon-covered Ni sites and requiring higher activation energy.
Balancing reunification and reentry goals

Abstract Using event history analysis, this study examines the relationship between reunification and reentry rates for 33 Oklahoma counties with 100 or more reunifications occurring in 2002. After testing for and finding no significant linear, quadratic, or cubic relationships between median time to reunification and percent reentry at 12 months for the 33 counties, we tested for correlations between specific reunification time intervals and reentry rates. Consistent with most research in this area, we found a relationship between early reunification (before 6 months) and higher reentry rates. In a significant departure from existing research, we found the converse of the expected relationship between very early reunification and reentry rates: lower reentry rates for counties reunifying a majority of children within 30 days of removal from the home. Possible explanations for this finding are explored, and recommendations for changing child welfare outcome measures are discussed.
Long-Range Electronic Couplings Observed in DNA By SR-EPR

DNA can self-assemble into a wide variety of pre-programmed 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional structures. This property, combined with the ability to conduct charge, makes DNA an attractive material for the fabrication of nanoscale circuitry, sensors, and catalysts. Fermi's Golden Rule, an equation governing the rate of charge transfer, describes the ease with which DNA conducts electrons or “holes” (positive charges). However, the predictive power of Fermi's Golden Rule is limited by the difficulty of independently measuring the terms that appear in this equation. One of these terms, the square of the electronic coupling matrix element, is proportional to the scalar exchange coupling between the charge donor and acceptor. Using a nitroxide radical and the paramagnetic Dy(III) ion as surrogates for donor and acceptor, we have measured scalar exchange couplings and their distance dependence in a family of DNA duplexes via saturation-recovery electron paramagnetic resonance (SR-EPR). Scalar exchange couplings are observed at distances as great as 5.6 nm. The decay in the scalar exchange coupling parallels the decay in electron transfer rates recently measured in DNA. The SR-EPR methodology is general and provides a new tool for determining the electronic coupling matrix element in Fermi's Golden Rule. The knowledge gained from these measurements may prove useful in designing DNA-based electronic devices.
Understanding Context: Transculturation and Imposed Change

Community development is a long process of inquiry, program development, and deployment. There are many impediments to successful development, and many methods for implementing change. One issue that often thwarts development is the rejection of change through transculturation by the community. Understanding and modeling transculturation can improve development by increasing the predictability of stakeholders response to change, and providing a template for designing change that is congruent with existing cultural norms.
Comparing Two Levels of Functional Detail for Mapping Historical Failures: You Are Only as Good as Your Knowledge Base

When failure analysis and prevention, guided by historical design knowledge, are coupled with product design at its conception, shorter design cycles are possible. By decreasing the design time of a product in this manner, design costs are reduced and the product will better suit the customer’s needs. Prior work indicates that similar failure modes occur within products (or components) with similar functionality. To capitalize on this finding, a knowledge base of historical failure information linked to functionality is assembled for use by designers. One possible use for this knowledge base is within the Elemental Function-Failure Design Method (EFDM). This design methodology and failure analysis tool is implemented during conceptual design and keeps the designer congnizant of failures that are likely to occur based on the product’s functionality. EFDM offers potential improvement over current failure analysis methods, such as FMEA, FMECA, and Fault Tree Analysis, because it can be implemented hand in hand with other conceptual design steps and carried throughout a product’s design cycle. These other failure analysis methods can only truly be effective after a physical design has been completed. EFDM however is only as good as the knowledge base that it draws from, and therefore it is of utmost importance to develop a knowledge base that will be suitable for use across a wide spectrum of products. One fundamental question that arises in using EFDM is: At what level of detail should functional descriptions of components be encoded? This paper explores two approaches to populating a knowledge base with actual failure occurrence information from Bell 206 helicopters. Functional models expressed at various levels of detail are investigated to determine the necessary detail for an applicable knowledge base that can be used by designers in both new designs as well as redesigns. High level and more detailed functional descriptions are derived for each failed component based on NTSB accident reports. To best record this data, standardized functional and failure mode vocabularies are used. Two separate function-failure knowledge bases are then created and compared. Results indicate that encoding failure data using more detailed functional models allows for a more robust knowledge base. Interestingly however, when applying EFDM, high level descriptions continue to produce useful results when using the knowledge base generated from the detailed functional models.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Electrical And SEM Metrology Analyses Of Pattern Dimension Accuracy And Process Control In Direct Write Electron Beam Lithography

