cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Smoke Characteristics of Distillate and Residual Fuel Burning in Gas Turbine Combustors

During the development of a rich-lean staged dry low NOx combustor, the conventional trend of increasing smoke with increasing operating equivalence ratio was found when tests were run with distillate fuel (% H = 13.0). However, when tests were run with residual fuel (% H = 11.4), the trend was reversed. In addition, when the same combustor was run with blends of distillate fuel and residual fuel, a drastic improvement of smoke was observed when only 6 percent of residual fuel was mixed with distillate fuel, and for any blending of more than 10 percent of residual fuel the combustor was practically smoke free. A chemical analysis of fuel samples revealed an appreciable amount of trace metals in the residual fuel, giving rise to the suspicion that the smoke reduction may have been due in part to these trace metals. Of these elements found, vanadium is believed to be the most likely to cause smoke reduction because of its relatively high concentration.
Amniotic fluid volume of third-trimester diamniotic twin pregnancies

Objective To define the normal range of amniotic fluid (AF) volume in third-trimester diamniotic twin gestations. Methods The AF volume of third-trimester diamniotic twin pregnancies was measured prospectively. An AF sample was drawn from both amniotic cavities of diamniotic twins either for diagnosis of subclinical chorioamnionitis with preterm labor and/or assessment of fetal lung maturity. Actual AF volume was determined in each amniotic cavity by a dye-dilution technique. Results The AF volume of 45 diamniotic twin pregnancies of 27–38 weeks' gestation was assessed. The AF volume per amniotic sac ranged from 155–5430 mL, with a mean (± standard deviation) of 877 ± 860 mL. The AF volume in individual amniotic cavities and the total of both cavities in a diamniotic twin pregnancy were unchanged across the entire gestational age range (27–38 weeks). Neither fetal positioning within the uterus (lower twin versus upper twin) nor fetal weight were determining factors in the AF volume variability ( P = .846 and P = .726, respectively). Based on absolute volumetric differences between the larger- and smaller-sac AF volume, we observed that as the AF volume of the larger sacs increased proportionately ( P P = .687) between 27–38 weeks. Conclusions The average AF volume of 877 mL for each diamniotic twin is similar to the AF volume reported for third-trimester singletons. The AF volumes of diamniotic twin gestations relate neither to fetal position nor fetal weight, but instead develop independently without relation to the other amniotic cavity. Ninety percent of the AF volumes were 215–2500 mL.
Multi-modal, multi-output, multiregional variable input-output model

Abstract A multi-modal, multi-output, multiregional variable input-output (MMMVIO) model is introduced to evaluate the economic impact of a transportation system. The MMVIO model differs from the conventional input-output models by being price and cost sensitive. The regional technical coefficients, trade coefficients, modal choice of shipment, input mix and output composition are determined by the price and cost variables, a property not shared by the conventional input-output models. The transportation system reduces shipping cost of delivering commodities between regions, thereby stimulating economy of trading regions. The MMMVIO model captures the development impact incident to the transportation system.
Experimental simulation of matrix cracking and debonding in a model brittle matrix composite

A model composite material system was designed to simulate typical damage mechanisms in unidirectional fiber reinforced brittle matrix composites. Experiments were performed at low to high quasistatic, macroscopic loading rates $$(\dot \varepsilon = 10^{ - 5} - 10^{ - 3} s^{ - 1} )$$ . At all loading rates reversal of the transverse strain was observed and was correlated to matrix cracking and debonding. The optical method of coherent gradient sensing (CGS) was used to obtain qualitative information regarding the stress fields and to observe the progression of damage. It was found that the sequence of damage formation (damage path) depended on the macroscopic loading rate. At lower loading rates periodic matrix cracks developed; minimal debonding of the reinforcement-matrix interface occurred only much later in the experiment. At higher loading rates extensive debonding followed propagation of the initial matrix crack, and periodic cracking was not observed. Several features of the material response of the model material system were also observed in a previously studied unidirectional ceramic matrix composite.
Asymmetric structures, types, and indicator polynomials

Abstract A combinatorial structure is said to be asymmetric when its automorphism group reduces to the identity. Asymmetric structures may be enumerated with asymmetry indicator series. As with classical cycle indicator series, which count unlabelled structures or types, formal power series operations such as addition, multiplication. and substitution of asymmetry indicator series correspond to combinatorial operations performed directly on the appropriate combinatorial structures. In this paper, the coefficients of asymmetry indicator series are computed directly by applying Mobius inversion techniques on lattices related to the group action. Substitution is shown to be well behaved in this context. In addition, the connections between asymmetry indicator series and cycle indicator series are explained.
An improved method for the isolation and assay of the acid lipase from human liver

