cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global Data Meets 3-D Printing: The Quest for a Balanced and Globally Collaborative Solution to Prevent Patent Infringement in the Foreseeable 3-D Printing Revolution

This Note explores a potential global solution to the foreseeable patent infringement problems with 3-D printing and do-it-yourself users. More specifically, at a time when 3-D printing is quickly gaining popularity and recognition for its many beneficial applications through advancements in printing and scanning technology, the current state of patent law lacks the ability to detect and prevent patent infringement among do-it-yourself users of 3-D printing. I propose a potential global solution that would provide a balance between fostering growth in 3-D printing and upholding patentees’ rights by exploring the possibility of creating a collaborative, intergovernmental 3-D CAD file database that utilizes 3-D CAD file recognition software that must be cross-referenced by 3-D printers as a prerequisite to printing any 3-D CAD file. The creation of this type of collaborative global database would yield benefits to inventors, countries’ patent offices, and patentees, while ensuring 3-D printing continues to benefit direct and indirect users around the world. Ultimately, this proposal, along with the facts and issues presented in this note, helps to convey the importance of why a proactive solution to potential patent infringement issues accompanying quickly advancing 3-D-printing technology should remain on patent attorneys’, legislators’, and patentees’ radars.
High-energy laser detection through thermoelectric generators

Detection of high-energy laser strikes is key to the survivability of military assets in future warfare. The introduction of laser weapon systems demands the capability to quickly detect these strikes without disrupting the stealth capability of military craft with active sensing technologies. We explored the use of thermoelectric generators (TEGs) as self-powered passive sensors to detect such strikes. Experiments were conducted using lasers of various power ratings, wavelengths, and beam sizes to strike 2 × 2 cm2 commercially available TEGs arranged in different configurations. Open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current responses of TEGs struck with 808-, 1070-, and 1980-nm lasers at irradiance levels between 8.5 and 509.3 W / cm2 and spot sizes between 2 and 8 mm are compared. TEG surface temperatures indicate that the sensor can survive temperatures nearing 400°C. TEG open-circuit voltage magnitudes correlate more strongly with net incident laser power than with specific irradiance levels, and linearity is limited by Seebeck coefficient variation with temperature. Open-circuit voltage responses are characterized by 10% to 90% rise times of ∼2 to 10 s despite surface temperatures not reaching equilibrium. With open-circuit voltage as the sensing parameter, detection thresholds three times above the standard deviation noise level can be exceeded within 300 ms of the start of a laser strike with irradiance levels of ∼200 W / cm2. Potential harvested power levels as high as 16 mW are estimated based on measured electrical responses. A multiphysics finite-element model corresponding to the experiments was developed to further optimization of a lightweight, low-profile TEG sensor for detection of high-energy laser strikes.
Enhanced Recovery after Surgery for Cesarean Delivery Decreases Length of Hospital Stay and Opioid Consumption: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

Objective The aim of this study is to assess the effect of a resident-led enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol for scheduled prelabor cesarean deliveries on hospital length of stay and postpartum opioid consumption. Study Design This retrospective cohort study included patients who underwent scheduled prelabor cesarean deliveries before and after implementation of an ERAS protocol at a single academic tertiary care institution. The primary outcome was length of stay following cesarean delivery. Secondary outcomes included protocol adherence, inpatient opioid consumption, and patient-centered outcomes. The protocol included multimodal analgesia and antiemetic medications, expedited urinary catheter removal, early discontinuation of maintenance intravenous fluids, and early ambulation. Results A total of 250 patients were included in the study: 122 in the pre-ERAS cohort and 128 in the post-ERAS cohort. There were no differences in baseline demographics, medical comorbidities, or cesarean delivery characteristics between the two groups. Following protocol implementation, hospital length of stay decreased by an average of 7.9 hours (pre-ERAS 82.1 vs. post-ERAS 74.2, p 0.05). Conclusion A resident-driven quality improvement project was associated with decreased length of hospital stay, decreased opioid consumption, and unchanged visual analog pain scores at the time of hospital discharge. Implementation of this ERAS protocol is feasible and effective. Key Points
Plate Boundary Interactions Through Geologic History

