cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Drawing Your Senator from a Jar:Term Length and Legislative Behavior

This paper studies the effects of term duration on legislative behavior using field experiments that occur in the Arkansas, Illinois, and Texas Senates in the United States. After mandatory changes in senate district boundaries, state senators are randomly assigned to serve either two-year or four-year terms, providing a rare opportunity to study legislative behavior experimentally. Despite important differences across states, when considered together, the results show that senators serving two years abstain more often, introduce fewer bills, and do not seem to be more responsive to their constituents than senators serving four years. In addition, senators serving shorter terms raise and spend significantly more money, although in those states where funds can be raised continuously during the legislative term, the differences arise only when the election is imminent.
Mechanism-based enzyme inactivators.

Publisher Summary An enzyme inactivator, in general, is a compound that produces irreversible inhibition of the enzyme— that is, it irreversibly prevents the enzyme from catalyzing its reaction. Irreversible in this context, however, does not necessarily mean that the enzyme activity never returns only that the enzyme becomes dysfunctional for an extended (but unspecified) period of time. A mechanism-based enzyme inactivator, by the definition used here, is a compound that is transformed by the catalytic machinery of the enzyme into a species that acts as an affinity labeling agent, a transition state analog, or a tight-binding inhibitor (either covalent or noncovalent) prior to release from the enzyme. Mechanism-based enzyme inactivation is a powerful tool for the studies of enzyme mechanisms and mechanisms of enzyme inactivation, by small molecules. Mechanistic hypotheses can be tested by appropriate molecular design, utilizing the isotopically labeled analogs, to permit the elucidation of the structures of metabolites produced and to determine the portions of the mechanism-based inactivators that become covalently attached to the target enzyme. This approach to the studies of enzyme mechanisms is well suited for those who are geared more to the organic chemistry of enzymecatalyzed reactions and who have insights into the chemical machinery of active sites of enzymes. The use of mechanism-based enzyme inactivators is yet another of the very important methods in enzymology.
Collective motion of mammalian cell cohorts in 3D

Collective cell migration is ubiquitous in biology, from development to cancer; it occurs in complex systems comprised of heterogeneous cell types, signals and matrices, and requires large scale regulation in space and time. Understanding how cells achieve organized collective motility is crucial to addressing cellular and tissue function and disease progression. While current two-dimensional model systems recapitulate the dynamic properties of collective cell migration, quantitative three-dimensional equivalent model systems have proved elusive. To establish such a model system, we study cell collectives by tracking individuals within cell cohorts embedded in three dimensional collagen scaffolding. We develop a custom algorithm to quantify the temporal and spatial heterogeneity of motion in cell cohorts during motility events. In the absence of external driving agents, we show that these cohorts rotate in short bursts, <2 hours, and translate for up to 6 hours. We observe, track, and analyze three dimensional motion of cell cohorts composed of 3-31 cells, and pave a path toward understanding cell collectives in 3D as a complex emergent system.
'A Woman's Pride and a Mother's Love' the Missouri Freedom Suits and the Lengths and Limits of Justice

In 1787, by operation of “deeds of manumission” and through the vehicle of “term slavery,” two Maryland enslaved families embarked upon a long journey toward freedom. Both of these groups of people were families comprised primarily of women and their children. This paper traces the history of these two family groups, from their homes in Maryland and across the nation to the state of Missouri, where eventually they would file legal petitions, also known as “freedom suits,” seeking vindication of their claims to freedom in the courts of that state. After a brief review of the origins of the “freedom suits” — and an exploration of the conditions of the daily lives of enslaved women and children — this paper will turn to an examination of the contents of the case files in the Missouri State Archives that contain the original records of these cases. These hand-written documents — including summonses, sheriffs’ returns of service, the freedom suits petitions themselves, and the opinions of the court — provide a remarkable opportunity to closely examine one particular legal mechanism, the freedom suit, by which the rule of law was employed in the service of the pursuit of justice.
N4 virion RNA polymerase sites of transcription initiation