Abstract An improved method for the isolation and assay of the lysosomal acid lipase from human liver has been developed. Over 90% of the enzymatic activity was extracted in a soluble form by brief homogenization of frozen tissue with the nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100. With cholesterol, [1-14C]oleate and 4-methylumbelliferyl palmitate as substrate in emulsions with the amphoteric surfactant, N-tetradecyl-N,N-dimethyl-3-ammonio-1-propanesulfonate, and ethanol, an apparent V of 1.9 nmol · min−1 · mg−1 protein was obtained with the radioactive substrate and 29 nmol · min−1 · mg−1 protein with the fluorogenic substrate analog, respectively. The released radioactivity-labelled oleic acid was quantitated by selective extraction with a new biphasic solvent system containing carbon tetrachloride and hexane. This assay procedure offers the advantages over other procedures that subcellular fractionation of the tissue is not required for the isolation of the enzyme; the enzymatic activity toward these emulsions is much greater than previously reported for other methods of substrate solubilization and cholesterol esters with saturated and unsaturated fatty acids can be employed as substrates since both types of fatty acids can be efficiently partitioned and quantitated with this solvent system.
The lessons of 1787

For the celebration of the bicentennial of the Constitution In 1987, the organizers of this conference have asked me whether or not we can learn relevant lessons from the convention of 1787. In this essay I wi l l respond in what I hope is an informative way. I wi l l not be able to utter sc ient i f ic generalizations because that would probably require the study of a great many conventions here and abroad; but I do propose to ask: Could we today make a comparable contribution? The answer to this question w i l l , I think, provide useful interpretations of the framers' accomplishments.
Aromatic molecules in anion recognition: electrostatics versus H-bonding.

Mass-selected complexes A-·C6FnH6-n (A = Cl, I, SF6; n = 0−5) were studied by infrared photodissociation spectroscopy and computational chemistry methods to investigate the interaction of negative ions and aromatic molecules, in which the charge distribution can be tuned by fluorination. Surprisingly, we find that, despite positive partial charges on the carbon atoms at high levels of fluorination, all anions under study prefer hydrogen bonding to the remaining H atoms in the ligand rather than binding to the positively charged ring. Moreover, bifurcated hydrogen bonds to two neighboring CH groups are energetically favored over linear hydrogen bonds to a single CH group.
Evaluation of the Temperature Oscillation Technique to Calculate Thermal Conductivity of Water and Systematic Measurement of the Thermal Conductivity of Aluminum Oxide – Water Nanofluid

A nanofluid is a fluid containing suspended solid particles, with sizes of the order of nanometers. The nanofluids are better conductors of heat than the base fluid itself. Therefore it is of interest to measure the effective thermal conductivity of such a nanofluid. We use temperature oscillation technique to measure the thermal conductivity of the nanofluid. However, first we evaluate the temperature oscillation technique as a tool to measure thermal conductivity of water. Then we validate our experimental setup by measuring the thermal conductivity of the aluminum oxide-water nanofluid and comparing our results with previously published work. Finally, we do a systematic series of measurements of the thermal conductivities of aluminum oxide-water nanofluids at various temperatures and explain the reasons behind the dependence of the enhancement in thermal conductivity of the nanofluid on temperature.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Microscopic Basis for the Mesoscopic Extensibility of Dendrimer-Compacted DNA

The mechanism of DNA compaction by dendrimers is key to the design of nanotechnologies that can deliver genetic material into cells. We present atomistic simulations, mesoscopic modeling and single-molecule pulling experiments describing DNA dendrimer interactions. All-atom molecular dynamics were used to characterize pulling-force-dependent interactions between DNA and generation-3 PAMAM amine-terminated dendrimers, and a free energy profile and mean forces along the interaction coordinate are calculated. The energy, force, and geometry parameters computed at the atomic level are input for a Monte Carlo model yielding mesoscopic force-extension curves. Actual experimental single-molecule curves obtained with optical tweezers are also presented, and they show remarkable agreement with the virtual curves from our model. The calculations reveal the microscopic origin of the hysteresis observed in the phase transition underlying compaction. A broad range of ionic and pulling parameters is sampled, and suggestions for windows of conditions to probe new single-molecule behavior are made.
Oddball distractors demand attention: Neural and behavioral responses to predictability in the flanker task

Abstract Predictable and unpredictable distractors may differentially affect attention. We adapted the Eriksen flanker task by manipulating the probability with which specific flankers occurred. Subjects reported the orientation of briefly-presented targets while attempting to ignore four flanking items. Flankers had either standard (90% of trials) or oddball (10%) orientations. Congruent and incongruent configurations were equiprobable, as were target orientations. Oddball flanker orientations substantially enhanced congruency effects: performance was best when the target was congruent with oddball flankers and worst when it was incongruent. We recorded scalp EEG while subjects performed the task, and later computed ERPs timelocked to stimulus onset. Oddball flanker orientations evoked a visual mismatch negativity (vMMN). Subjects’ temperament predicted individual differences in vMMN magnitude. Orientation sensitivity predicted larger vMMNs; attentional selectivity predicted smaller. Behavioral and vMMN results indicate that subjects exploit distractor predictability to support more-effective active inhibition; oddballs disrupt this strategy. Despite subjects’ attempts to ignore the flankers, unexpected distractors strongly influence neural responses and behavioral performance.
Volume regulation of muscle fibres in the killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus.