Estimates of when plate tectonics began range from the last 20% of Earth history to within the first 5%. While there is no observation that precludes plate tectonics from operating at 4.3 Ga, evidence that it was is indirect. Although subduction initiation is a robust feature of the modern plate tectonic system and we can calculate with some accuracy when oceanic lithosphere attains negative buoyancy, we don’t yet understand how strong the lithosphere weakens sufficiently for subduction to initiate. Most approaches used to estimate when Earth first entered the mobile lid regime—preservation of modern plate tectonic features, detrital zircon age spectra, trace element and radiogenic isotope geochemistry, atmosphere-crust-mantle exchange, and model-based estimates—can be interpreted in multiple ways and are all underlain by assumptions that cannot be independently tested. All share the flaw that absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Of special concern is that the Precambrian geologic record is likely biased to rock compositions most likely to resist deformation and thus exposure to erosion at newly rifted continental margins where loss to subduction erosion could occur. Thus any look-back comparison is flawed to some degree by a preservation bias. A more recently recognized limitation is the failure to consider how a hotter, early Earth would differ petrologically from, say, Phanerozoic behavior (e.g., lower incompatible trace element concentrations in mantle magmas, higher geothermal gradients). Historically, computational limitations in early geophysical modelling methods led to skepticism regarding the possibility of plate tectonics on early Earth. Influenced by this view, the geologic community was reluctant to take a dynamic view of the preserved crustal record, instead inferring the apparent absence of a Hadean rock record as evidence that there never was one. The unknown extent to which ancient continental crust was recycled into the mantle and thoroughly mixed, the abovementioned selection biases in the rock record, and the assumption of uniformitarian conditions throughout Earth history limit virtually all continental growth estimates to providing only lower age bounds and thus minimum estimate on the initiation age of subduction.
Atom transistor from the point of view of nonequilibrium dynamics

We analyze the atom field-effect transistor scheme (Stickney et al 2007 Phys. Rev. A 75 013608) using the standard tools of quantum and classical nonequlilibrium dynamics. We first study the correspondence between the quantum and the mean-field descriptions of this system by computing, both ab initio and by using their mean-field analogs, the deviations from the Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis, quantum fluctuations, and the density of states. We find that, as far as the quantities that interest us, the mean-field model can serve as a semi-classical emulator of the quantum system. Then, using the mean-field model, we interpret the point of maximal output signal in our transistor as the onset of ergodicity—the point where the system becomes, in principle, able to attain the thermal values of the former integrals of motion, albeit not being fully thermalized yet.
Low-Porosity Sulfur Cathodes for High-Energy-Density Lithium-Sulfur Batteries

Vehicle electrification has been adopted by General Motors (GM) as a technical strategy to meet the target of Zero Emission. It is thus critical to develop rechargeable batteries that are light and durable with high power and energy density, and low cost. Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery has been recognized as one promising system beyond conventional Li-ion systems thanks to its significantly higher theoretical specific energy of ~2600 Wh/kg and potentially lower cost. Despite tremendous efforts since 2000s, [1] Li-S still confront great challenges, which typically include low practical energy density, poor cycle life, low cycling efficiency, and severe self-discharge. These challenges essentially arise from the insulating nature of sulfur and its discharged intermediates/products, dissolution/crossover of the polysulfide intermediates in organic electrolytes, and instability of Li/electrolyte interphase. To enable the electrochemical reactions of insulating sulfur and its reduction products, large amount of porous conductive backbone, e.g. porous carbon, is typically required for making sulfur cathode electrodes.[2-3] Therefore, the laminated sulfur cathodes exhibit high surface area and high porosity, which come from both intra-particle voids and remaining pores of the active materials. A few examples calculated by the sulfur loading and thickness from published studies show much higher porosity (~ 60% - 70%) than those of electrodes in Li-ion batteries (typically < 30%).[4] The electrolyte needs to fulfill the pores in the electrodes to provide sufficient ionic conducting path. Higher cathode porosity always means more weight contribution from the electrolyte filling in the pores, leading to lower practical energy density of the cell, as shown in Figure 1. In this presentation, we will discuss some technical challenges, from both material- and cell-level, to develop high-energy Li-S batteries. Moreover, we will introduce some strategies to tailor electrode porosity and control of electrolyte/sulfur (E/S) mass ratio, to achieve high practical cell energy density of Li-S batteries. We are working to reach 500 Wh/kg as targeted by Battery 500 project supported by DOE. Of course, cycle life is another big challenge for Li-S, especially under lean electrolyte condition. So finally we will also briefly discuss some insight of the tradeoffs on energy density and cycle life. Refence Marmorstein, T.. Yu, K.. Striebel, F.. McLarnon, J. Hou, E.. Cairns, Electrochemical performance of lithium/sulfur cells with three different polymer electrolytes, J. Power Sources. 89 (2000) 219–226. Manthiram, Y. Fu, Y.S. Su, Challenges and prospects of lithium-sulfur batteries, Acc. Chem. Res. 46 (2013) 1125–1134. Manthiram, Y. Fu, S.H. Chung, C. Zu, Y.S. Su, Rechargeable lithium-sulfur batteries, Chem. Rev. 114 (2014) 11751–11787. Hagen, D. Hanselmann, K. Ahlbrecht, R. Maca, D. Gerber, J. Tubke, Lithium–Sulfur Cells: The Gap between the State-of-the-Art and the Requirements for High Energy Battery Cells, Adv. Energy Mater. 5 (2015) 1401986. Figure 1
Beyond Cultural Competence: A Methodology for Teaching Effective Practice across Difference

Cultural competence and cultural humility dominate discourses on practice across difference within social work and other helping professions. Despite their prominence, they remain contested constru...
General approach to precise deformable mirror control.