In this paper, state-of-the-art integrated circuit micrometrology techniques are described for linewidth control measurements and process control/repeatability of the image reversal process of photoresist AZ1470 by direct-write electron beam lithography. The micrometrology measurements involve electrical (Prometrix) and electron-optical (SEM) methods applied to submicron CMOS prototype VLSI circuits. Results obtained by these metrology techniques are presented and compared. The electron beam direct writer is a Cambridge EBMF6.5 system vector scan electron beam machine capable of achieving ultrahigh current densities with a beam of circular cross section and a gaussian intensity profile operated at 20 kev. The etched pattern linewidth accuracy for this electron beam lithography system is determined by errors related to: (a) resist-process, (b) e-beam machine and (c) proximity effect. This paper mainly deals with the analysis of such resist-process related errors, though machine related and proximity effect related errors are also discussed. The resist-process related errors stem from five sources: 1) soft bake temperature effect, 2) e-beam exposure dose, 3) ultraviolet flood exposure dose, 4) development processing and 5) etching uniformity. We have made separate determination of each error through critical dimension control measurements. It was found that e-beam dose, and development processes contributed the most to the process related errors. Our results show that there is close agreement between the electrical and SEM measurements within the accuracy of each technique. This image reversal process consistently produces critical dimension uniformity of one sigma (la) values of about 0.05μm. The linewidths are controlled within 10%. Thus, the results from the metrology data indicate that this resist process can be used to fabricate 0.5μm polysilicon gate structures (although isolated polygate features as small as 0.25μm can be achieved).
Earthquake Prediction based on Station Residuals

TELESEISMIC residuals of the Matsushiro seismic station clearly indicate a decrease in P-wave velocity underneath this station beginning three years before the Matsushiro earthquake swarm of 1965. This is the first instance where premonitory velocity changes have been observed before strike slip faulting1,2. It is concluded that P-wave residuals provide another means for assessment of the earthquake risk near seismic stations.
Response to Letter Regarding Article, “Lipoprotein(a) Concentrations, Rosuvastatin Therapy, and Residual Vascular Risk: An Analysis From the JUPITER Trial (Justification for the Use of Statins in Prevention: An Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin)”

We thank Dr Giral and colleagues for their comments on our recent study of lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)].1 The quantitative assessment of Lp(a) has historically proven challenging in part because of the (1) highly heterogeneous number of Kringle-IV type-2 repeats (and thus molecular weight), and (2) lack of standardized methodology and calibration across published studies. A 2002 National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute consensus workshop that recommended use of isoform size-independent assays that express Lp(a) concentrations in terms of particle number (nmol/L) rather than total mass (mg/dL) and provided control samples for calibration served as a major advance in the field.2 In accordance with these standards, our study reported Lp(a) concentrations in …
Current Algebras and Form Factors

The collinear $U(3)\ensuremath{\bigotimes}U(3)$ subalgebra of the chiral $U(6)\ensuremath{\bigotimes}U(6)$ algebra is considered. Assuming that the densities transform like the generators, the commutation relations are saturated by using the octet and the decuplet of baryons. The matrix elements of the commutators are taken with respect to states of opposite momentum parallel to the direction specified by the algebra. The resulting equations give rise to relations between vector and axial-vector form factors for all values of the momentum transfer. A discussion is given of the connection of these results with similar relations obtained from the spurion scheme of broken $U(6, 6)$ symmetry.
Raman Spectroscopy of Redox Activity in Cathodically Electrodeposited Nickel Hexacyanoferrate Thin Films

The intercalation of cations into electrodeposited nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) depends on the stoichiometry and oxidation state of the material. To better understand this material's performance as a cation separation matrix, the oxidation state needs to be measured independently from the stoichiometry, regardless of the particular intercalated cation. Reported is the use of Raman spectroscopy to quantify the absolute oxidation state of NiHCF thin films. Raman spectroscopy probes NiHCF's cyanide bonds, which are sensitive to the oxidation state of the matrix. The oxidation state is controlled via potentiostatic experiments in electrolytes containing Na+, K+, and Cs+ (NO3- is the common anion). Principal component analysis (PCA) on the Raman spectra shows that more than 90% of the spectral variance is captured by one principal component, with a score value shown to be directly related to the oxidation state of the film. A universal, predictive regression model was developed using these score values as the dependent variables and Raman spectra as the independent variables. The results were confirmed with electrochemistry and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy.
Two-phase flow regime transition criteria in post-dryout region based on flow visualization experiments