Cell volume regulation has been observed in vitro in many tissues. In the killifish it was studied in vivo during transfer from SW to FW and from FW to SW. It was found that the cell water content in acclimated fish varies inversely with the osmolality of the medium. During transfer from SW to FW the plasma osmolality decreased. Cell swelling was prevented through net loss of solutes from the cells. The solutes lost were not potassium or sodium and are presumed to be organic solutes. During transfer from FW to SW the plasma osmolality increased, cell shrinkage occurred and no significant increase in cell solute content could be found during eight hours. During prolonged acclimation cell water content returns to a higher value.
Thermal Inactivation and Postthermal Treatment Growth during Storage of Multiple Salmonella Serotypes in Ground Beef as Affected by Sodium Lactate and Oregano Oil

We assessed the heat resistance of Salmonella in raw ground beef in both the absence and presence of sodium lactate, oregano oil, and in combinations of these 2 GRAS-listed ingredients, and determined their bactericidal or bacteriostatic activities during postthermal treatment storage at 15 degrees C. A cocktail of 8 serotypes of Salmonella spp. was inoculated into ground beef supplemented with sodium lactate (NaL) (1.5% and 3%) and/or oregano oil (0.5% and 1%) to obtain approximately 8 log CFU/g. The ground beef samples (3 g) were vacuum-packed and heated at 60, 65, or 71 degrees C in a circulating water bath for selected times to inactivate approximately 5 to 6 log CFU/g of the pathogen, and then stored at 15 degrees C for 15 and 30 d. Results show that especially at the lower cooking temperatures, addition of oregano oil increased the inactivation rate of Salmonella spp., whereas addition of NaL alone exhibited a protective effect against lethality and decreased the rate. Addition of combinations of oregano oil and NaL overcame this protective effect. During subsequent posttreatment storage for 15 d, Salmonella populations in the controls and in samples containing 0.5% oregano (60 and 65 degrees C) or 1% oregano oil (60 degrees C) increased to 4.5 to 6 log CFU/g. The values for all other samples were at or near undetectable levels. Results from the 30-d storage study were similar. These findings indicate that lactate and oregano oil may be used to render Salmonella spp. more susceptible to the lethal effect of heat and to inhibit growth of Salmonella spp. that survive heat treatments.
Twenty years of particle image velocimetry

The development of the method of particle image velocimetry (PIV) is traced by describing some of the milestones that have enabled new and/or better measurements to be made. The current status of PIV is summarized, and some goals for future advances are addressed.
General Principles of Medical Surveillance: Implications for Workers Potentially Exposed to Nanomaterials

Objective As potential occupational exposure to nanomaterials becomes more prevalent, it is important that the principles of medical surveillance be considered for workers in the nanotechnology industry. Methods The principles of medical surveillance are reviewed to further the discussion of occupational health surveillance for workers exposed to nanomaterials. Results Because of the rapid evolution of nanotechnology, information may not be available to make a well-informed determination of all factors needed to evaluate risk of health effects from occupational exposure to nanomaterials. Conclusion Every workplace dealing with engineered nanomaterials should conduct hazard and exposure assessments as part of an overall surveillance needs assessment for nanotechnology workers. In workplaces where risk is felt to be present, or at least cannot be ruled out, initiation of medical surveillance is prudent to protect workers' health.
INTERACTIONS OF PHYTOPLANKTERS CULTURED FROM A POLLUTED SALINE LAKE, ONONDAGA LAKE, NEW YORK1,2,3

SUMMARY Two-membered cultures of 3 phytoplankters isolated from Onondaga Lake, grown in defined media under laboratory conditions, were analyzed by electronic particle counts and statistical methods to determine antagonistic, neutral, or stimulatory relationships. Over the range studied (exponential phase of growth, nutrients not limiting), growth of Staurastrum paradoxum is markedly reduced in the presence of Chlamydomonas sp. Growth of Chlamydomonas is not affected by presence of Staurastrum. The initial concentration of Staurastrum has an effect on its subsequent growth. The initial concentration of Chlamydomonas does not have an effect on its subsequent growth nor that of Staurastrum. These effects are not mediated by a filterable factor (unless highly labile) or by competition for a nutrient. They resemble, and perhaps describe, fluctuations of these species in the lake.
Integration of Education, Scholarship, and Service through Stormwater Management

: Education, scholarship, and service are the cornerstones of academia. This paper describes how the design, construction, and research of stormwater control measures on the campus of Villanova University has been used to integrate these three facets of academic life. To date, eleven stormwater control measures have been constructed on Villanova's campus. This paper will focus on how the authors have successfully used three of these stormwater control measures, a constructed stormwater wetland, a rain garden, and a porous asphalt/pervious concrete comparison study, to fulfil the university's commitments to education, scholarship, and service.
African American males in the front door but out the back door: monitor discharges