We develop a simple and effective control method for accurate control of deformable mirrors (DMs). For a desired DM surface profile and using batches of observed surface profile data, the proposed method adaptively determines both a DM model (influence matrix) and control actions that produce the desired surface profile with good accuracy. In the first iteration, the developed method estimates a DM influence matrix by solving a multivariable least-squares problem. This matrix is then used to compute the control actions by solving a constrained least-squares problem. Then, the computed actions are randomly perturbed and applied to the DM to generate a new batch of surface profile data. The new data batch is used to estimate a new influence matrix that is then used to re-compute control actions. This procedure is repeated until convergence is achieved. The method is experimentally tested on a Boston Micromachines DM with 140 micro-electronic-mechanical-system actuators. Our experimental results show that the developed control approach can achieve accurate correction despite significant DM nonlinearities. Using only a few control iterations, the developed method is able to produce a surface profile root-mean-square error that varies from 5 − 30 [nm] for most of the tested Zernike wave-front modes without using direct feedback control. These results can additionally be improved by using larger data batches and more iterations or by combining the developed approach with feedback control. Finally, as we experimentally demonstrate, the developed method can be used to estimate a DM model that can effectively be used for a single-step open-loop DM control.
Noetherian Rings of Bounded Representation Type

Let R be a reduced Noetherian ring with minimal prime ideals P 1,…, P m. The rank of the torsion-free R-module M is the m-tuple ρ(M) = (r 1,…, r m ), where r i is the dimension of M Pi (as a vector space over R Pi . We say R has bounded representation type provided there is an integer N such that each indecomposable finitely generated torsion-free R-module has rank less than or equal to (N,…, N). The least such N will be denoted by β(R), and if no such N exists we write β(R) = ∞.
Transcription Factor Tfe3 Directly Regulates Pgc-1alpha in Muscle

The microphthalmia (MiT) family of transcription factors is an important mediator of metabolism. Family members Mitf and Tfeb directly regulate the expression of the master regulator of metabolism, peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (Pgc-1alpha), in melanomas and in the liver, respectively. Pgc-1alpha is enriched in tissues with high oxidative capacity and plays an important role in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and cellular metabolism. In skeletal muscle, Pgc-1alpha affects many aspects of muscle functionally such as endurance, fiber-type switching, and insulin sensitivity. Tfe3 also regulates muscle metabolic genes that enhance insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. Tfe3 has not yet been shown to regulate Pgc-1alpha expression. Our results reported here show that Tfe3 directly regulates Pgc-1alpha expression in myotubes. Tfe3 ectopic expression induces Pgc-1alpha, and Tfe3 silencing suppresses Pgc-1alpha expression. This regulation is direct, as shown by Tfe3's binding to E-boxes on the Pgc-1alpha proximal promoter. We conclude that Tfe3 is a critical transcription factor that regulates Pgc-1alpha gene expression in myotubes. Since Pgc-1alpha coactivates numerous biological programs in diverse tissues, the regulation of its expression by upstream transcription factors such Tfe3 implies potential opportunities for the treatment of diseases where modulation of Pgc-1alpha expression may have important clinical outcomes.
Domestic Court Implementation of Coordinative Treaties: Formulating Rules for Determining the Seat of Arbitration Under the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards

Traditional rules of treaty interpretation focus on determining what treaties require but not on how those requirements should be actualized. The success of a coordinative treaty regime depends, however, not only on common interpretations of treaty provisions across borders, but also on common methods of implementation. Therefore, U.S. courts must consider foreign and transnational practice when formulating rules governing the implementation of coordinative treaty regimes. Under the treaty regime addressed in the Article, a court in one nation-state may enforce an agreement to arbitrate, while a court in another nation-state may decide whether to recognize and execute an arbitral award. Courts enforcing arbitration agreements sometimes specify the conditions under which arbitration will take place. If the arbitral procedure ordered by one national court is deemed a violation of the arbitral agreement by a different court, the latter court may refuse to execute the award. These conflicts could be avoided if courts considered foreign and transnational practice in decisions relating to coordinative treaty regimes.
Genetic circuit building blocks for cellular computation, communications, and signal processing

In this paper, we review an emerging engineering discipline to program cell behaviors by embedding synthetic gene networks that perform computation, communications, and signal processing. To accomplish this goal, we begin with a genetic component library and a biocircuit design methodology for assembling these components into compound circuits. The main challenge in biocircuit design lies in selecting well-matched genetic components that when coupled, reliably produce the desired behavior. We use simulation tools to guide circuit design, a process that consists of selecting the appropriate components and genetically modifying existing components until the desired behavior is achieved. In addition to such rational design, we also employ directed evolution to optimize genetic circuit behavior. Building on Nature's fundamental principle of evolution, this unique process directs cells to mutate their own DNA until they find gene network configurations that exhibit the desired system characteristics. The integration of all the above capabilities in future synthetic gene networks will enable cells to perform sophisticated digital and analog computation, both as individual entities and as part of larger cell communities. This engineering discipline and its associated tools will advance the capabilities of genetic engineering, and allow us to harness cells for a myriad of applications not previously achievable.
Perturbation Theory of Tori Without Complete Fourier Expansion