Abstract A visual study of film boiling is carried out to determine the flow regime transition in the post-CHF region. An idealized inverted annular flow is obtained by introducing a liquid jet of Freon 113 through a nozzle, precisely centered with respect to the internal diameter of the test section, with an annular gas flow. The respective ranges for liquid and gas velocities are 0.05–0.5 and 0.03–8.2 m ifs −1 . Nitrogen and helium are used in the study. For the present configuration, there are four flow regimes; namely, the smooth inverted annular flow section, the rough wavy, agitated and dispersed flow regimes.
Measurement of the magnetic anisotropy energy constants for magneto-optical recording media

Measurement of the magneto-optical polar Kerr effect is performed on rare earth-transition metal (RE-TM) amorphous films using in-plane fields. From this measurement and the measurement of the saturation magnetization using a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), the magnetic anisotropy constants are determined. The temperature dependence is presented of the magnetic anisotropy in the range of -175 to 175 C. The results show a dip in the anisotropy near magnetic compensation. This anomaly is explained based on the finite exchange coupling between the rare earth and transition metal subnetworks.
Comparison of chloroquine binding to DNA, and polyadenylic and polyguanylic acids.

Abstract The interactions between the antimalarial chloroquine and polyadenylic and polyguanylic acids were examined spectrophotometrically by observing the absorption of chloroquine at 343 mμ after additions of the respective polynucleotides. Calculation of the equilibrium constants for the dissociation of the drug-polymer complexes were made from the absorption differences measured at specific temperatures. Chloroquine-DNA binding was studied by centrifugation of the complex. As a result, the thermodynamic properties of the association reaction were determined for the binding of the drug to these polynucleotides. DNA, poly A, and poly G binding to chloroquine were entropy driven with the reactions proceeding spontaneously to the associated form in the temperature range studied.
High-Speed Profile Measurement with Electro-Optics

A high-speed profile monitor has been developed for Frank-ford Arsenal as an integral part of an automatic 5.56 mm cartridge case ammunition inspection system. This profile gaging monitor uses a dual measurement station each with solid state linear diode arrays and shadow-imaging optics to achieve a throughput rate that exceeds 1200 cases/minute with a diameter measurement standard deviation better than ± 1.5 x 10-3 inch. Fourteen diameters and two lengths are measured on each cartridge case by separate gaging stations. Length measurements use a snapshot-type optical system while diameter measurements require both image tracking of the case shadow and scanning operation to get the diameter measurements from two diode array elements. A mini-computer with a direct memory input from the gaging stations provides an engineering unit conversion from the gaging stations and a dynamic accept/reject decision based on minimum accept and maximum accept limits.
Short-Term Load Forecast Error Distributions and Implications for Renewable Integration Studies

Load forecasting at the day-ahead timescale is a critical aspect of power system operations in the unit commitment process. It is also an important factor in renewable energy integration studies, where the combination of load and wind or solar forecasting techniques create the net load uncertainty that must be managed by the economic dispatch process or with suitable reserves. An understanding of the load forecasting errors that may occur in this process can lead to better decisions about the amount of reserves necessary to compensate for the errors that do occur. In this work, we performed a statistical analysis of the day-ahead (and two-day-ahead) load forecasting errors observed in two independent system operators for a one-year period. Comparisons were made with the normal distribution commonly assumed in power system operation simulations used for renewable power integration studies. Further analysis identified time periods when the load is more likely to be under- or overforecast.
Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon

By Daniel C. Dennett. New York: Viking, 2006. xvi + 448 pp., $25.95 cloth. Daniel Dennett has never been one to shy away from big topics in philosophy. He is perhaps best known for his 1991 classic...
Systemic metabolic effects of combined insulin-like growth factor-I and growth hormone therapy in patients who have sustained acute traumatic brain injury

Object Hypermetabolism, hypercatabolism, refractory nitrogen wasting, hyperglycemia, and immunosuppression accompany traumatic brain injury (TBI). Pituitary dysfunction occurs, affecting growth hormone (GH) and plasma insulin-like growth factor–I (IGF-I) concentrations. The authors evaluated whether combination IGF-I/GH therapy improved metabolic and nutritional parameters after moderate to severe TBI. Methods The authors conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind study comparing combination IGF-I/GH therapy and a placebo treatment. Ninety-seven patients with TBI were enrolled in the study within 72 hours of injury and were assigned to receive either combination IGF-I/GH therapy or placebo. All patients received concomitant nutritional support. Insulin-like growth factor–I was administered by continuous intravenous infusion (0.01 mg/kg/hr), and GH (0.05 mg/kg/day) was administered subcutaneously. Placebo control group patients received normal saline solution in place of both agents. Nutritional and...
Kinetic Mechanism of Nucleotide Cofactor Binding to Escherichia coli Replicative Helicase DnaB Protein. Stopped-Flow Kinetic Studies Using Fluorescent, Ribose-, and Base-Modified Nucleotide Analogues†

