cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The interaction of deep convection with the general circulation in Titan’s atmosphere. Part 2: Impacts on the climate

Abstract The impact of methane convection on the circulation of Titan is investigated in the Titan Atmospheric Model (TAM), using a simplified Betts–Miller (SBM) moist convection parameterization scheme. We vary the reference relative humidity ( R H S B M ) and relaxation timescale of convection ( τ ) parameters of the SBM scheme. Titan’s atmosphere is mostly insensitive to changes in τ , but convective instability and precipitation are highly impacted by changes in R H S B M . Convection behavior changes from infrequent ( R H S B M to near-continuous precipitation at the poles during summer at high R H S B M (85%). The intermediate regime ( R H S B M =70%–80%) consists of frequent events ( ∼ 10 per Titan year) of moderate intensity that are limited in meridional extent to their respective hemisphere. Using results from the Titan Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (TRAMS) and observations, we tune the parameters of the SBM parameterization with optimum values of RH=80% and τ =28800 s. We present a simulated decadal climatology that qualitatively matches observations of Titan’s humidity and cloud activity and generally resembles previous results with TAM. Comparing this simulation to one without moist convection demonstrates that convection strengthens the meridional circulation, warms the mid-levels and cools the surface at the poles, and magnifies zonal-mean global moisture anomalies.
Ask a Director: Making the Library More Accessible

Discussion of how the University of Wisconsin Law Library has implemented workplace accessibility and support for individuals with disabilities.
A Multicenter Retrospective Study of Vancomycin Dosing by Weight Measures in Children

OBJECTIVE Vancomycin carries risks of treatment failure and emergent resistance with underexposure and renal toxicity with overexposure. Children with overweight or obesity may have altered pharmacokinetics. We aimed to examine how body weight metrics influence vancomycin serum concentrations and to evaluate alternative dosing strategies. METHODS This was a multicenter retrospective cohort study across 3 large, academic hospitals. Patients aged 2 to 18 years old who received ≥3 doses of intravenous vancomycin were included. Weight metrics included total body weight, adjusted body weight, ideal body weight, body surface area, and allometric weight. Outcomes included vancomycin concentration and ratios of area under the curve (AUC) to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Regression analyses were used to examine which body-weight identifier predicted outcomes. RESULTS Of the 1099 children, 45% were girls, mean age was 9.0 (SD = 5.4) years, 14% had overweight, and 17% had obesity. Seventy-five percent of children had vancomycin concentrations in the subtherapeutic range by trough 20 µg/mL or ratio of AUC to MIC >600 μg-hr/mL. Serum vancomycin concentrations were higher in children with overweight or obesity compared with children who were at a normal weight or underweight; the mean ratio of AUC to MIC also trended higher in the groups with overweight or obesity. CONCLUSIONS Most children received vancomycin regimens that produced suboptimal trough levels. Children with overweight or obesity experienced higher vancomycin trough levels than children of normal weight despite receiving lower total body weight dosing. Using the ratio of AUC to MIC was a better measure of drug exposure.
4-(N)-Docosahexaenoyl 2’, 2’-difluorodeoxycytidine induces immunogenic cell death in colon and pancreatic carcinoma models as a single agent

Docosahexaenoyl difluorodeoxycytidine (DHA–dFdC) is an amide with potent, broad-spectrum antitumor activity. In the present study, DHA–dFdC’s ability to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) was tested using CT26 mouse colorectal cancer cells, an established cell line commonly used for identifying ICD inducers, as well as Panc-02 mouse pancreatic cancer cells. The three primary surrogate markers of ICD (i.e., calreticulin (CRT) surface translocation, ATP release, and high mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) release) were measured in vitro. To confirm DHA–dFdC’s ability to induce ICD in vivo, the gold standard mouse vaccination studies were conducted using both CT26 and Panc-02 models. Additionally, the effect of DHA–dFdC on tumor response to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 monoclonal antibody (anti-PD-1 mAb) were tested in mice with pre-established Panc-02 tumors. RNA sequencing experiments were conducted on PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells treated with DHA–dFdC, dFdC, or vehicle control in vitro. DHA–dFdC elicited CRT surface translocation and ATP and HMGB1 release in both cell lines. Immunization of mice with CT26 or Panc-02 cells pretreated with DHA–dFdC prevented or delayed the development of corresponding secondary live challenge tumor. DHA–dFdC enabled Panc-02 tumors to respond to anti-PD-1 mAb. RNA sequencing experiments revealed that DHA–dFdC and dFdC differentially impacted genes related to the KRAS, TP53, and inflammatory pathways, and DHA–dFdC enriched for the unfolded protein response (UPR) compared to control, providing insight into DHA–dFdC's potential mechanism of inducing ICD. DHA–dFdC is a bona fide ICD inducer and can render pancreatic tumors responsive to anti-PD-1 mAb therapy.
A microRNA cluster downstream of the selector gene Fezf2 coordinates fate specification with dendritic branching in cortical neurons