Perturbation theory of tori involves solving a first order partial differential equation, the so‐called homological equation. The usual complete Fourier expansions employed in its solution can be replaced by partial ones. The alternative solution so obtained is expressed in terms of integrals and without any explicit reference to trigonometric functions. Application to second order averaging is also discussed.
The linear, functional equation approach to the problem of the convergence of Padé approximants

The Pade approximant problem is related to a (not necessarily orthogonal) projection of a linear functional equation of the Fredholm type. If the kernel is of trace class and its upper Hessenberg form is tridiagonal (this class includes Hermitian operators), then we prove that not only do the diagonal Pade approximants converge, but so do their numerators and denominators separately. The generalization of these results to CP classes of compact operators is given. For kernels which are not only compact, but also satisfy an additional mild restriction, a pointwise convergence theorem is proven. The application of these results to quantum scattering theory is indicated.
Review of William A. Dembski's Book: Intelligent Design: The Bridge between Science & Theology

Dembski's treatment is less about the mechanism of a grand scale design by a supreme deity, and more about the specification of signs that are discovered to hold intelligent causes. Described this way, intelligent design is an open scientific question. I was pleasantly surprises to see this controversial topic couched this way. You can find this book at Amazon: Intelligent Design: The Bridge between Science & Theology .
ONTOGENY OF NON-NMDA GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS IN RAT BARREL FIELD CORTEX : II. ALPHA -AMPA AND KAINATE RECEPTORS

The ontogeny of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA) and kainate (KA) glutamate receptors in rat barrel field cortex was characterized by using receptor autoradiography and immunocytochemistry. A somatotopic pattern of AMPA receptors with fewer [3H]AMPA sites in barrel centers than in surrounding cortex did not emerge until postnatal day 10 (P10). After reaching a peak density at P14, the density of [3H]AMPA receptors declined in both barrel centers and surrounding cortex. Compared with AMPA receptors, the density of [3H]KA sites at all ages was low, a somatotopic expression of [3H]KA sites was missing, and the developmental curve for [3H]KA sites was more shallow than that for [3H]AMPA binding sites. A differential ontogeny of AMPA and KA receptors in barrel field cortex was also demonstrated in immunocytochemical studies with antibodies to the AMPA receptor subunits GluR1 and GluR2,3 and the KA receptor subunits GluR6,7. GluR1 and GluR2,3 staining was more dense in barrel septa than in barrel centers; this pattern persisted into adulthood. GluR1 and GluR2,3 receptors were localized to cell bodies and dendrites as well as the neuropil, but different populations of cortical neurons expressed these receptors. At P10, KA receptor subunits GluR6,7 exhibited a contrasting pattern to that of AMPA receptor subunits, with slightly more neuropil staining in barrel centers than in surrounding cortex. After that point, the somatotopic pattern of GluR6,7 subunit expression was lost. The contrasting developmental patterns of expression of the AMPA and KA receptors in the barrel field suggest that they may play different roles in the whisker-to-barrel pathway.
Drogas, soberanía nacional y legitimidad democrática

El enfoque de mi ensayo es mas bien el de si la politica estadounidense sobre las drogas es justa para aquellos cuyas vidas son afectadas por la legislacion antidrogas de los Estados Unidos mas alla de las fronteras de ese pais.
Dorsal and ventral cell types can arise from common neural tube progenitors.

To challenge the developmental potential of dorsal neural tube cells and test whether single neuroepithelial cells can give rise to the full range of neural tube derivatives, we grafted a notochord lateral to the closing neural folds. This results in juxtaposition of dorsal and ventral cell types, by inducing floor plate cells and motor neurons dorsally. Clonal analysis with the vital dye lysinated rhodamine dextran showed that both “dorsal” and “ventral” neural tube derivatives can arise from a single precursor. Cells as diverse as sensory ganglion cells, presumptive pigment cells, roof plate cells, motor neurons, and floor plate cells were observed in the same clone. The presence of such diversity within single clones indicates that the responses to dorsal and ventral signals are not mutually exclusive; even in the early neural tube, neuroepithelial cells are not restricted to form only dorsal or ventral neural tube derivatives.
Hydrothermal growth of single crystals of heavy rare earth hydroxides

Abstract Single crystals of La(OH) 3 , Nd(OH) 3 , Sm(OH) 3 , Eu(OH) 3 , Gd(OH) 3 , Tb(OH) 3 , Dy(OH) 3 and Y(OH) 3 up to 50 mm long and 0.5 mm thick have been grown hydrothermally, in a 55 wt% NaOH mineralizer. The growth morphology of the rare earth hydroxides is described, as well as the dependence of crystal size on various growth parameters. The heavier lanthanides show an unexplained different growth behavior than the lighter ones and work is continuing on this subject.
Structure of a bovine gene for P-450c21 (steroid 21-hydroxylase) defines a novel cytochrome P-450 gene family.