The kinetic mechanism of binding nucleotide cofactors to the Escherichia coli primary replicative helicase DnaB protein has been studied, using the fluorescence stopped-flow technique. The experiments have been performed with fluorescent ATP and ADP analogues bearing the modification on the ribose, MANT-AMP-PNP and MANT-ADP, and on the base, epsilonAMP-PNP and epsilonADP. Association of the DnaB helicase with nucleotide cofactors is characterized by four relaxation times that indicate that the binding occurs by a minimum of four-steps. The simplest mechanism which can describe the data is a four-step sequential process where the bimolecular binding step is followed by three isomerization steps. This mechanism is described by the following equation: [equation in text]. The binding mechanism is independent of the location of the nucleotide cofactor modification and is an intrinsic property of the DnaB helicase-nucleotide system. Quantitative amplitude analyses, using the matrix projection operator technique, allowed us to determine specific fluorescence changes accompanying the formation of all intermediates relative to the fluorescence of the free nucleotide. It shows that the major conformational change of the DnaB helicase-nucleotide complex occurs in the formation of the (H-N)(1). Moreover, the value of the bimolecular rate constant, k(1), is 3-4 orders of magnitude lower than the value expected for the diffusion-controlled reaction. These results indicate that the determined first step includes formation of the collision and an additional transition of the enzyme-nucleotide complex. The obtained results provide evidence of profoundly different conformational states of the ribose and base regions of the nucleotide-binding site in different intermediates. The sequential nature of the mechanism of the nucleotide binding to the DnaB helicase indicates the lack of the existence of a kinetically significant conformational equilibrium of the helicase protomer and the DnaB hexamer prior to the binding. The significance of these results for the functioning of the DnaB helicase is discussed.
Highly efficient second-harmonic generation of ultraintense Nd:glass laser pulses

Second-harmonic conversion efficiencies of 80% for type I KDP crystals and 70% for type II have been demonstrated with 500-fs, 1.053-μm laser pulses at intensities as high as 400 GW/cm2. The results are generally in good agreement with simulations and indicate that self-phase modulation and cross-phase modulation may be significant. For type II conversion with a predelay between the input o and e waves, some evidence is obtained of pulse shortening to ~100 fs.
Image quality assessment with a Gabor pyramid model of the human visual system

Reliable image quality assessments are necessary for evaluating digital imaging methods (halftoning techniques) and products (printers, displays). Typically the quality of the imaging method or product is evaluated by comparing the fidelity of an image before and after processing by the imaging method or product. It is well established that simple approaches like mean squared error do not provide meaningful measures of image fidelity. A number of image fidelity metrics have been developed whose goal was to predict the amount of differences that would be visible to a human observer. In this paper we outline a new model of the human visual system (HVS) and show how this model can be used in image quality assessment. Our model departs from previous approaches in three ways: (1) We use a physiologically and psychophysically plausible Gabor pyramid to model a receptive field decomposition; (2) We use psychophysical experiments that directly assess the percept we wish to model; and (3) We model discrimination performance by using discrimination thresholds instead of detection thresholds. The first psychophysical experiment tested the visual system's sensitivity as a function of spatial frequency, orientation, and average luminance. The second experiment tested the relation between contrast detection and contrast discrimination.
Desert Air Incursions, an Overlooked Aspect, for the Dry Spells of the Indian Summer Monsoon

Abstract The year 2009 was a major drought year for the Indian summer monsoon with a seasonal deficit of rainfall by 21.6%. Standard oceanic predictors such as ENSO and the Indian Ocean dipole are not consistent for these dry spells. There are a host of other parameters such as the Himalayan ice cover, the Eurasian snow cover, the passage of intraseasonal waves, and even accumulated effects of Asian pollution that have been considered for analysis of the dry spells of the monsoon. This paper presents another factor, the western Asian desert air incursions toward central India, and emphasizes the formation of a blocking high over western Asia as an important feature for these dry spells. The blocking high advects descending very dry air toward central India, portrayed using swaths of three-dimensional trajectories. This is a robust indicator for dry spells of the monsoon during the last several decades. This dry air above the 3-km level over central India strongly inhibits the vertical growth of deep conve...
Capitalist Punishment: Ethics and Private Prisons

One of the results of Western capitalism has been the increasing pressure for the privatization of the criminal justice system. Although there has long been private or nonprofit involvement in corrections, a newer response has been to turn entire prisons over to private enterprise, or to pay private prisons to house state or federal inmates. Progressively, then, inmates once completely devalued as social junk are being valued as commodities to be sought after. This paper attempts to discuss a series of issues around private prisons. As we can only look at several issues in one paper, we shall concentrate our attention on construction, operating costs, accountability and broader ethical questions.
A documentation system, philosophy and implementation at the UAB University Computer Center