While every instance of race‐based employment discrimination is important, this study finds that managers need to devote extra attention to the discharge of male, African American employees. During the past three decades, efforts to create fair procedures and promote perceptions of fair treatment have focused on hiring activities, the “front door”. However, this study of actualemployment discrimination claims finds that discrimination against African American menmay be particularly acute in the realm of employee discharge, the “back door”. In addition, this study suggests that the employees’ immediate supervisors should be trained and monitored in order to reduce this form of racial discrimination.
Growth and characterization of epitaxial Ba(Co,Zn)1/3Nb2/3O3 thin films

Pulsed Laser Deposition has been used to synthesize Ba(Co,Zn)1/3Nb2/3O3 (BCZN) dielectric thin films on MgO (001) substrates. The BCZN films are epitaxial and have an orientation of (001) // MgO (001) and (100) // MgO (100) when deposited at substrate temperatures above 500 °C. The film grown at 800 °C has the best structural quality, with an X-ray diffraction rocking curve width of ~0.5° and a channeling Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry χmin value of 8.8%. The surface roughness decreases monotonically with increasing substrate temperature, with a ~3 nm root mean square roughness value for the films deposited at 700 °C. Optical transmission measurements indicate a strong direct transition at ~4 eV and a refractive index of 2.0 in the visible range. A low-frequency dielectric constant of 34 was measured using a planar interdigital contact structure. The resistivity of the film is 3×1010 Ω cm at room temperature and has a thermal activation energy of 0.66 eV.
400-Channel 25-GHz-spacing SOI-based planar waveguide demultiplexer employing a concave grating across C- and L-bands

The 400-channel 25-GHz-spacing SOI-based planar waveguide demultiplexer employing a concave grating across C- and L-bands is proposed in this paper. For the high polarization dependence, the waveguides are designed for supporting the TE mode only. To reduce the spherical aberration of the concave grating, the values of the maximum half divergent angle of the light source and minimum effective half width of the fundamental mode of the ridge waveguide are determined. We use a design example to show the spectral characteristics of the proposed design. Simulation results show that the proposed design provides better spectral characteristics and smaller die size.
Human T-cell response to myelin basic protein peptide (83-99): Extensive heterogeneity in antigen recognition, function, and phenotype

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is considered a T cell-mediated autoimmune disease, and myelin proteins are the most likely candidate autoantigens. Based on experiments performed in experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), innovative immunotherapies have been developed that target either the specific trimolecular complex of encephalitogenic T cells, consisting of T-cell receptor (TCR), major histocompatibility complex (MHC; HLA in humans) class II molecule, and autoantigenic peptide, or the effector functions of these cells. To provide the basis for the transfer of these specific immunotherapies to MS, we extensively characterized the human T-cell response to one major myelin epitope, the myelin basic protein peptide (83-99). We analyzed restriction element, TCR usage and affinity, fine specificity, cytokine production, cytolytic activity, and expression of surface molecules on 41 T-cell clones (TCCs) derived from MS patients and normal controls. We demonstrate a high degree of complexity of recognition patterns as well as of functional phenotypes among T cells responding to the same epitope. In contrast to results from animal models, these findings indicate that the design of epitope-based specific immunotherapies for MS is more difficult than previously thought.
Environmental exposures and rheumatoid arthritis risk.

In addition to rapidly burgeoning data regarding novel genetic risk factors, a growing list of environmental exposures have been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility. Cigarette smoking is chief among the many environmental exposures implicated in disease risk, accounting for approximately one in six new cases of RA, with recent results underscoring the central importance of select gene–smoking interactions in RA development. In this review, we examine data linking several environmental exposures with RA risk, including cigarette smoking, other air pollutants and occupational exposures, reproductive/hormonal influences, alcohol consumption, select infections leading to periodontal disease, and dietary factors. Where applicable, we review the current understanding of biologic mechanisms linking these environmental factors to disease risk.
Effect of cyclic pressure on the low temperature consolidation of several composite powder systems

Abstract The effect of cyclic pressure on the room temperature composite powder consolidation has been studied. Mixed metal and ceramic powders were consolidated under static and cyclic pressure at room temperature in constrained “uniaxial” consolidation. In this paper, five composite powder systems, Pb/TiO2, Pb/Sic, Al/Al2O3, Al/Sic and Zn/Al2O3, have been studied at 40% ceramic by volume. This complements an extensive study of Pb/Al2O2 in static and cyclic consolidation that was reported earlier [1]. The experiments show that pressure cycling greatly enhances densification relative to static compaction at the same maximum pressures. The proposed reason for improved densification in cyclic pressure is that the pressure changes (ΔP) may directly induce plastic deformation due to elastic mismatch strains that develop between the metal and ceramic phases. These are induced owing to the compressibility difference (Δβ) between the two phases. The six powder systems studied to date (at many pressure cycle amplitudes) show that all the data for density change nearly collapse to one trend line when plotted against the dimensionless strain ratio, ΔβΔP/eo, where the numerator represents the linear elastic mismatch strain and eo is the matrix yield strain. This term must exceed a value near 3 in order to significantly improve consolidation by pressure cycling. This effect is expected to have practical importance as the pressures required to improve consolidation are often accessible and the strengths of the compacts formed by pressure cycling are significantly greater than those produced in static consolidation.
Interaction of super-intense light fields with atoms and surfaces