Coliphage N4 virion encapsulated RNA polymerase shows a marked preference for denatured N4 DNA as a template. We show that initiation on denatured N4 virion DNA occurs with in vivo specificity. The location of the in vivo and in vitro initiation sites and the corresponding DNA sequences were determined. The N4 virion RNA polymerase promoters contain extensive sequence homology from position -18 to position 1, with a conserved GC-rich heptamer centered at -12, and two sets of short inverted repeats. We suggest that the N4 virion RNA polymerase recognizes the promoter only in a novel single-stranded form, and that the formation of the initiation complex is facilitated in vivo by supercoiling and E. coli single-stranded DNA binding protein.
Nondegradative Extraction and Measurement of Uric Acid from Poultry Litter

Due to limited solubility of uric acid from poultry litter (PL), alkaline solutions are frequently used to extract uric acid from PL for measurement, but the high pH can cause oxidation of the analyte. Our objective was to compare 0.1 M sodium acetate, 0.025 M Li₂CO₃, and a NaOH/Na₂PO₄ buffer as a means of extracting uric acid from PL for analysis by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). In laboratory experiments, extractant-induced degradation of reagent uric acid proceeded at a rate of 80 g kg⁻¹ d⁻¹ in 0.025 M of Li₂CO₃ (pH 11.2) and a NaOH/Na₂PO₄ buffer (pH 12.4) compared with no degradation in sodium acetate over a 2-d period. In extracted PL samples, the alkaline extractants were found to enhance the enzymatic oxidation of uric acid to completion in Li₂CO₃ and by 800 g kg⁻¹ in a NaOH/Na₂PO₄ buffer over the same 2-d period. Sodium acetate extraction resulted in minimal loss of analyte (30 g kg⁻¹), possibly due to thermal inactivation of the responsible enzyme uricase. Stabilization of the dissolved uric acid extracted from PL samples allowed for the development of a very accurate measurement procedure by HPLC with ultraviolet (UV)–visible light spectrometer (VIS) detection at 290 nm. Our results suggest a reporting limit of 8.5 mg uric acid–N kg⁻¹ of litter. Of the 118 PL samples that were analyzed in this study, uric acid-, ammonium-, and nitrate-N concentrations accounted for an average of 9.4, 17.4, and 1.2%, respectively, of the total N present in PL.
The Heidrun Field: Global Structural Design and Analysis of the Heidrun TLP

The structural analysis and design of the Heidrun tension leg platform presented many technical challenges that had to be overcome in a fast and efficient manner to meet the demands of a very tight schedule. Some are inherent in the nature of a compliant structure such as a TLP with its complicated interaction between the structure, the mooring system and the environment and the importance of proper weight and stability control during the different phases of construction and operation. However, many others were unique to the Heidrun platform. The Heidrun hull is the first large offshore structure built entirely of high strength light weight aggregate (LWA) concrete. The topside modules form an integral component of the structural system of the platform. The interface between the steel topside modules and the concrete hull proved to be a very complex engineering task requiring very detailed analyses, tight fabrication and installation tolerances as well as testing a number of key components. Ringing loads were included in the structural design of the platform for the first time in an offshore structure. The transportation of the large topside modules, mounted transversely on barges, and their mating to the hull was unique. The reserve capacity builtmore » into the design to provide additional safety in the critical components of the structure. The paper presents an overview of the multitude of challenges encountered during the detail design of the platform.« less
Reconfigurable Switch Software Platform Technology and its Application in Electric Power Communications Access Device

Communication Access Network of Electric Power System is the key of Communications Network for Smart Grid. There are kinds of access technologies of Telecommunications for Electric Power System. However there is not a unified software platform for electric power communication access devices based on these technologies. So it cannot be adapt to the rapid development of electric power communication equipment, communication test, flexible configuration, and also cannot be quickly adapt to changes in the electric power communication needs. This paper introduces Reconfigurable Switch Software Platform (RSSP) s design, analyzes the architecture of RSSP in detail. As an example, this paper also proposes an implementation scheme of OLT based on RSSP.
In-situ induction motor efficiency determination using the genetic algorithm