In the cerebral cortex, cortical projection neurons comprise classes of neurons project to distant regions of the central nervous system. These neurons develop from the same progenitor pool, but they acquire strikingly different inputs and outputs to underpin strikingly different functions. The question of how corticospinal projection neurons - involved in motor function and implicated in paralysis - and callosal projection neurons - involved in cognitive function and implicated in autism - develop represents a fundamental and clinically important question in neurodevelopment. A network of transcription factors, including the selector gene Fezf2, is central to specifying cortical projection neuron fates. Gene regulation up- and down-stream of these transcription factors, however, is not well understood, particularly as it relates to the development of the major inputs to cortical projection neurons. Here we show that the miR-193b~365 microRNA cluster downstream of Fezf2 cooperatively represses the signaling molecule Mapk8, and impacts dendritic branching of cortical projection neurons.
Abstract TP170: Persistently Elevated Factor VIII In Acute Ischemic Stroke Is Associated With Higher CRP, Lower Baseline NIHSS, And Longer Length Of Hospital Stay

Objective: We sought to determine the proportion of patients with elevated factor VIII (FVIII) levels whose FVIII levels remain elevated after the acute phase of stroke, and the patient characteris...
Pressure Distribution on Spillway Flip Buckets

A method has been developed for calculating the pressure distribution and free-surface profile of a steady, two-dimensional, potential flow past a spillway flip bucket or a toe-curve without gravity. The method has been applied to compute the pressure distributions on two flip buckets of Hartwell Dam with 3-ft radii and lip angles of 20○ and 40○, respectively. The computed pressure distribution for the 40○ bucket agrees extremely well with the measurements from model studies. The theoretical free-surface profile also agrees fairly well with the experimental results. The computed values for the 20○ bucket are all smaller than the measured pressure coefficients. The maximum discrepancy is approximately 10%.
Mini-Moot Court: Use of the Abbreviated Simulation in Teaching Constitutional Law

While moot court simulations are often used in undergraduate courses in Constitutional Law, there are challenges to running an effective simulation. For instructors faced with disparate student preparation and skills, class size, time and workload constraints, as well as those looking for a supplementary exercise for traditional moot court simulations, an abbreviated version – the “mini-moot"– can be a valuable classroom tool. This paper discusses the purposes, form, and benefits of such mini-moot court exercises, drawing upon the past four years of use, and some promising classroom data regarding their pedagogical value.
Earnings Quality and Future Capital Investment: Evidence From Discretionary Accruals*

This paper examines how one aspect of earnings quality - discretionary accruals - affects subsequent capital investment pattern and efficiency. We find that, conditional on investment opportunities, investment in fixed assets in period t is less sensitive to internal cash flows for firms with large positive discretionary accruals in period t-1. We also find that, at a given level of capital investment in fixed assets in period t, the return on assets in period t +1 is lower for firms with large positive discretionary accruals in period t-1. The overall evidence suggests that firms with large positive discretionary accruals misallocate resources, and thus, impose dead-weight efficiency loss.
Thermodynamics of cation binding to rabbit skeletal muscle calsequestrin. Evidence for distinct Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-binding sites.

Ca2+ binding to rabbit skeletal calsequestrin was studied at physiological ionic strength by equilibrium flow dialysis, Hummel-Dryer gel filtration and microcalorimetry. 31 Ca(2+)-binding sites with a mean dissociation constant (KD) of 0.79 mM were titrated in the absence, and 23 sites with a KD of 0.88 mM in the presence of 3 mM Mg2+. No cooperativity was observed. For Mg2+ binding, the combination of gel filtration and microcalorimetry yielded a stoichiometry of 26 Mg2+/protein with a KD of 2mM. 1 mM Ca2+ decreased the stoichiometry to 20 Mg2+/protein. Binding of Ca2+ in the absence and presence of 3 mM Mg2+ was accompanied by a release of 2.0 and 2.7 H+/protein, respectively. Mg2+ binding did not lead to a significant proton release suggesting a qualitative difference in the Ca(2+)- and Mg(2+)-binding sites. After correction for proton release, the enthalpy change for Ca2+ binding was very low (-1.5 kJ/protein in the absence, and -15 kJ/protein in the presence of 3 mM Mg2+). The entropy change (+59 J/K.site in the absence and +56 J/K.site in the presence of Mg2+) was therefore virtually the sole driving force for Ca2+ binding. Mg2+ binding is slightly more exothermic (-12.6 kJ/protein), but as for Ca2+, the entropy change (+50 J/K.site) constituted the major driving force of the reaction. A fluorimetric study indicates that the conformation of tryptophan in Mg(2+)-saturated calsequestrin was clearly different from that in the Ca(2+)-saturated protein, but that the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-saturated protein was not distinct from the Ca(2+)-saturated protein. Thus, in addition to the thermodynamic characterization of the Ca2+/calsequestrin interaction, our data indicate that Ca2+ and Mg2+ do not bind to the same sites on calsequestrin. The data also predict considerable proton fluxes upon Ca(2+)-Mg2+ exchange in vivo.
Hydraulic systems performance of Army engine oils