Using amplified 100 fs, 616 nm pulses, we employed pump-probe spectroscopy to investigate strong field interactions with gases and metal surfaces. The ionization dynamics of a gas with a pump pulse foeused to 1016 W/cm2 were deduced from spectral shifts in a probe pulse. In addition to above threshold ionization, impact ionization and a nonlinear dependence of the collision frequency on pulse intensity are proposed as mechanisms for the spectral shifts. Also, the cooling time of a high-temperature solid density plasma was measured specifically, the nonequiibrium electron energy distribution excited by a resonantly absorbed pulse focused to 5 x 1012 W/cm2 on a metal surface was measured with a photoelectron time-offlight detector.
The Death of the Object: Perceiving Non-Physical Art

This paper examines the modernist phenomenon of seeking subject material outside the realm of the purely physical. Starting with the Impressionist project to paint light or at least its effects, the paper traces a trajectory of related experimentation through Man Ray's "rayographs" or solarization images of the 20s and 30s, to the work of conceptual artists of the sixties and seventies who focused their attention on ephemeral media. For example, Michael Asher's sitespecific pressured air works, or Robert Barry's pioneering use of unorthodox materials such as inert gases or carrier waves. More recently Dan Flavin and James Turrell have focused their artistic endeavors on light and its color components, and the Belgian artist Ann Veronica Janssens has used light, color and fog to create interactive sculptures. Today what remains invisible to the human eye has taken on a more sinister, and often political, connotation of deeper forces at work as evinced most clearly by Trevor Paglen's The Other Night Sky (2008) series for which he tracked and photographed the movements of classified aircraft and geostationary satellites in the California night skies. All these works take the subject of art to be aesthetic perception, and consequently favor the means in which the experience of viewing is directed by the artist, rather than the traditional art object.
Models of State High Court Decision Making in Sex Discrimination Cases

This paper examines state high court decision making on sex discrimination cases for the period 1971-81. Using logistic regression, several policy models drawn from the comparative state policy and judicial behavior literatures are employed to predict court votes on sex discrimination appeals. The final model emphasizes the importance of policy type, selection system, court reputation, sex of the appellent, and the presence of at least one woman on the court.
Association of the fourth heart sound with increased left ventricular end-diastolic stiffness.

Abstract Background Although the fourth heart sound (S 4 ) is thought to be associated with a stiff left ventricle, this association has never been proven. Recently, single-beat estimation of the end-diastolic pressure volume relationship (EDPVR) has been characterized (P = αV β ), allowing the estimation of EDPVR in larger groups of patients. We hypothesized that the S 4 is associated with an upward- and leftward-shifted EDPVR, indicative of elevated end-diastolic stiffness. Methods and Results Ninety study participants underwent acoustic cardiographic analysis, echocardiography, and left heart catheterization. We calculated α and β coefficients to define the nonlinear slope of the EDPVR using the single-beat method for measuring left ventricular end-diastolic elastance. In the P=αV β EDPVR estimation, α was similar ( P = .31), but β was significantly higher in the S 4 group (5.96 versus 6.51, P = .002), signifying a steeper, upward- and leftward-shifted EDPVR curve in subjects with an S 4 . The intensity of the S 4 was associated with both β ( r = 0.42, P r = 0.39, P = .0008). On multivariable analysis, β remained associated with the presence ( P = .008) and intensity ( P 4 after controlling for age, sex, and ejection fraction. Conclusions The S 4 is most likely generated from an abnormally stiff left ventricle, supporting the concept that the S 4 is a pathologic finding in older patients.
The electric field, oxide thickness, time and fluence dependences of trap generation in silicon oxides and their support of the E-model of oxide breakdown

The trap generation in oxides between 5 nm and 13.5 nm thick has been measured as a function of the oxide electric field, oxide thickness, stress time, and electron fluence during constant voltage stresses. It was found that the trap generation could be accurately described by an Eyring equation of the form NT=1.5/spl times/10/sup 21/exp/sup (-0.32+0.012E0)/kT//spl times/t/sup 0.2/ for all thicknesses of oxides and all stresses. This Eyring formulation for the trap generation supports the electric field model (E-model) of oxide breakdown. The activation energy obtained for trap generation predicts a different activation energy for breakdown very close to that found in long-time, low-field breakdown measurements.
Toward the Fourth Dimension of Membrane Protein Structure: Insight into Dynamics from Spin-Labeling EPR Spectroscopy