Numerous methods exist for determining the efficiency of induction motors. Many of them require a no-load test, which is not possible for in-situ determination. The evaluation of motor efficiency based on the motor's nameplate or manufacturer's data, on the other hand, in many cases cannot ensure a fair assessment of induction motors employed in the plant. An extensive survey of techniques for efficiency measurement is given. A new method is proposed for in-situ induction motor efficiency determination, based on the genetic algorithm. Results are compared with torque-gauge results.
Towards a Neurobiology of Creativity in Nonhuman Animals

We propose a cognitive and neurobiological framework for creativity in nonhuman animals based on the framework previously proposed by Kaufman and Kaufman (2004), with additional insight from recent animal behavior research, behavioral neuroscience, and creativity theories. The additional information has lead to three major changes in the 2004 model-the addition of novelty seeking as a subcategory of novelty recognition, the addition of specific neurological processing sites that correspond to each of the processes, and the transformation of the model into a spectrum in which all three levels represent different degrees of the creative process (emphasis on process) and the top level, dubbed innovation, is defined by the creative product. The framework remains a three-level model of creativity. The first level is composed of both the cognitive ability to recognize novelty, a process linked to hippocampal function, and the seeking out of novelty, which is linked to dopamine systems. The next level is observational learning, which can range in complexity from imitation to the cultural transmission of creative behavior. Observational learning may critically depend on the cerebellum, in addition to cortical regions. At the peak of the model is innovative behavior, which can include creating a tool or exhibiting a behavior with the specific understanding that it is new and different. Innovative behavior may be especially dependent upon the prefrontal cortex and/or the balance between left and right hemisphere functions.
Comment on ``Octet baryon magnetic moments in the chiral quark model with configuration mixing''

The importance of exchange currents, and of conserving isotopic spin at both the quark and baryon levels in application of the chiral quark model to any calculation of baryon magnetic moments is emphasized.
Evaluating the mechanical integrity of bilayer lipid membranes using a high-precision pressurization system

A new methodology has been developed to measure the mechanical integrity of a bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) formed over porous substrates. A custom test fixture was fabricated in which a stepper motor linear actuator drives a piston in order to apply pressure to a BLM in very fine increments. The pressure, monitored with a pressure transducer, is observed to increase until the BLM reaches its failure pressure, and then drop. This experiment was performed on 1-Stearoyl-2-Oleoyl-sn-Glycero-3-Phosphocholine (SOPC) lipid bilayers formed over porous polycarbonate substrates with various pore sizes ranging from 0.05 - 10 mm in diameter. A trend of increasing failure pressure with decreasing pore size was observed. The same set of experiments was repeated for BLMs that were formed from a mixture of SOPC and cholesterol (CHOL) at a cholesterol concentration of 50 mol%. The presence of cholesterol was found to increase the failure pressure of the BLMs by 1.5 times on average. A model of the characteristic pressure curve from this experiment was developed based on an initially closed fluid system in which pressure increases as it is loaded by a moving piston, and which upon reaching a critical failure pressure allows pressure to decrease as fluid escapes through a porous medium. Since the BLM is formed over many pores, this model assumes that the failure pressure for each micro-BLM follows a normal distribution over all pores. The model is able to accurately predict the major trends in the pressurization curves by curve-fitting a few statistical parameters.
Gap junctions among the perikarya, dendrites, and axon terminals of the luminosity‐type horizontal cell of the turtle retina

Gap junctions of the H1 horizontal cell of the turtle retina (Leeper, '78) were studied in thin-sectioned material and in freeze-fracture replicas. Perikaryal gap junctions were extremely restricted, 0.02-0.07 micron2 in in area, whereas those of axon terminals were much larger, most being 0.1-1.0 micron2. Both varieties, however, had the usual seven-layered appearance in thin section and measured 15 +/- 1 nm in overall width between cytoplasmic faces. Freeze-fractured views of the perikaryal junctions revealed roughly circular patches of P-face 9-nm particles and E-face pits. The axon terminal gap junctions were seen as large areas of P-face particles and E-face pits containing occasional islands of unspecialized membrane. Particle densities varied from 1,455 to 2,448 microns-2. A serial reconstruction was made of a portion of the axon terminal network in order to measure the surface areas of the axons contained therein and the fraction occupied by gap junctions. These data demonstrated that the fractional area occupied by gap junctions was roughly in inverse proportion to the area of the axon region (tuberous core vs. terminal process). It is argued that this constitutes an impedance matching device to ensure adequate current flow through the axon processes. Assuming that each P-face particle represents a connection having a conductance of 10(-10) S and given the P-face particle density and gap junctional areas determined in this report, we calculated that the gap junction distribution is adequate to account for the spatial properties of the horizontal cell axon network (Lamb, '76).
A Study of Growth Factor Receptors in Human Lens Epithelial Cells and their Relationship to Fiber Differentiation

Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated that several growth factors enhance fiber differentiation in cultured human lens epithelial (HLE) cells in early passages. However, these effects gradually decrease in cells of later passages. The purpose of this investigation is to test the hypothesis that the decreasing effect of growth factors on fiber differentiation in later passages may be due to a decrease or the inactivation of growth factor receptors as a function of serial subcultures. Specimens of HLE cells were obtained from infants. First through to fourth passage cells were treated with 10 ng ml−1of epidermal growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor or insulin-like growth factor-I. Fiber differentiation was determined from spontaneous lentoid formation by phase-contrast and transmission electron microscopy. Growth factor binding to the receptor on the cell surface was determined by transmission electron microscopy using the conjugates of colloidal gold and growth factors, and the number of receptors on the cell surface were also quantified by immunocytochemistry. Spontaneous lentoid formation was enhanced by all of the growth factors studied in the first passage. However, in the second and third passage only double layering of cells without characteristic fiber differentiation was observed while in the fourth passage, growth factors had no effect on differentiation. The number of growth factor bindings as well as the number of growth factor receptors gradually decreased with the number of passages. The loss of effect of growth factors on fiber differentiation with increasing number of passages correlated with the decrease in receptor number.
Diffusion barriers for Ag and Cu adatoms on the terraces and step edges on Cu(100) and Ag(100): An ab initio study

We present the results of density-functional-theory-based calculations for the activation energies for the diffusion of adatoms (Cu or Ag) on Cu(100) and Ag(100) with and without steps. We find that only for Cu on Ag(100), exchange is the dominant mechanism for the diffusion on terraces. On the other hand, for diffusion at step edges, exchange is the dominant mechanism except for Ag on Cu(100). This result also indicates that incorporation of Cu atoms into the step edges of Ag(100) costs only 330 meV, while the energy cost for Ag incorporation into Cu(100) step edge is much higher (about 700 meV). We find the hierarchy of Ehrlich-Schwoebel barriers to be: 170 meV for Ag on Cu(100); 60 meV for Cu on Cu(100); 20 meV for Ag on Ag(100), and $\ensuremath{-}30\text{ }\text{meV}$ $(\ensuremath{-}270\text{ }\text{meV})$ for Cu on Ag(100). These barriers point to a striking difference in the growth modes for Ag layers on Cu(100) and Cu layers on Ag(100).
A note on the geometry of kullback-leibler information numbers

Csiszar (1975) has shown thdt kullhack-Leibler information numbers possess some geometrical properties much like those in Euclidean geometry. Thls paper extends these results by characterizing the shortest line between two ditributions as well as the midpoit of the line.
Committees in legislatures: A property rights perspective

Without the imposition of some institutional structure, a legislature is a non-exclusive resource, and legislators will have a tendency to overuse the resource and reduce its productivity. The committee system is a method for granting property rights over the legislature's agenda by subdividing the agenda and assigning each committee rights over a portion of the agenda. Just as common grazing ground could be more productive if it were subdivided and assigned to individual owners, the legislature is more productive if access to the agenda is subdivided and assigned to committees.
Nuclear uptake and retention of androgen by the pituitary gland of the hamster and the rat.