A technical evaluation of qualified military specification lubricants was started by the U.S. Army Belvoir Research and Development Center and was performed at the U.S. Army Fuels and Lubricants Research Laboratory (AFLRL) located at Southwest Research Institute. This work was conducted to determine if such lubricants can be used as hydraulic fluids in Army Commercial Construction Equipment (CCE) and Selected Material Handling Equipment (SMHE). Sixteen military specification lubricants were extensively evaluated using twelve selected tests required by equipment manufacturers and one test developed by AFLRL in conjunction with John Deere. From the data developed, lubricants meeting Army specifications passed 88 percent of all the tests. It appears that the Army engine oils are good potential candidates for use as hydraulic and power transmission lubricants within the Army CCE/SMHE systems. Areas of concern include copper corrosion, wet brake/clutch frictional performance, and final drive gear wear.
Dynamics of phase transitions and hysteresis in a viscoelastic Ericksen's bar on an elastic foundation

This work is a follow-up on the study [32] of interface dynamics and hysteresis in materials undergoing solid-solid phase transitions. We consider the dynamics of a viscoelastic bar with a nonmonotone stress-strain relation and viscous stress linearly proportional to the strain rate. The bar is placed on an elastic foundation with stiffness β mimicking the interaction of phases in higher dimensions. Time-dependent displacement-controlled loading of the bar results in a tilted and serrated hysteresis loop, in qualitative agreement with some experimental observations in shape-memory alloys. The model exhibits three phase transition processes: phase nucleation, interface slip and phase annihilation. Between these dynamic processes the system gets stuck in local minimizers of the potential energy. As β increases from zero, a slip-dominated solution behavior transforms to the one where slip and annihilation events are preceded by a step-by-step nucleation process. We show that this transition is caused by an interplay between the slip-favoring inertia term and the nucleation-favoring elastic foundation terms.
The Great Interpreter

This essay examines the constitutional legacy of President Abraham Lincoln, the most important constitutional interpreter in our nation's history. The Civil War was -- in addition to so much else -- a defining act of national constitutional interpretation. The war was fought over fundamental questions of the Constitution's meaning, and over who would have final authority to determine that meaning. The most significant issues of antebellum constitutional dispute -- the present and future status of slavery; the question of who possessed constitutional power to determine that status; the nature of the "Union" and the question of whether a state lawfully could secede; matters of national-versus-state constitutional supremacy and "sovereignty" -- received their final "adjudication" not in any court of law but on the battlefields of the Civil War. It was the case of Grant v. Lee, reduced to final judgment at Appomattox Court House 150 years ago, that constituted the nation's determination of these issues, and that determined also the entire constitutional future of the United States. None of this would have happened had Lincoln not considered himself bound by his oath to advance his independent constitutional views concerning Dred Scott, slavery, Union, national constitutional supremacy, and presidential military powers -- views that frequently placed him at odds not only with the views of nearly half the nation, but often with the Supreme Court as well.
Maturation Defects in Temperature-sensitive Mutants of Sindbis Virus

Temperature-sensitive mutants of Sindbis virus, which synthesize viral ribonucleic acid (RNA) but not mature virus at the nonpermissible temperature, were selected for the study of viral maturation. Of these, three mutants which complement each other genetically were used. Two major proteins, the nucleocapsid and membrane proteins, located, respectively, in the viral nucleoid and membrane, were found in intact virions. In cells infected with wild-type Sindbis virus, four distinct types of viral RNA with sedimentation coefficients of 40S, 26S, 20S, and 15S were detected in constant distribution. The 20S RNA was ribonuclease-resistant, whereas the other types were ribonuclease-sensitive. The 40S RNA, identical to that obtained from the virion, was found associated with nucleocapsid protein as a subviral particle, which was assumed to be the nucleoid. Viral materials from cells infected with the mutants under nonpermissive conditions were compared with those from cells infected with wild-type virus, in terms of (i) the distribution of the different types of RNA, (ii) the association of infectious viral RNA into subviral particles, and (iii) the ability of infected cells to hemadsorb goose erythrocytes. According to these criteria, each of the three mutants demonstrated different maturation defects. Defective nucleocapsid proteins and membrane proteins may each account for one of the above mutants. The thrid mutant may have defects in a minor structural protein or possibly a maturation protein which is involved in the assembly of Sindbis virus.
Lessons learned from two decades of research in nutrition education and obesity prevention: Considerations for alcohol education.

Abstract Objective Effective health interventions involve an understanding of the specific needs and wants of the population to be served. Lessons from more than two decades of obesity prevention can be applied to understanding how to design and implement other behaviorally-focused health interventions, including those for alcohol education. Methods Three obesity prevention campaigns were reviewed and evaluated for elements critical to their success in achieving desired outcomes. Results Evaluation of the three cases studies revealed six key elements common to successful interventions. These include: specifying the desired outcome at the outset, understanding the target population, identifying a framework for the intervention, creating a campaign “identity”, enlisting champions, and evaluating both outcomes and process. Conclusion Successful health interventions should be behaviorally-focused and include multiple components to address the various factors that influence behavior. A clear understanding of how and why desired outcomes were achieved can inform dissemination to a wider audience and improve sustainability. Practice implications Lessons learned from obesity prevention provide guidance for development of alcohol education. It must be acknowledged that there is still much to be learned to maximize success in prevention efforts. It is likely that analysis of future efforts in alcohol education can contribute to that understanding.
Hypoxia causes glycogenolysis without an increase in percent phosphorylase a in rat skeletal muscle.