Abstract P-450c21, a cytochrome P-450 enzyme [steroid 21-monooxygenase (steroid 21-hydroxylase), EC 1.14.99.10], mediates the 21-hydroxylation of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid hormones in the adrenal gland. The complete sequence of a bovine P-450c21 gene shows it is 3447 base pairs long and contains 10 exons. The intron/exon organization and encoded amino acid sequence indicate that P-450c21 represents a unique family of genes in the P-450 gene superfamily. Primer extension and S1 nuclease protection experiments identified several cap sites for initiation of transcription; the principal cap site produces mRNA with a 5' untranslated region only 11 bases long. S1 nuclease protection experiments confirm that P-450c21 is actively expressed in the adrenal and the testis, an organ not known to secrete 21-hydroxylated steroids.
Rapid Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage: Feasibility and Safety

The optimal blood pressure (BP) for treating acute intracerebral hemorrhage remains (ICH) uncertain. High BP may contribute to hematoma growth while excessive BP reduction might precipitate peri-hemorrhage ischemia. We examine here the feasibility and safety of reducing BP to lower than presently recommended levels in patients with acute ICH. Patients with ICH were prospectively randomized to standard BP treatment (mean arterial BP [MAP] 110–130 mmHg) or aggressive BP lowering (MAP < 110 mmHg) within 8 h of symptom onset. MAP was managed during the 48 h treatment period. NIHSS was obtained at baseline, 24, and 48 h. Brain CT was done 24 h after symptoms. A modified Rankin Scale (mRs) was obtained at 90 days. A clinical decline (NIHSS drop ≥ 2 points) within the first 48 h was the primary endpoint. Hematoma enlargement at 24 h was a secondary endpoint. We enrolled 21 patients into each group. Mean age was 60.6 ± 12.3 years and MAP on presentation was 147.6 ± 18.2 mmHg. Treatment was started on average 3.2 ± 2.2 h after symptom onset. Baseline clinical variables were identical between the 2 treatment groups. Target blood pressure was achieved within 87.1 ± 59.6 min in the standard group and 163.5 ± 163.8 min in the aggressive BP treatment group. There were no significant differences in early neurological deterioration, hematoma and edema growth, and clinical outcome at 90 days. A more aggressive reduction of acute hypertension after ICH does not increase the rate of neurological deterioration even when treatment is initiated within hours of symptom onset. Lowering BP aggressively did not affect hematoma and edema expansion but this possibility deserves further study.
Metal and dimerization effects on the electronic structure of metallouroporphyrins. The importance of vibronic and exciton interactions

Abstract It is shown that systematic changes of the relative intensities of the α and β bands in a series of metallouroporphyrins and their dimers can be explained by the four-orbital model if one assumes that a change of metal modifies only the splitting between the highest occupied a 1u and a 2u porphyrin orbitals leaving vibronic and exciton interactions (calculated in the zeroth-order basis set) unaffected. These splittings are extracted for a series of metallouroporphyrins and their dimers.
Neuroblastoma of the thoracic inlet

The case of a 5-month-old girl with a large neuroblastoma of the thoracic inlet, an unusual location for this tumor, is presented. The patient had marked airway compromise due to tumor compression, with extension of the mass through the thoracic inlet into the base of the neck, also incorporating the right subclavian artery. The highly unusual location of this tumor is presented, and challenging technical aspects of its management are discussed.
Chronology of the Vostok ice core constrained by O2/N2 ratios of occluded air, and its implication for the Vostok climate records

Abstract We present a timescale for the Vostok ice core that is derived by orbitally tuning to O 2 /N 2 ratios in occluded air for depths deeper than 1550 m (>112 ka), and by gas correlation to the GISP2 chronology for the section shallower than 1422 m ( 2 exclusion and hence the O 2 /N 2 ratio in trapped gases. The newly derived O 2 /N 2 chronology is consistent with absolutely dated speleothem records. The O 2 /N 2 chronology differs from previously published orbital tuning chronologies (CH 4 and δ 18 O atm ) by up to ∼±6 kyr, and from the original GT4 chronology by up to ∼15 kyr. The difference between the O 2 /N 2 chronology and the δ 18 O atm chronology varies in time with strong signals centered at 1/100 and 1/41 kyr −1 . The ages for the last four glacial terminations in Vostok correspond to high obliquity (>23.7° at terminations’ midpoints). They also correspond with decreasing precession index, corresponding to increasing boreal summer insolation. The Vostok temperature record, boreal summer insolation, and the rate of change of the SPECMAP property (reflecting planktonic foram δ 18 O) with respect to time are highly coherent at precession and obliquity periods. These three properties vary almost synchronously, with the possibility that Vostok temperature lags behind the other two. Our new timescale supports the widespread view that boreal summer insolation played an important role in glacial–interglacial cycles.
A fully coupled computational fluid dynamics and multi-zone model with detailed chemical kinetics for the simulation of premixed charge compression ignition engines

AbstractModelling the premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) engine requires a balanced approach that captures both fluid motion as well as low- and high-temperature fuel oxidation. A fully in...
Extracellular amino acid concentrations in the dorsal spinal cord of freely moving rats following veratridine and nociceptive stimulation