Castrated adult male hamsters and castrated adult female rats were injected with either 0.2 μg (hamsters) or 0.5 μg (rats) of 3H-dihydrotestosterone (107 Ci/mmole)/100 grams body weight and killed 11/2 h later. The pituitary glands were removed and processed for both autoradiography and immunocytochemistry (hamster) or only autoradiography (rats). Localization of the androgen was found in 10–15% of the cells of the pars distalis in both species. Only cells that stained for luteinizing hormone (LH) in the hamster's pars distalis concentrated the androgen. Also cells in both the pars intermedia and pars nervosa (1–5%) concentrated the androgen in both species. Although the number of cells that concentrated the androgen in the pars intermedia and pars nervosa was small, this finding may be related to recent physiologic data that suggest that the gonadal steroids may play a role in regulating water retention and natriuresis.
Effects of prey size on poststrike behavior in rattlesnakes (Crotalus durissus, C. enyo, and C. viridis)

Rattlesnakes of three taxa (Crotalus durissus, C. enyo, and C. viridis) struck and released large rodent prey but held smaller rodents in their jaws after striking. The specimens of C. enyo were clearest in this regard; almost all large prey were released, and all small prey were held. This finding is consistent with the fact that large rodents are more dangerous to rattlesnakes than are small rodents. Accordingly, it appears that rattlesnakes have evolved differential predatory strategies for dealing with prey of varying size. Speculation is offered about the manner in which these respective strategies are activated or selected during predatory episodes.
A Fourier boundary integral method for solving Laplace's equation in two dimensions

Laplace's equation in two dimensions can be solved by a boundary integral method which imposes the required consistency relation between the boundary function and its outward normal gradient. Rather than incorporating this into a standard boundary element approach for the Dirichlet problem, the known boundary function and the unknown boundary gradient are here expressed as truncated Fourier series expansions. The consistency relation then becomes an algebraic relation between expansion coefficients, whose matrix entries can be found by appropriate applications of the fast Fourier transform. This is solved for the boundary gradient coefficients; the solution can then be evaluated at any interior point. Numerical experiments explore the effect of the truncation level, and indicate that reasonable accuracy can be attained without needing a prohibitively large number of Fourier coefficients.
ELECTROACUPUNCTURE DECREASES C-FOS EXPRESSION IN THE SPINAL CORD INDUCED BY NOXIOUS STIMULATION OF THE RAT BLADDER

AbstractPurpose: The present study investigated the effects of noxious stimulation of the lower urinary tract on neuronal fos protein expression in the spinal micturition center of rats and also examined the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on fos expression induced by noxious stimulation of the lower urinary tract.Materials and Methods: Experiments were conducted on 21 female Sprague-Dawley rats divided into four groups. Group 1 rats (n = 5) served as normal controls. Group 2 rats (n = 5) received EA at the Sanyinjiao acupoint. Group 3 animals (n = 6) were catheterized through the urethra and instilled with 1% acetic acid, and group 4 (n = 5) animals received EA 1 hour before 1% acetic acid instillation. All animals underwent arterial perfusion, laminectomy, and spinal cord removal. Spinal cords were sectioned and processed for immunohistochemical staining for fos protein.Results: No fos protein was detected in any spinal neurons in normal control animals, and either none or few (0 to 4 cells/section) ...
Total Parenteral Nutrition: Challenges and Practice in the Cirrhotic Patient

Patients with cirrhosis develop metabolic derangements of protein, carbohydrate, and lipid metabolism. Malnutrition is commonplace and is associated with morbidity and mortality. Specific nutrient deficiencies may occur and enteral or parenteral nutritional support may improve outcome in appropriately selected patients. Parenteral nutrition itself has been associated with hepatic dysfunction, although the preponderance of evidence suggests that hepatic dysfunction is more a function of the underlying disorder and malabsorption. Intravenously infused organic nutrients may be metabolized differently than the same nutrient consumed enterally. The pathophysiology of total parenteral nutrition-associated liver disease is discussed as well as potential management options.
Effect of isoprinosine on lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer cell activity following thermal injury.