Stimulation of skeletal muscle to contract activates phosphorylase b-to-a conversion and glycogenolysis. Despite reversal of the increase in percentage of phosphorylase a after a few minutes, conti...
Ion-neutral collisional cross sections of carbohydrate isomers as divalent cation adducts and their electron transfer products†

As the gravity of glycoscience continues to amass, a commensurate demand for rapid, sensitive, and structurally comprehensive glycoanalytical tools has arisen. Among the most elusive but desirable analytical capabilities is the ability to expeditiously and unambiguously detect, distinguish, and resolve carbohydrates that differ only in their constitutional isomerism and/or stereoisomerism. While ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) has proven a highly promising tool for such analyses, the facility of this method to discriminate larger oligosaccharides is still somewhat limited. In an effort to expand the capabilities of IMS to discriminate among carbohydrate isomers, the present investigation was focused on IMS studies of four trisaccharide isomers, four pentasaccharide isomers, and two hexasaccharide isomers, each as group II metal ion adducts and their corresponding gas-phase electron transfer (ET) products. These studies were also evaluated in the context of previously investigated group I metal ion adducts of the same saccharides. The orientationally averaged ion-neutral collisional cross sections (CCSs) of the various carbohydrate/metal ion adducts were found to be dependent on the structures of specific carbohydrate isomers, sensitive to the electronic characteristics of the bound cation, and responsive to the attachment of an additional electron (in the case of divalent metal ion adducts). Overall, these results underscore the utility of metal ions for probing carbohydrate structure in concert with IMS, and the capacity of gas-phase ion chemistry to expand the menu of such probes.
Corrosion Study on Liquid Marble Based Localized Electrochemical Deposition on Cold Rolled Steel

Application of electrochemical methods for micro repair is being researched. A liquid marble is a liquid droplet coated with hydrophobic micro or nano powders. When the liquid used is a suitable electrolyte, it can be used for localized electrochemical deposition (LECD) which is in turn used for micro repair. Though the feasibility of this process is already established, the properties of the deposit with respect to the metal substrate has to be studied. Corrosion is an important property that can vary between two metals. An immersion corrosion test is performed on a substrates having micro spots made using LECD using 5% NaCl for 240 hours. The results are compared with specimens of the same dimension which underwent the same corrosion testing process. It was found that the micro deposits did not affect the corrosion rate significantly and therefore localized electro deposition using liquid marbles may be considered as a potential method for micro repair.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
The Effective Temperature of Jupiter’s Equatorial Belt during the 1965 Apparition

Preliminary results from our study of Jupiter’s equatorial limb darkening at 8–14 μ indicate that the effective temperature of the equatorial belt lay between 140 K and 150 K. We find these temperatures to be insensitive to the likely range of the He/H2 ratios. These results assume that Jupiter’s only significant sources of extinction at these wavelengths are the pressure-induced absorption of H2 and He and the absorption of saturated NH3.
A new approach to accurate resistivity measurement for a single nanowire — theory and application

A new four-contact method is proposed to accurately determine the resistivity of a single nanowire and of other nanostructures. Unlike the conventional four-contact method or two-contact method, the new scheme does not require nonrectifying (Ohmic) contacts to the nanowire, and can completely eliminate the systematic errors resulting from the contact resistance or the resistance difference between the contacts. The present method has been successfully applied to a copper nanowire and can be used as a universal resistivity measurement scheme for all nanowires and other nanostructures.
Diagnostics for laser plasma EUV sources

A high repetition-rate laser plasma source, possessing distinct radiation and particle emission characteristics, is now a principal candidate light source for the next generation of technology for the fabrication of computer chips. For these sources to satisfy this critical need they will need to meet unprecedented levels of performance, stability and lifetime. We review here some of the principal diagnostics of the EUV radiation that are now being utilized in the metrology, spectroscopy and imaging of these sources.
The central role of broken bond-bending constraints in promoting glass formation in the oxides.