Trapping membrane proteins in the confines of a crystal lattice obscures dynamic modes essential for interconversion between multiple conformations in the functional cycle. Moreover, lattice forces could conspire with detergent solubilization to stabilize a minor conformer in an ensemble thus confounding mechanistic interpretation. Spin labeling in conjunction with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy offers an exquisite window into membrane protein dynamics in the native-like environment of a lipid bilayer. Systematic application of spin labeling and EPR identifies sequence-specific secondary structures, defines their topology and their packing in the tertiary fold. Long range distance measurements (60 A–80 A) between pairs of spin labels enable quantitative analysis of equilibrium dynamics and triggered conformational changes. This review highlights the contribution of spin labeling to bridging structure and mechanism. Efforts to develop methods for determining structures from EPR restraints and to increase sensitivity and throughput promise to expand spin labeling applications in membrane protein structural biology.
Nanosecond Time-Resolved and Steady-State Infrared Studies of Photoinduced Decomposition of TATB at Ambient and Elevated Pressure

The time scale and/or products of photoinduced decomposition of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB) were investigated at ambient pressure and compared with products formed at 8 GPa. Ultrafast time-resolved infrared and steady-state Fourier transform IR (FTIR) spectroscopies were used to probe TATB and its products after photoexcitation with a 5 ns pulse of 532 nm light. At ambient pressure, transient spectra of TATB indicate that the molecule has significantly decomposed within 60 ns; transient spectra also indicate that formation of CO2, an observed decomposition product, is complete within 30−40 μs. Proof of principle time-resolved experiments at elevated pressures were performed and are discussed briefly. Comparison of steady-state FTIR spectra obtained at ambient and elevated pressure (ca. 8 GPa) indicate that the decomposition products vary with pressure. We find evidence for water as a decomposition product only at elevated pressure.
Effects of titrated beta blockade (metoprolol) on silent myocardial ischemia in ambulatory patients with coronary artery disease

This study investigates effects of beta-adrenergic blockade on total silent ischemic time assessed by ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring and its relation to heart rate and time of day in ambulatory men with coronary artery disease. Metoprolol, when titrated to optimal dose in a controlled trial in 9 patients, reduced both total silent ischemic time (from 156 +/- 65 to 20 +/- 15 minutes, p = 0.04) and frequency of silent ischemic episodes (from 8 +/- 2 to 2 +/- 2 episodes, p = 0.03) compared with placebo. Mean daily heart rate was reduced, from 82 +/- 2 beats/min during placebo to 58 +/- 1 beats/min, as was heart rate at onset of 1 mm of ST-segment depression (106 +/- 2 to 74 +/- 4 beats/min, both p less than 0.001). Heart rate increased 10 +/- 1 beats/min during silent ischemia with placebo therapy, but increased only 4 +/- 1 beats/min during metoprolol treatment (p less than 0.03). During placebo administration the largest proportion of silent ischemic time occurred between 0600 and 1200 hours. Metoprolol attenuated this circadian variation in silent ischemia while reducing (p less than 0.05) total silent ischemic time in all periods. Thus, beta-adrenergic blockade reduces the frequency of silent myocardial ischemic episodes and total silent ischemic time, while mean daily heart rate and heart rate at onset of ischemia and maximal ischemia decrease. Metoprolol treatment also attenuates circadian variation of silent ischemia. These data may be interpreted to suggest that beta-adrenergic activation operates in the pathogenesis of silent myocardial ischemia and its circadian variation.
Utility-scale wind on islands: an economic feasibility study of Ilio Point, Hawai’i

Abstract The opportunity now exists for the development of a utility-scale wind farm in Hawai’i. A combination of factors leads to the conclusion that wind-generated electricity has a sizeable cost advantage over Hawai’i’s traditional petroleum fueled generation. In 1995, Global Energy Concepts (GEC) conducted feasibility studies of potential wind energy projects throughout Hawai’i. The study included a site on the island of Moloka’i near Ilio Point. However, GEC classified the location as unfeasible due to relatively low Moloka’i electricity demand and the lack of interisland transmission capability. Four factors have changed since the GEC study. The cost of petroleum has risen dramatically, the cost of capital has decreased, wind power technology has improved greatly and Hawai’i has adopted a renewable portfolio standard. These economic and technical changes now make it feasible to construct a utility-scale wind farm on Moloka’i and export the energy to the neighboring island of O’ahu via a new undersea transmission system. Detailed financial analysis results in an estimated project cost of $291 million for a 180 MW wind farm and related transmission infrastructure. The net cost of energy delivered to the O’ahu grid is 3.22 cents/kWh, a 34% savings compared to the cost of present petroleum fueled generation. This study reveals that it is prudent to pursue high-level industry and government debate regarding the feasibility of constructing the Ilio Point wind farm. High electricity rates act as a competitive disadvantage to businesses in Hawai’i compared to mainland-based firms. The energy industry in Hawai’i is a valuable partner in making the state more competitive in the high tech economy of the 21st century. The Ilio Point project is a key initiative in this partnership.
Density expansion of the magnetic susceptibility