AbstractThe effect of in vivo administration of Isoprinosine (ISO) on, i) the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes in response to the T-cell mitogen, concanavalin-A (Con-A) and, ii) the natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity was studied following a full skin thickness burn injury in a rat model. Administration of ISO (100 mg/kg body wt/day) twice daily, resulted in significant augmentation of the proliferative responses of lymphocytes compared to non-treated burned animals, at 7 days post injury. However, it did not effect the lymphoproliferation at 14 days post injury, the time period at which a complete suppression of lymphocyte proliferation was observed in burned non-treated animals. Also, the proliferation of lymphocytes from normal nonburned animals was not affected by treatment with ISO. ISO treatment of the burned animals resulted in a significant increase in the NK cytotoxicity compared to non-treated burned animals. As with Con-A responses, ISO administered to control nonburned animals did not ha...
Understanding Modern Molecular Dynamics: Techniques and Applications

Recent advances in molecular dynamics methodology have made it possible to study routinely the microscopic details of chemical processes in the condensed phase using high-speed computers. Thus, it is timely and useful to provide a pedagogical treatment of the theoretical and numerical aspects of modern molecular dynamics simulation techniques and to show several applications that illustrate the capability of these approaches. First, the standard Newtonian or Hamiltonian dynamics based method is presented followed by a discussion of theoretical advances related to non-Hamiltonian molecular dynamics. Examples of non-Hamiltonian molecular dynamics schemes capable of generating the canonical and isothermal−isobaric ensemble are analyzed. Next, the novel Liouville operator factorization approach to numerical integration is reviewed. The power and utility of this new technique are contrasted to more basic methods, particularly, in the development of multiple time scale and non-Hamiltonian integrators. Since the...
Linear time-invariant control problems with perturbations

We deal with a class of control problems whose (uncertain) mathematical model is given by a linear differential equation with control parameters and perturbation parameters influencing the dynamics of an object under consideration. All we know about the perturbations is that their values belong to a given compact set Q. We show how to find both lower and upper bounds for the value function of our original perturbed system in terms of the value functions of two simplified unperturbed control problems. We also give explicit formulae for @e-optimal policies in the class of so-called step-guided strategies. In the last section the results above are extended to the infinite horison setting.
Multitude of core-localized shear Alfvén waves in a high-temperature fusion plasma.

Evidence is presented for a multitude of discrete frequency Alfven waves in the core of magnetically confined high-temperature fusion plasmas. Multiple diagnostic instruments confirm wave excitation over a wide spatial range from the device size at the longest wavelengths down to the thermal ion Larmor radius. At the shortest scales, the poloidal wavelengths are comparable to the scale length of electrostatic drift wave turbulence. Theoretical analysis confirms a dominant interaction of the modes with particles in the thermal ion distribution traveling well below the Alfven velocity.
Synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of bis(3-aryl-6,6-dimethylcyclohexadienyl)ruthenium complexes

Five bis(3-aryl-6,6-dimethylcyclohexadienyl)ruthenium complexes (4a–4e) are prepared by reactions between di-l-chlorodichlorobis[(1–3g:6–8g)-2,7-dimethyl-octadienyl]diruthenium and the corresponding dienes. The larger aryl substituents increase the barrier to rotation in 4a–4e relative to bis(3-methyl-6,6-cyclohexadienyl)ruthenium (5b). The activation parameters were determined by lineshape analysis for the exchange process in 4a: DG � (183 K), 8.0 ± 0.2 kcal/mol; DH � , 10.3 kcal/mol; and DS � , 13 cal/mol/K. The electronic effect of the aryl substituents on the cyclohexadienyl ligand on the oxidation potential of the complex are compared to the effect of methyl substituents. � 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Modelling of a carpet installer knee-kicker

Abstract A model of a carpet installer's knee-kicker is presented. A “knee-kicker” is a tool used by a carpet installer in stretching a carpet. It consists of a rod with a knee pad on one end and barbs on the other end. During use, the tool is placed on the carpet and it is then impacted on the knee pad by the suprapatellar region of the knee of the carpet installer. The tool is modelled by a viscoelastic solid representing the knee pad and an elastic column representing the rod. The behavior of this system during a kicking cycle can be described by a pair of differential equations. Solutions to these equations are also presented. The results are compared with experimental data and with results from a biodynamic model of the carpet installer. It is found that the typical knee-kicker pad does little to attenuate the impulse of the kick stroke. Recommendations for improving the pads are suggested.
Rapid trafficking of the neuronal glutamate transporter, EAAC1: evidence for distinct trafficking pathways differentially regulated by protein kinase C and platelet-derived growth factor.