A glass network of N atoms with n 1 of the atoms with a coordination number of 1, and m 2 of the atoms with a coordination number of 2 about which the bond-angle constraint is broken, will in general display a stiffness threshold (rigidity percolation threshold) when the average coordination increases to a critical value ( r )c = 2.4 – 0.4 ( n 1 – m 2)/ N . Silica and sodium tellurate glasses provide model examples for which this general relation predicts the observed rigidity percolation threshold; this relation predicts the percolation threshold only if one includes broken bond-bending constraints due to bridging oxygen in the former network and nonbridging oxygen in the latter network. The rigidity percolation threshold in (Na2O) x ,(TeO2)1– x glasses observed to occur near x ≃ 0.18 in tellurium-125 Lamb-Mossbauer factor measurments.
Effect of Spinning Disk–Parking Ramp Collison on the Operational Shock Performance of a Mobile Hard Disk Drive

With the introduction of netbook computers two years ago, the demand for hard disk drives (HDD) for mobile applications has greatly increased. High shock resistance is an important requirement for the reliable performance of HDDs in such applications. In this paper we conduct a numerical investigation to understand the failure mechanism of the head disk interface (HDI) during an operational shock. Simulation results suggest that the excitation frequency spectrum has a strong influence on HDI failure. We also investigate the effect of the parking or load unload (LUL) ramp on shock resistance using a new spinning disk model. The results suggest that asymmetric excitations induced by ramp-disk collision causes failure of the HDI at lower shock magnitudes. This study can be helpful in improving the design of HDD components and air bearing sliders (ABS) for better shock performance.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Superparamagnetic nanocrystal clusters for enrichment of low-abundance peptides and proteins

Clusters of densely packed hydrophobic superparamagnetic γ-Fe2O3 nanocrystals have been developed as a powerful adsorbent for enrichment of peptides and proteins, with advantages such as high enrichment efficiency, fast processing, easy magnetic separation, and direct mass analysis.
Strength Development: Using Functional Isometrics in an Isotonic Strength Training Program

Abstract O'Shea (1969) described the use of functional isometric training in isotonic strength training programs. Maximum isometric contractions were used at isotonic contraction sticking points, the weakest combination of joint angle and muscle length, to provide maximal overload at the critical point in an isotonic lift. The purpose of the present study was to determine if a combination of functional isometrics and standard isotonic training would be superior to a standard isotonic training program in an instructional setting. Subjects were volunteer, college males enrolled in weight training classes of a required activity program. They were assigned to two training groups. The experimental group (n =33) trained for 10 weeks, 3 days per week, using a 6-to-8RMlifting regimen on the bench press. The experimental group also followed an isometric program which consisted of 6 maximal voluntary contractions at a predetermined sticking point in the bench press(BP)exercise. A power rack was adjusted to provide ...
The existence of young soot in the exhaust of inverse diffusion flames

Knowledge of the chemical and physical structure of early soot is useful in the development of sootparticle inception models. This paper examines the hypothesis that soot exiting an inverse diffusion flame is similar in chemical and morphological structure to (1) soot precursor particles and (2) soot that exits underventilated flames. Experiments in volving soot collection from the exhaust of laminar ethylene inverse diffusion flames were performed. Soot samples were analyzed for morphology using transmission electron microscopy, for carbon-to-hydrogen ratio using elemental analysis, for organic fraction using thermaloptical analysis, and for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content using laser microprobe mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results of these analyses support the validity of the above hypothesis. This finding is significant because exhaust collection from the inverse flame provides an opportunity to gather large samples of young soot without invading the flame with an intrusive probe (a necessary task when collecting precursors low in the center of a normal diffusion flame). Larger samples can then be subjected to more detailed analysis than previously possible. An identification of specific polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon isomers present in young soot from diffusion flames is reported. The data are available for comparison with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon growth, soot inception, and soot growth models.
The relationship between the trust, hope, and normative and continuance commitment of merger survivors

Purpose – To determine the nature of the relationship between merger survivors' trust, hope, and normative and continuance commitment.Design/methodology/approach – Correlation and multiple regression studies.Findings – The results indicate a statistically significant relationship between merger survivors' trust, hope, and normative commitment. The results of a correlation study indicate no significant relationship between merger survivors' trust, hope, and continuance commitment.Research limitations/implications – One limitation evolved from the scales used to measure the relationship between the study's constructs. The scales were not isolated to measure particular aspects of merger survivors' trust, hope, nor normative and continuance organizational commitment. Also, debate exists regarding the proper time to evaluate mergers survivors' perceptions regarding the merger.Practical implications – Trust in management can reduce perceptions of threat and harm, and facilitate constructive, goal‐determined, su...
Molecular characterization of the human CRT-1 creatine transporter expressed in Xenopus oocytes.

The protein sequence encoded by a creatine transporter cDNA cloned from a human heart library was identical to that cloned from a human kidney library (Nash et al., Receptors Channels 2, 165-174, 1994), except that at position 285 the former contained an Ala residue and the latter contained a Pro residue. Expression of this human heart cDNA clone in Xenopus laevis oocytes induced a Na+- and Cl--dependent creatine uptake activity that saturated with a Km of approximately 20 microM for creatine. The induced uptake was inhibited by beta-guanidinopropionic acid (IC50 approximately 44.4 microM), 2-amino-1-imidazolidineacetic acid (cyclocreatine; IC50 approximately 369.8 microM), gamma-guanidinobutyric acid (IC50 approximately 697.9 microM), gamma-aminobutyric acid (IC50 approximately 6.47 mM), and amiloride (IC50 approximately 2.46 mM). The inhibitors beta-guanidinopropionic acid, cyclocreatine, and gamma-guanidinobutyric acid also inhibited the uptake activity of the Ala285 to Pro285 (A285P) mutant as effectively as that of the wild type. In contrast, guanidinoethane sulfonic acid, a potent inhibitor of taurine transport, inhibited the uptake activity of the A285P mutant approx. two times more effectively than that of the wild type. The protein kinase C activator phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), but not its inactive analog, 4alpha-phorbol 12, 13-didecanoate, inhibited the creatine uptake, and the inhibitory effect of PMA was both time and concentration dependent. The protein kinase A activator 8-bromo-cyclic AMP, however, had no effect on the creatine uptake. The rate of uptake increased hyperbolically with the increasing concentration of the external Cl- (equilibrium constant KCl- approximately 5 mM) and sigmoidally with the increasing concentration of the external Na+ (equilibrium constant KNa+ approximately 56 mM). Further analyses of the Na+ and Cl- concentration dependence data suggested that at least two Na+ and one Cl- were required to transport one creatine molecule via the creatine transporter.
Interface electronics for MEMS-based wireless sensing applications