Abstract The pressure of a system may be expanded as a power series in the density, whose coefficients are the virial coefficients. In this paper, the magnetic susceptibility of a spin - 1 2 fermion system is also expanded in powers of density. This process explicitly separates the temperature and density dependence of the magnetic susceptibility. The coefficients of this series are shown to be related to certain virial coefficients. The first (previously established) and second corrections to Curie's law are explicitly expressed in terms of second and third virial coefficients. These corrections to Curie's law are small for temperatures above 4K, but become important below that temperature. The first correction has been previously measured. Given a set of second and third virial coefficients, the importance of the second correction can be calculated immediately at any density of interest.
Climatology of Upper-Tropospheric Relative Humidity from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder and Implications for Climate

Abstract Recently available satellite observations from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) are used to calculate relative humidity in the troposphere. The observations illustrate many scales of variability in the atmosphere from the seasonal overturning Hadley–Walker circulation to high-frequency transient variability associated with baroclinic storms with high vertical resolution. The Asian monsoon circulation has a strong impact on upper-tropospheric humidity, with large humidity gradients to the west of the monsoon. The vertical structure of humidity is generally bimodal, with high humidity in the upper and lower troposphere, and a dry middle troposphere. The highest variances in humidity are seen around the midlatitude tropopause. AIRS data are compared to a simulation from a state-of-the-art climate model. The model does a good job of reproducing the mean humidity distribution but is slightly moister than the observations in the middle and upper troposphere. The model has difficultly reproducing...
Campus Suicide in America

Among American college students, suicide stands second to accidents as a cause of death. Such an alarming factor prompts researchers to find critical antecedents of suicide and possibly make recomm...
Considerations for autofocus of spotlight-mode SAR imagery created using a beamforming algorithm

In recent papers the authors discussed the advantages of forming spotlight-mode SAR imagery from phase history data via a technique that is rooted in the principles of phased-array beamforming, which is closely related to back-projection. The application of a traditional autofocus algorithm, such as Phase Gradient Autofocus (PGA), requires some care in this situation. Specifically, a stated advantage of beamforming is that it easily allows for reconstruction of the SAR image onto an arbitrary imaging grid. One very useful grid, for example, is a Cartesian grid in the ground plane. Autofocus via PGA for such an image, however, cannot be performed in a straightforward manner, because in PGA a Fourier transform relationship is required between the image domain and the range-compressed phase history, and this is not the case for such an imaging grid. In this paper we propose a strategy for performing autofocus in this situation, and discuss its limitations. We demonstrate the algorithm on synthetic phase errors applied to real SAR imagery.
Dynamic Control of CaMKII Translocation and Localization in Hippocampal Neurons by NMDA Receptor Stimulation

Calcium-calmodulin–dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is thought to increase synaptic strength by phosphorylating postsynaptic density (PSD) ion channels and signaling proteins. It is shown that N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor stimulation reversibly translocates green fluorescent protein–tagged CaMKII from an F-actin–bound to a PSD-bound state. The translocation time was controlled by the ratio of expressed β-CaMKII to α-CaMKII isoforms. Although F-actin dissociation into the cytosol required autophosphorylation of or calcium-calmodulin binding to β-CaMKII, PSD translocation required binding of calcium-calmodulin to either the α- or β-CaMKII subunits. Autophosphorylation of CaMKII indirectly prolongs its PSD localization by increasing the calmodulin-binding affinity.
Leucine incorporation in axonal swellings of vitamin-E-deficient rats.

Abstract The question of basic mechanism of the production of axonal swellings is still unsettled. In order to determine whether or not there is local production of axoplasm in the swellings we studied amino acid (leucine) uptake in experimentally produced axonal swellings. The results show that there is no significant uptake of leucine, and we therefore conclude that no local protein synthesis occurs within the swollen axons. Their production by disturbance in the axoplasmic flow is much more likely.
Dynamic system change detection using a modification of the transfer entropy

Recent work has validated the use of transfer entropy for exploring coupling in structural dynamics. Transfer entropy is a measure of information flow between Markov processes. Using transitional probabilities, one can get a quantification of the degree of influence one process has on the dynamics of another. Previous research included a time lag to assess information exchanges at various time scales without resulting in tremendously burdensome computations. However, it is more informative to view the transfer entropy using two separate time lags to assess transitional probabilities between both processes. This work introduces a second time delay into a linearized version of the transfer entropy to produce a transfer entropy surface. This surface allows for a fuller assessment of dynamical coupling between measurements. Analytical and low-order-correlation-based measures of the transfer entropy were formed and compared to common modal analysis methods to assess their ability to detect linear dynamical changes in structures. Investigations were conducted on a computational linear oscillator and a simple experimental system. The transfer entropy is a much better indicator of dynamical changes than the modal techniques. For the structural systems studied, the plane of greatest sensitivity in the time-delayed transfer entropy surface is along the diagonal and not along one coordinate as was utilized in previous work.
Are companies beholden to bias? The impact of leader race on consumer purchasing behavior