The neuronal glutamate transporter, EAAC1, appears to both limit spillover between excitatory synapses and provide precursor for the synthesis of the inhibitory neurotransmitter, γ-aminobutyric acid. There is evidence for a large intracellular pool of EAAC1 from which transporter is redistributed to the cell surface following activation of protein kinase C (PKC) or platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor by seemingly independent pathways. A variety of biotinylation strategies were employed to measure trafficking of EAAC1 to and from the plasma membrane and to examine the effects of phorbol ester and PDGF on these events. Biotinylation of cell surface protein under trafficking-permissive conditions (37 °C) resulted in a 2-fold increase in the amount of biotinylated EAAC1 within 15 min in C6 glioma and in primary neuronal cultures, suggesting that EAAC1 has a half-life of ∼5–7 min for residence at the plasma membrane. Both phorbol ester and PDGF increased the amount of transporter labeled under these conditions. Using a reversible biotinylation strategy, a similarly rapid internalization of EAAC1 was observed in C6 glioma. Phorbol ester, but not PDGF, blocked this measure of internalization. Incubation at 18 °C, which blocks some forms of intracellular membrane trafficking, inhibited PKC- and PDGF-dependent redistribution of EAAC1 but had no effect on basal trafficking of EAAC1. These studies suggest that both PKC and PDGF accelerate delivery of EAAC1 to the cell surface and that PKC has an additional effect on endocytosis. The data also suggest that basal and regulated pools of EAAC1 exist in distinct compartments.
A fault-tolerant programmable voter for software-based N-modular redundancy

This paper presents a fault-tolerant, programmable voter architecture for software-implemented N-tuple modular redundant (NMR) computer systems. Software NMR is a cost-efficient solution for high-performance, mission-critical computer systems because this can be built on top of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) devices. Due to the large volume and randomness of voting data, software NMR system requires a programmable voter. Our experiment shows that voting software that executes on a processor has the time-of-check-to-time-of-use (TOCTTOU) vulnerabilities and is unable to tolerate long duration faults. In order to address these two problems, we present a special-purpose voter processor and its embedded software architecture. The processor has a set of new instructions and hardware modules that are used by the software in order to accelerate the voting software execution and address the identified two reliability problems. We have implemented the presented system on an FPGA platform. Our evaluation result shows that using the presented system reduces the execution time of error detection codes (commonly used in voting software) by 14% and their code size by 56%. Our fault injection experiments validate that the presented system removes the TOCTTOU vulnerabilities and recovers under both transient and long duration faults. This is achieved by using 0.7% extra hardware in a baseline processor.
Work in progress — Measuring cross-disciplinary team learning in undergraduate project teams

This work-in-progress study reports current research on a project funded by the National Science Foundation. The goal of the project is to develop and validate measures of cross-disciplinary learning in undergraduate project teams. The current study was carried out in a multidisciplinary, project-based, service learning program in a Midwest land-grant university. The research team developed four major learning objectives for cross-disciplinary team learning (CDTL) based on a theory-driven framework for CDTL. The purpose of the study is to better understand students' self-efficacy for four CDTL objectives developed for project-based design team environments. Initial survey measures of pre-post project confidence levels across these dimensions have been developed and piloted in Fall '09 semester and all partner programs have been invited to pilot these measures in the Spring '10 semester. Preliminary data shows that students' understanding of cross-disciplinary team learning was influenced by their prior experience working on multi-disciplinary teams, as well as their disciplinary and design knowledge. Finally, student reflections suggest that engagement in deep design discussions has an important integrating role relative to CDTL in project-based environments.
Microplastic embossing process: experimental and theoretical characterizations ☆