High-performance interface electronics design for two MEMS-based wireless sensing applications, (1) strain sensing and (2) implantable blood pressure sensing, is presented. In a wireless MEMS strain sensing microsystem, a MEMS capacitive strain sensor is interfaced with a custom-designed ASIC consisting of a low-noise continuous-time synchronous-detection capacitance-to-voltage converter and a 2nd-order ΣΔ ADC to digitize the strain information for a reliable wireless data transmission. An on-chip temperature sensor and a 1st-order ΣΔ ADC are included for system calibration. The microsystem is powered by a 51.2MHz signal and can simultaneously telemetry two channels of digitized strain and temperature data over the RF powering link by passive PSK and ASK modulations, respectively. The prototype system achieves a minimum detectable strain of 50ne over a 10kHz bandwidth with a maximum DC input signal of +/−1000µe, and dissipates 2 mA from an on-chip 3V supply. In a wireless implantable blood pressure sensor design, a low-power integrated electronic system is employed, consisting of a capacitance-to-voltage converter, an 11-bit ADC, an adaptive RF powering system, an oscillator-based 433MHz FSK transmitter and digital control circuitry. The packaged microsystem achieves a capacitive sensing resolution of 75aF over 1 kHz bandwidth, equivalent to a pressure sensing resolution of 1mmHg inside a blood vessel, with a dynamic range of 60dB while dissipating 300µW power.
Biomechanical analysis of the upper thoracic spine after decompressive procedures

Abstract Background context Decompressive procedures such as laminectomy, facetectomy, and costotransversectomy are routinely performed for various pathologies in the thoracic spine. The thoracic spine is unique, in part, because of the sternocostovertebral articulations that provide additional strength to the region relative to the cervical and lumbar spines. During decompressive surgeries, stability is compromised at a presently unknown point. Purpose To evaluate thoracic spinal stability after common surgical decompressive procedures in thoracic spines with intact sternocostovertebral articulations. Study design Biomechanical cadaveric study. Methods Fresh-frozen human cadaveric spine specimens with intact rib cages, C7–L1 (n=9), were used. An industrial robot tested all spines in axial rotation (AR), lateral bending (LB), and flexion-extension (FE) by applying pure moments (±5 Nm). The specimens were first tested in their intact state and then tested after each of the following sequential surgical decompressive procedures at T4–T5 consisting of laminectomy; unilateral facetectomy; unilateral costotransversectomy, and subsequently instrumented fusion from T3–T7. Results We found that in all three planes of motion, the sequential decompressive procedures caused no statistically significant change in motion between T3–T7 or T1–T12 when compared with intact. In comparing between intact and instrumented specimens, our study found that instrumentation reduced global range of motion (ROM) between T1–T12 by 16.3% (p=.001), 12% (p=.002), and 18.4% (p=.0004) for AR, FE, and LB, respectively. Age showed a negative correlation with motion in FE (r=−0.78, p=.01) and AR (r=−0.7, p=.04). Conclusions Thoracic spine stability was not significantly affected by sequential decompressive procedures in thoracic segments at the level of the true ribs in all three planes of motion in intact thoracic specimens. Age appeared to negatively correlate with ROM of the specimen. Our study suggests that thoracic spinal stability is maintained immediately after unilateral decompression at the level of the true ribs. These preliminary observations, however, do not depict the long-term sequelae of such procedures and warrant further investigation.
Emerging geothermometers for estimating slab surface temperatures

Slab fluids drive mantle melting and return ocean water to the Earth's surface through arc volcanism. New ways of estimating the temperature of slab fluids indicate relatively hot conditions, and hint at a shallow and fast return path for ocean water.
Caloric restriction retards the aging associated changes in γ-aminobutyric acidA receptor gene expression in rat cerebellum