In vivo microdialysis was used to sample extracellular concentrations of amino acids in the dorsal lumbar spinal cord of freely moving rats. Changes in the extracellular concentrations of amino acids were measured in response to infusion of veratridine (180 μM), a sodium channel activator, as well as during acute noxious stimulation by an injection of 5% formalin into the metatarsal region of the hindleg. Veratridine produced a tetrodotoxin (TTX)-sensitive increase in the extracellular concentration of Glu. Concentrations of Asp, taurine, Ala, Asn, and Gly were not significantly elevated following veratridine stimulation. In-tradermal injection of formalin produced a TTX-sensitive increase in Asp concentration and a non-TTX-sensitive increase in Glu concentration. These data support the hypothesis that Glu and Asp are dorsal horn neurotransmitters involved in nociception.
Parathyroid hormone-related protein and its receptor in human glial tumors.

Objective. Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and its mRNA have been found to be expressed in a variety of human tumors including breast, prostate, colon, lung, renal and ovarian cancers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the expression of PTH/PTHrP receptor and ligand in human glial tumors.
The Influence of the Tropics on the Prediction of Ultralong Waves. Part I: Tropical Wind Field

The effects of tropical wind data from the FGGE and tropical latent heating on numerical modeling of ultralong waves are considered in a two-part study. The model studied is the global fourth-order GLAS general circulation model, an energy-conserving format with horizontal differences calculated with fourth-order accuracy. Data assimilation experiments were performed with and without the wind data, with account taken of eastward and northward wind components, the geopotential height, and the relative humidity, all over pressure surfaces. The initial conditions were used to generate six pairs of forecasts, and the tropical wind error decreased after two days of prediction when the initial conditions contained the wind data. The deviations from the measured planetary wave data were attributed to differences in the initial rotational wind field, which varied on a three-day basis. The latent heat initial data had a five-day period and extended its influence beyond the tropical zone. The tropical heat sources sustained the tropical westerlies in the GLAS model, and removal of the tropical heat sources reversed the wind to easterlies.
Identification of 6-aminochrysene photoproducts and study of the effect of a humic acid and riboflavin on its photolysis

The effect of the photosensitizer riboflavin (0, 10, 25, 50, 100 μM) and a river humic acid (0, 20, 40, 80 ppm) on the photolysis of 6-aminochrysene (6AC) in 10 mM PBS solution (pH 7.0) was studied. The presence of riboflavin significantly enhanced photolysis rate of 6AC. The photo-transformation half-life of 6AC was 1 or 36 min, respectively, in the presence or absence of riboflavin. The humic acid inhibited the photo-transformation rate of 6AC. The photo-transformation half-lives of 6AC were 37, 56, 92 min at 20, 40, 80 ppm humic acid, respectively. By using LC-MS, the main 6AC photoproduct identified was 5,6-chrysene-quinone along with some minor products. Both 6AC and 5,6-chrysene-quinone exhibited photoinduced cytotoxicity. A photochemical transformation pathway for 6AC was derived.
Amplitude and phase correction for high-contrast imaging using Fourier decomposition

Conventional adaptive optics systems correct the wavefront by adjusting a deformable mirror based on measurements of the phase aberration taken in a pupil plane. The ability of this technique, known as phase conjugation, to correct aberrations is normally limited by the maximum spatial frequency of the DM. In this paper we show that conventional phase conjugation is not able to achieve the dark nulls needed for high-contrast imaging. Linear combinations of high frequencies in the aberration at the pupil plane "fold" and appear as low frequency aberrations at the image plane. After describing the frequency folding phenomenon, we present an alternative optimized solution for the shape of the deformable mirror based on the Fourier decomposition of the effective phase and amplitude aberrations.
L'efecte de la mida de la inflorescència sobre les visites de pol-linitzadors de Delphinium nelsonii i Aconitum columbianum

Two factors have been suggested to play a role in determin ing the limit to inflorescence size within a species: energy limitation and diminishing pollination returns for larger inflorescence sizes. In an effort to assess the significance or pollination limitation we examined the effect or inflorescence size on pol1inator visitation patterns for 2 species, Aconitum columbianum and Delphinium nelsonii . These species are similar in their pollination biology, and both have a racemose inflorescence, but they differ markedly in inflorescence size ( A. columbianum has from 1-26 open flowers while D. nelsonii has 1-6 open flowers). For each species the following parameters were examined as a function of inflorescence size: visits per inflorescence, flowers visited per visit, and visits per flower. For D. nelsonii all 3 parameters increased with increasing inflorescence size although for large inflorescences the rate of increase slowed slightly for flowers per visit and visits per flower. For A. columbianum all 3 parameters also generally increased with increasing inflorescence size but for the largest sizes there was no further increase in visits per inflorescence or flowers per visit and there was a decrease in visits per flower. The pattern of a smaller increase in attractiveness with progressively larger inflorescences corresponds to what would be expected if inflorescence attractiveness were based on the concept of just noticeable difference. The observed pattern of a smaller increase in flowers per visit with increasing inflorescence size can be described accurately by a model in which there is, on average, a fixed probability of moving from one flower to another on an inflorescence. The number of visits per flower is simply the consequence of the other 2 parameters. The lack of any significant decrease in pollinator visitation with increasing inflorescence size for D. nelsonii suggests that energy is probably the factor limiting inflorescence size. For A. columbianum , the largest Inflorescences have a reduced number of visits per flower and the total number of visits per inflorescence for the very largest inflorescences is reduced. This, in conjunction with a possible reduction in visit quality for large inflorescences, raises the possibility that inflorescence size in A. columbianum may be pollination limited.
Identifiability in superpositions of renewal processes