The University Computer Center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB/TUCC) supports the primary administrative functions of the University, as well as some research and academic programs. A relatively small, specialized User Services staff must provide assistance to several hundred Users with widely varying needs. The traditional methods of maintaining documentation, which require dedicated people and resources to update and enter the information, are impossible to implement here given the size and makeup of the staff and the diversity of the User base. The solution to this problem has been the development of an on-line system, called USDR (User Services Documentation Retrieval), which permits information in many forms (e.g., SCRIPT output, tapes from vendors, word processing files) to be retrieved and printed, without the need to rekey or reformat documentation into a common form or location in the system. This paper will discuss the underlying concepts of USDR and an overview of the system which is actually run at UAB/TUCC.
Modifying Wear Life of All-Cotton Fabrics: Part III: Liquid Ammonia in Conjunction with Caustic Soda as a Pretreatment for Durable Press Finish1

The modifying effects of chemical pretreatments on durable press finished cotton broadcloth were investigated. Wear performance and appearance characteristics of caustic soda mercerized, liquid amm...
Ethnic Restructuring in Rural America: Migration and the Changing Faces of Rural Communities in the Great Plains

Scholars have long documented widespread aging and depopulation of rural communities in the Great Plains. Paralleling these trends is the emergence, growth, and spatial dispersion of new and longtime non-white populations across the region. The dual processes of population loss in many counties combined with the growth of new, non-white population groups suggest that the ethnic structure of the population is changing. In this article we utilize choropleth maps, Hoover and Simpson indexes, and cluster analysis to assess whether the emergence and growth of ethnic minority groups in the Great Plains between 1970 and 2008 is a localized phenomenon or region-wide shift in the ethnic composition of the population. Results suggest that as depopulation is occurring in many counties of this region, the growth of non-white populations, both immigrant and native born, is changing or restructuring the ethnic composition of the Great Plains.
Flat flexible polymer heat pipes

Flat, flexible, lightweight, polymer heat pipes (FPHP) were fabricated. The overall geometry of the heat pipe was 130 mm × 70 mm × 1.31 mm. A commercially available low-cost film composed of laminated sheets of low-density polyethylene terephthalate, aluminum and polyethylene layers was used as the casing. A triple-layer sintered copper woven mesh served as a liquid wicking structure, and water was the working fluid. A coarse nylon woven mesh provided space for vapor transport and mechanical rigidity. Thermal power ranging from 5 to 30 W was supplied to the evaporator while the device was flexed at 0°, 45° and 90°. The thermal resistance of the FPHP ranged from 1.2 to 3.0 K W−1 depending on the operating conditions while the thermal resistance for a similar-sized solid copper reference was a constant at 4.6 K W−1. With 25 W power input, the thermal resistance of the liquid–vapor core of the FPHP was 23% of a copper reference sample with identical laminated polymer material. This work shows a promising combination of technologies that has the potential to usher in a new generation of highly flexible, lightweight, low-cost, high-performance thermal management solutions.
Overshoots as polymers adsorb

Abstract An overshoot in the time-dependent mass adsorbed from dilute solution was observed for poly(dimethylsiloxane) and cis -polyisoprene adsorbed onto single oxide surfaces. However, no overshoot was observed for poly(methyl methacrylate) and polystyrene, suggesting the possibility that the overshoot reflects transient surface-induced crystallization.
Dielectric spectroscopy study of myoglobin in glycerol–water mixtures

Abstract Due to the interest in protein dynamics, there are numerous dielectric relaxation studies of proteins in water and in glass-forming aqueous solvents such as glycerol–water mixtures. In the regime of low frequencies, the inevitable dc-conductivity of such systems limits the resolution of dynamics that are slow compared with the solvent relaxation. Solutions of myoglobin in glycerol/water mixtures of various compositions are measured by dielectric spectroscopy in the frequency range from 10 mHz to 10 MHz. The resolution of low frequency modes is improved by two approaches: electrical ‘cleaning’ and the analysis of the derivative of the real component of permittivity, which shows no direct signature of dc-conductivity. Effects of internal interfacial polarization are also addressed by measuring the same solvents in confinement as well as mixed with glass beads. We find two processes, the structural relaxation of the solvent and the slower rotational mode of the protein, with no indication at even lower frequencies of a dielectric signature of fluctuations associated with protein dynamics.