It is widely accepted that calorie restriction is an effective way of delaying the aging process. Also, there is an indication that the beneficial effects exerted by dietary manipulation may be due to a direct effect at the molecular level like gene expression. The studies were conducted to determine whether calorie restriction prevents any age-related changes in the structural and molecular aspects of the GABAA-BZ receptor. In aged (24-month old diet ad libitum) rats, the binding of [35S]t-butyl-bicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) was significantly reduced in the cerebellum. In contrast, [35S]TBPS binding remained unchanged in the cerebellum of calorie restricted old rats. In order to evaluate the molecular basis of these changes, the alpha sub-unit mRNA levels were measured. The GABAA receptor alpha1 sub-unit mRNA level remained unchanged in both the old groups of rats. The alpha2 subunit mRNA level was significantly decreased in the cerebellum of aged rats (24-month old ad libitum), whereas it remained unchanged in the cerebellum of calorie restricted old animals. These findings indicate a selective age and diet related modulation in the stoichiometry of the GABAA receptor in aging.
The Spatial LASSO With Applications to Unmixing Hyperspectral Biomedical Images

Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is a spectroscopic method that uses densely sampled measurements along the electromagnetic spectrum to identify the unique molecular composition of an object. Traditionally HSI has been associated with remote sensing-type applications, but recently has found increased use in biomedicine, from investigations at the cellular to the tissue level. One of the main challenges in the analysis of HSI is estimating the proportions, also called abundance fractions of each of the molecular signatures. While there is great promise for HSI in the area of biomedicine, large variability in the measurements and artifacts related to the instrumentation has slow adoption into more widespread practice. In this article, we propose a novel regularization and variable selection method called the spatial LASSO (SPLASSO). The SPLASSO incorporates spatial information via a graph Laplacian-based penalty to help improve the model estimation process for multivariate response data. We show the strong perfo...
Viability of Auction-Based Revenue Management in Sequential Markets

The Internet is providing an opportunity to revenue management practitioners to exploit the potential of auctions as a new price distribution channel. We develop a stochastic model for a high-level abstraction of a revenue management system (RMS) that allows us to understand the potential of incorporating auctions in revenue management in the presence of forecast errors associated with key parameters. Our abstraction is for an environment where two market segments book in sequence and revenue management approaches consider auctions in none, one, or both segments. Key insights from our robust results are (i) limited auctions are best employed closest to the final sale date, (ii) counterbalancing forecast errors associated with overall traffic intensity and the proportion of customer arrivals in a segment is more important if an auction is adopted in that segment, and (iii) it is critically important not to err on the side of overestimating market willingness to pay.
The Comparative Fertility of the Native and the Foreign-Born Women in New York, Indiana, and Michigan

Introduction, 460. — Birth registration introduced after 1850 but generally unsuccessful in the United States, 460. — Census and registration returns in New York, 465. — Birth registration in Indiana, 470. — Census and birth registration returns in Michigan, 472. — Conclusions, 482.
Multiple intermediate states precede pore block during N-type inactivation of a voltage-gated potassium channel.

N-type inactivation of voltage-gated potassium channels is an autoinhibitory process that occurs when the N terminus binds within the channel pore and blocks conduction. N-type inactivation and recovery occur with single-exponential kinetics, consistent with a single-step reaction where binding and block occur simultaneously. However, recent structure–function studies have suggested the presence of a preinactivated state whose formation and loss regulate inactivation and recovery kinetics. Our studies on N-type inactivation of the Shaker-type AKv1 channel support a multiple-step inactivation process involving a series of conformational changes in distinct regions of the N terminus that we have named the polar, flex, and latch regions. The highly charged polar region forms interactions with the surface of the channel leading up to the side window openings between the T1 domain and the channel transmembrane domains, before the rate-limiting step occurs. This binding culminates with a specific electrostatic interaction between R18 and EDE161-163 located at the entrance to the side windows. The latch region appears to work together with the flex region to block the pore after polar region binding occurs. Analysis of tail currents for a latch region mutant shows that both blocked and unblocked states exist after the rate-limiting transition is passed. Our results suggest that at least two intermediate states exist for N-type inactivation: a polar region–bound state that is formed before the rate-limiting step, and a pre-block state that is formed by the flex and latch regions during the rate-limiting step.
In search of a hepatic osmoreceptor in man.

In an attempt to demonstrate an effect of a decrease in portal venous osmolarity in promoting an enhanced water diuresis in man, 10 volunteers were given 500 ml loads of .45% NaCl orally and intravenously. Paired observations at 20-minute intervals showed significant increase in free water clearance following oral loads at 80 minutes only (p<.05). Urine volume between the 2 routes of administration showed no significant difference. Doubling the size of the load or changing the order of administration did not enhance the response to oral loading. No conclusive evidence for existence of a hepatic osmoreceptor in man was obtained.
Delegation and Discretion in Anticipation of Coalitional Drift

If legislators are sensitive to coalitional drift, they must perforce be forward looking. In this article, we propose that legislators anticipate change in government—and any associated coalitional drift. That is, legislators recognize that the government could move from unified to divided or divided to unified. As such, how legislators structure an agency’s discretion may be affected by the current partisan control of the Congress and the White House as well as their anticipated partisan control. Using U.S. trade legislation data from 1890 to 1990, we find strong empirical evidence that legislators alter agency discretion prior to changes in the political status quo.
Dimensionless Analysis of D-Optimal Designs for 1-Dimensional Sorption Kinetic Experiments