We are given a point process N which is known to be the superposition of two independent renewal processes. Can we deduce from the knowledge of the superposition alone what the distribution functions driving the renewal processes are? Clearly the answer is no if the two renewal processes are Poisson. Apart from this special case, and under the additional assumption of analyticity of densities, we prove that the answer is yes. This result answers a question posed by Neuts and Meier-Hellstern about superpositions of phase-type renewal processes. Using similar techniques we give examples showing that the well-known inclusion relations between certain families of point processes based on Markov chains are strict.
Walt Whitman's "There Was a Child Went Forth": The Image of "Edges" in the Origins of Life

Offers a reading of "There Was a Child Went Forth" emphasizing how Whitman's poems reconcile images of edges into the "central edge" of the poem's "shore mud," a gesture that conveys edges as representative of "the origins of life."
Pulsed electron beam water radiolysis for submicrosecond hydroxyl radical protein footprinting

Hydroxyl radical footprinting is a valuable technique for studying protein structure, but care must be taken to ensure that the protein does not unfold during the labeling process due to oxidative damage. Footprinting methods based on submicrosecond laser photolysis of peroxide that complete the labeling process faster than the protein can unfold have been recently described; however, the mere presence of large amounts of hydrogen peroxide can also cause uncontrolled oxidation and minor conformational changes. We have developed a novel method for submicrosecond hydroxyl radical protein footprinting using a pulsed electron beam from a 2 MeV Van de Graaff electron accelerator to generate a high concentration of hydroxyl radicals by radiolysis of water. The amount of oxidation can be controlled by buffer composition, pulsewidth, dose, and dissolved nitrous oxide gas in the sample. Our results with ubiquitin and beta-lactoglobulin A demonstrate that one submicrosecond electron beam pulse produces extensive protein surface modifications. Highly reactive residues that are buried within the protein structure are not oxidized, indicating that the protein retains its folded structure during the labeling process. Time-resolved spectroscopy indicates that the major part of protein oxidation is complete in a time scale shorter than that of large scale protein motions.
Hydrogen ion buffers and enzymatic activity: Myosin B adenosinetriphosphatase

Abstract The production of hydrogen ions during the hydrolysis of ATP by myosin B and the consequent fall in pH can produce alterations in enzymatic activity directly, or by influencing Ca ion concentrations controlled by metal-chelate systems. Adequate hydrogenion buffer systems can limit pH changes to acceptable levels. However, several commonly used hydrogen ion buffers have been reported to have specific effects on contractile protein responses, and all buffers can indirectly change activity through their contributions to the ionic strength. In this study, ten potentially useful buffers suitable for pH control between pH 5 and 9 were evaluated for their effects on myosin B ATPase activity. In contrast to previous reports, all were found to have no effect on this system if both the buffering value ( Δ H + Δ pH ) and the ionic strength were maintained constant. Simple methods are presented for determining the total and ionized concentrations of any buffer required to meet designated criteria for pH control at any operating pH.
“I can almost taste it:” Why people with strong positive emotions experience higher levels of food craving, salivation and eating intentions

The goal of this paper is to examine whether individual differences in affect intensity predict people's responses to food advertisements. In doing so, we aim to uncover individual differences and situational factors that are associated with higher food cravings and other consumption-related responses. Studies 1 and 2 identified three mediators (emotional memories, weak impulse control, and the intensity of pleasure anticipation) which indirectly link affect intensity to food cravings and behavioral intentions. Studies 3 and 4 identified two moderators (vividness of advertisement, dieting status of participants) of the relationship between affect intensity and consumption-related outcomes. In Study 3 high affect intensity individuals reported stronger food cravings only in response to vivid advertising appeals. In Study 4, respondents with high levels of positive affectivity, a sub-dimension of affect intensity, experienced increased salivation, but especially when they were dieters exposed to vivid food images. Implications for theory development and for marketing and public policy strategists are discussed.
Pilot aided techniques for system caused phase jitter cancellation

A pilot-based method of extracting and cancelling system caused pilot jitter (SCPJ) in broadcasting systems is introduced and analyzed. It was demonstrated that, by using a wideband pilot extraction system instead of the frequently used minimal bandwidth one, the system performance can be improved considerably. Analytical results for the CNR degradation of a 16-QAM system operated in the presence of sinusoidal SCPJ were obtained as a function of the extraction filters bandwidth, as well as their amplitude and group delay distortions. It was shown that to achieve efficient SCPJ cancellation, it is important to compensate for both of these distortions. However, as far as implementation issues are concerned, group delay distortion seems to be a more prominent source of degradation. >
Electrochemical performance of lithium ion battery, nano-silicon-based, disordered carbon composite anodes with different microstructures