Given that racial stereotypes often influence leader appraisals, many businesses assume consumers will respond unfavorably to Black leaders. Recent research, however, suggests observers may suppress negative stereotypes of Black leaders when they head high-performing organizations. We integrate theory on implicit leadership and motivated social cognition to better understand how leader stereotype application and suppression influence consumer purchasing behavior. Across archival studies, a classroom exercise, and an experiment, we found that customers (real and prospective) appraised Black leaders less favorably than White leaders, resulting in lower patronage only when motivated to view leaders stereotypically. Namely, significant consumer bias against companies with Black leaders emerged only when organizational failure was accompanied by (a) unfamiliarity with the leader(s) in question, (b) greater societal acceptance of racist behavior (i.e., in the past), or (c) high consumer desire to bask-in-reflected-glory of an organization.
Autonomy versus affirmative action: What price social justice?

This study measures all the marginal direct and indirect costs of an affirmative action/equal employment opportunity (AA/EEO) program at a single institution through cost analysis procedures identifying cost generating variables in three categories: personnel, operating expenses, and capital outlay replacement value. Costs were weighed against benefits, as measured by number of women and minorities hired. Since costs and benefits should be evaluated only in relation to effectiveness of implementation procedures, program administration was assessed through a series of interviews with faculty chairs. Total compliance costs incurred for the university in one budget cycle amounted to 0.4% of the total institutional budget, and the great majority of these costs were expended indirectly, in faculty time. Representation of women and minorities was increased by approximately 1.9%, despite lack of strong leadership from the central administration and haphazard program administration. Although the costs incurred in implementing AA/EEO are negliglible compared to other social justice legislation, educators still decry its expense. Thus, we argue that educators are not concerned with the actual dollar outlay for AA/ EEO but instead use its intangible educational costs as a symbolic issue in their struggle with the state over university autonomy.
Effects of Proteins on Protein Diffusion

Despite increased attention, little is known about how the crowded intracellular environment affects basic phenomena like protein diffusion. Here, we use NMR to quantify the rotational and translational diffusion of a 7.4-kDa test protein, chymotrypsin inhibitor 2 (CI2), in solutions of glycerol, synthetic polymers, proteins, and cell lysates. As expected, translational diffusion and rotational diffusion decrease with increasing viscosity. In glycerol, for example, the decrease follows the Stokes-Einstein and Stokes-Einstein-Debye laws. Synthetic polymers cause negative deviation from the Stokes laws and affect translation more than rotation. Surprisingly, however, protein crowders have the opposite effect, causing positive deviation and reducing rotational diffusion more than translational diffusion. Indeed, bulk proteins severely attenuate the rotational diffusion of CI2 in crowded protein solutions. Similarly, CI2 diffusion in cell lysates is comparable to its diffusion in crowded protein solutions, supporting the biological relevance of the results. The rotational attenuation is independent of the size and total charge of the crowding protein, suggesting that the effect is general. The difference between the behavior of synthetic polymers and protein crowders suggests that synthetic polymers may not be suitable mimics of the intracellular environment. NMR relaxation data reveal that the source of the difference between synthetic polymers and proteins is the presence of weak interactions between the proteins and CI2. In summary, weak but nonspecific, noncovalent chemical interactions between proteins appear to fundamentally impact protein diffusion in cells.
Histone deacetylase inhibitors in cancer therapy.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDAC inhibitors) represent a novel class of antineoplastic agents that act by promoting acetylation of histones, leading in turn to uncoiling of chromatin and activation of a variety of genes implicated in the regulation of cell surivival, proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. The major classes of HDIs include shortchain fatty acids, hydroxamic acid derivatives, synthetic benzamide derivatives, and cyclic tetrapeptides. Members of each of these classes have now entered clinical trials in humans. Despite their shared capacity to trigger histone deacetylation, individual HDIs exert diverse actions on cell cycle regulatory, signal transduction, and survival-related proteins which in all probability accounts for their disparate actions. Major areas of investigation surrounding HDIs include elucidating the mechanisms by which they induce apoptosis in neoplastic cells, and characterizing the factors responsible for the decision of such cells to undergo maturation versus cell death in the response to these agents. In this context, attention has recently focused on the ability of HDIs to induce perturbations in cell cycle regulatory proteins (e.g., p21(CIP1)), downregulation of survival signaling pathways (e.g., Raf/MEK/ERK), and disruption of cellular redox state (e.g., induction of reactive oxygen species; ROS). Aside from efforts to combine HDIs with established cytotoxic drugs, attempts are underway to establish a rational basis for combining HDIs with differentiation- inducing agents (e.g., ATRA, hypomethylating agents such as 5'-deoxyazacytine) with the goal of triggering re-expression of turn or suppressor and/or differentiation-associated genes. Finally, the results of recent preclinical studies provide a strong rationale for combining HDIs with other novel, molecularly targeted agents, including inhibitors of survival signaling pathways or cell cycle progression. Collectively, these findings should provide a fertile environment for the development of novel HDI-containing regimens in the treatment of cancer for many years to come.