D-optimal designs are developed for adsorption kinetics experiments for three 1-dimensional sample geometries: the infinite slab, the infinite cylinder, and the sphere. The well-known solutions to Fick’s second law with constant diffusivity, homogeneous initial concentration, and a convective boundary condition were used as the adsorption kinetic models. Prior to solving for the D-optimal designs, it is shown that the designs can be cast in terms of two dimensionless groups, the Biot number and the Fourier modulus. Finally, the D-optimal designs for the three geometries are presented and compared.
Role of HNF-1α in the regulation of UGT1A1, UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 MRNA expression

Background The hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF-1α) is potentially involved in the regulation of the expression of UGT1A1, UGT1A9 and UGT2B7. A variant (79A>C) in HNF-1α has been associated with insulin resistance and glucose intolerance among nondiabetic individuals; however, its effect on HNF1-α function is not known. We aim to investigate the role of HNF-1α in the regulation of the above UGTs. Methods Liver samples (n=83) were genotyped for HNF-1α 79A>C and for UGT variants affecting their expression. HNF-1α and UGT mRNA levels were measured by real time PCR. Results No correlation was observed between HNF-1α expression and that of UGT1A1, UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 (r2=0.0002, p>0.05; r2=0.09, p=0.02; r2=0.04, p>0.05, respectively; log transformed). HNF-1α genotypes were not associated with UGT mRNA levels (p>0.05). Significant correlations were found between UGT1A1 expression and the *28 polymorphism (6/6>6/7>7/7, p=0.03, nonparametric trend), UGT1A9 expression and the *22 T indel polymorphism (9/9+9/10 vs. 10/10, p=0.02, Mann-Whitney), and UGT2B7 expression and an intronic gene variant (A/A vs. A/G+G/G; p=0.01, Mann-Whitney). HNF-1α genotypes seemed not to predict UGT mRNA levels in multivariate analysis. Conclusion Our data do not provide evidence of a significant role of HNF-1α in the prediction of interindividual variability in UGT1A1, UGT1A9 and UGT2B7 expression. Variation in cis-acting regulatory UGT elements might have a stronger phenotypic effect. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2005) 77, P61–P61; doi: 10.1016/j.clpt.2004.12.125
Bio-oil upgrading over platinum catalysts using in situ generated hydrogen

Abstract The liquid phase upgrading of a model bio-oil was studied over a series of supported Pt catalysts. Pt/Al 2 O 3 showed the highest activity for deoxygenation, the oxygen content of the model oil decreasing from an initial value of 41.4 wt% to 2.8 wt% after upgrading. GC–MS analysis of the oil showed it to be highly aromatic, the major components corresponding to alkyl-substituted benzenes and cyclohexanes. CO 2 was formed as the major gaseous product, together with lower yields of H 2 and C 1 –C 6 hydrocarbons. Based on the product distribution, a reaction scheme is proposed in which light oxygenates predominantly undergo reforming to CO 2 and H 2 , with C–O bond breaking/hydrogenation (to afford alkanes) as a minor pathway. In a parallel process, aromatics undergo C–O cleavage/hydrogenation, affording benzenes and cyclohexanes. The highly alkylated nature of the products appears to be a consequence of the acidic nature of the reaction medium, favoring the occurrence of aromatic electrophilic substitution reactions.
Social Reactions to Attempted Suicide: The Effects of Gender and Physical Attractiveness

The effects of gender of subject, gender of suicide attempter, and physical attractiveness of attempter on justification, emotional adjustment, and liking were investigated in this study. One hundred forty-eight male and female undergraduates (average age = 21.93 years) read a brief case history describing an individual who attempted suicide one week ago. Two-thirds of the subjects also received a photograPh. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of six groups: attractive female attempter, unattractive female attempter, no photograph female attempter, attractive male attempter, unattractive male attempter, and no photograph male attempter. Ratings of justification, emotional adjustment, and liking were measured using 7-point Likert-type questions. The MANOVA revealed significant main effects of gender of subject and physical attractiveness. Univariate analyses of these effects showed that females rated attempters significantly more justified than males and that attractive attempters were liked significan...
Infrared targets for testing and training

We present a design for an IR scene projector for live-fire training applications, based on modification of a commercial-off-the-air laser-light-scene scanner retrofitted with a CO2 laser and associated IR optics. Design goals include a reusable or at least very inexpensive shoot- through projection screen. This application calls for a wide projection field as compared to typical IR scene-projection systems intended for hardware in the loop testing.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
On human body dynamics.

A full set of governing dynamical equations for Hanavan's human body model are developed. The model consists of ellipsoids, elliptical cylinders, and frustrums of elliptical cones. It contains 34 degrees of freedom. The model is considered to be in an arbitrary force field and the limb motions may be either specified or left free. The governing equations then determine the internal limb moments (muscle forces), the limb displacements, and the displacement of the model itself in an inertial reference frame. An example motion representing the model response to an impulsive force loading is also presented.