Abstract Nano-silicon-based disordered carbon composites prepared by mechanical milling and pyrolysis have been examined as anodes of a lithium ion cell. Electrochemical measurements show that the charge–discharge capacity of disordered carbon composites incorporating both silicon-polyparaphenylene (Si-PPP) and silicon-polyvinyl chloride (Si-PVC) with differing silicon contents, decreases with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Si-PVC-based materials have a better cycle life than those based on Si-PPP at the same silicon content.
Strategy for tactical cellular connectivity

This paper proposes a strategy to unify four disparate networks under an Internet Protocol (IP) umbrella. The first network is the Army Warfighter Information Network - Tactical (WIN-T) area common user system. The second network is an extension to the area common user system using the Mobile Ad Hoc Interoperability Networking Gateway (MAINGATE) system. The third network is the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) based wireless access network and the forth network is the 802.11 WiFi Network. It is the intent of this paper to propose a skeletal wireless strategy that at its core will create everything over IP (EoIP) and "Everything over IEEE" ("EoIEEE") standards at the tactical level of the battlefield.
Positive reinforcement and punishment in the treatment of childhood trichotillomania

Abstract A comprehensive behavioral treatment package was developed during 13 treatment sessions and was communicated to a mother of a five year old girl with a four year history of hair pulling which had resulted in almost total baldness. Treatment consisted of a variety of positive reinforcement procedures which resulted in a gradual decrease in the hair pulling behavior, and finally the use of punishment which led to a rapid decrease and virtual elimination of the problem. The child was symptom free with shoulder length hair at a 16 month follow-up. The growing literature on behavioral treatment of trichotillomania and the ethical implications of the use of punishment are reviewed.
Capacity Requirements of Video Servers in Broadcast Television Facilities

Digital video servers are rapidly being adopted in broadcast transmission facilities where new materials must be cached to these servers, usually from tape media or, possibly, from media in an archival system. To deal with the finite capacity of these servers (usually with hard disk media), old materials must be purged. In this process, materials of different time duration are handled. Increasingly, materials with different data rates are also handled because of the use of different compression standards, compression ratio, and (with the advent of digital television (DTV)) different uncompressed data rates and formats. Since the cost of video server storage is significant, understanding the time-dependent requirements of server storage capacity is important for system-level planning. A good understanding helps avoid wasteful provisioning of storage capacity without sacrificing operational flexibility. This paper presents a model that should be useful for planning or analyzing capacity requirements of video servers. Implications of the model for systems handling primarily long-form materials, such as near-video-on-demand (NVOD) applications will be examined.
A compact 120-MHz 1.8V/1.2V dual-output DC-DC converter with digital control

A dual-output cascaded dc-dc buck converter is proposed to meet the challenge of miniaturization for embedded applications. A programmable switching frequency up to 120 MHz, output stage segmentation, and cascoding are used to achieve high power efficiency with small output inductors. A digital constant-off-time controller provides a fast load current step-response and the suppression of cross-regulation among multiple output voltages. Integrated in a 90-nm CMOS technology, an experimental prototype generates 1.8 V and 1.2 V from a 2.5-V input supply. Using only a PCB trace inductance of 4 nH, the 2.5-V to 1.8-V conversion is accomplished with the peak efficiency of 76% at a power density of 2.59 W/mm2. The peak efficiency of the dual-output converter is 71.4% at 1.28 W/mm2. These efficiency values increase to above 80% if 18-nH air-core inductors are used.
Large aperture time-series sediment traps; design objectives, construction and application

Sediment traps with 0.5 and 1.15 m2 apertures which are capable of collecting 12–25 samples at programmed intervals, typically weekly or bi-monthly, during one continuous semi- to interannual deployment have been developed. They utilize a number of new synthetic materials and stable metallic components which ensure reliable, long-lasting performance at any oceanic depth. The key component of the trap is a set of sequentially rotating samplers which is driven by a microprocessor-controlled electronic stepping motor. The electronic power controller controls sampler exchange with a high degree of flexibility and precision, as well as independently recording the executed sampling events. Each sampling bottle is sealed from ambient water during the time samples are stored before recovery. After continuous improvement and modification during 29.5 deployment-years of application in deep ocean experiments since 1982, we are convinced that these sediment traps can provide a relatively large quantity of settling particles in time-series with high experimental reliability.
The correct analysis and explanation of the Pioneer-Galileo anomalies

Tidal distension of spacecraft electronics due to spin and solar and galactic gravitation elegantly explains all variations in the anomaly reported by Anderson et al. Contrary to their conclusion, a constant residue seems to be present in lunar, terrestrial, and possibly planetary measurements, posing a problem of wider, more fundamental significance.