Microlens hot embossing process conditions, including processing pressure and temperature with respect to the penetration height and radius of curvature have been characterized in this work. Polycarbonate is used as the plastic material and silicon mold inserts with circular openings of 100 to 200µm are used to fabricate plastic microlenses. The height and radius of curvature of microlenses with respect to temperature changes can be modeled by an Arrhenius function and an activation energy derived from experimental data. It is found that the activation energy is a constant independent of processing temperature or size of opening holes on the mold insert. Experimentally, the processing pressure has little effect on the radius of curvature of microlens under a fixed processing temperature at the steady state. The relationship between the height of the microlens and the applied pressure can be modeled linearly to derive the interfacial stress empirically.
The Biosynthesis of Plasmalogens by Rat Brain: Involvement of the Microsomal Electron Transport System

Abstract The biosynthesis of 1-alk-1'-enyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine (ethanolamine plasmalogens) was studied using 1-[1-14C]hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine as the substrate and EDTA-washed microsomes from brains of 14-day-old rats. It was found that the 1-[1-14C]hexadecyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine was first acylated to form 1-[1-14C]hexadecyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine, then was desaturated to form 1-[1-14C]hexadec-1'-enyl-2-acyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine. The desaturation required O2 and NADH or NADPH and was inhibited by KCN but not by CO. The data indicated that the desaturation is carried out by a mixed-function oxidase system similar to that involved in the desaturation of fatty acids and that the pathway for the biosynthesis of plasmalogens in brain is similar to that previously found in other tissues. The desaturase was not stimulated by ATP and Mg2+ nor inhibited by EDTA. The specific activity of microsomes from brains of rats of different ages was determined; the activity decreased with age until in adults the activity was only 15% that of the 12–14-day-old rats.
Linear response correction to the kinetic energy from Thomas-Fermi theory. A simple model

An approximate linear response formalism is developed from Thomas-Fermi theory for the single-particle density matrix. It is used to estimate kinetic energy corrections in two simple cases, with good results.
Mollisols of Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh, Northern India, 2. Genesis and classification

Abstract The Tarai soils of Uttar Pradesh, India, have developed in calcareous, medium to moderately coarse textured materials with a high micaceous component under the influence of mixed tall grass and forest vegetation in a monsoon climate. Artesian waters augment the soil moisture supply and much of the area was naturally swampy. However, because of local variation in natural soil drainage, imperfectly to moderately well and well drained soils, as well as poorly drained soils, are present. The major changes which have occurred in the development of these soils are the addition of organic matter and the formation of mollic epipedons and development of structure and formation of cambic horizons. There has been slight mineral weathering, leaching of carbonates and some leaching of bases, formation of clay with only slight movement, and transformation and movement of iron. The soils are classified as Mollisols. Of the six soil series studied, two (series I and IV) are Typic Haplaquolls, two (series II and V) are Aquic Hapludolls, and two (series III and VI) are Typic Hapludolls.
Numerical Modeling of a Midlatitude Squall Line: Features of the Convection and Vertical Momentum Flux

Abstract A 4-h simulation is carried out for the 22 May 1976 squall line that passed through the mesonetwork of the National Severe Storm Laboratory in central Oklahoma. This squall line was more than 100 km wide, oriented north-south and traveled eastward at approximately 14 m s−1. It produced rainfall of 2-h duration at surface stations. The simulation was obtained from a three-dimensional convective cloud model with open lateral boundary conditions on the east and west, and periodic conditions on the north and south boundaries. The model domain is 96 km long (east–west) and 32 km wide (north-south) with a horizontal grid resolution of 1.0 km and a vertical resolution of 0.5 km. A squall line develops and moves eastward at 13.7 m s−1 during the last two hours of the simulation. The present mesoγ-scale model, however, can only simulate the leading edge of the squall line, with rain at specific surface locations lasting only 30 min. Realistic features of the modeled flow include the surface westerlies mov...
Teletext Data Decoding-The LSI Approach

Teletext is the generic name of the system of transmitting written material through conventional television transmitting equipment, and receiving, decoding, and displaying it on a domestic television receiver.
Mixed convection in a lid driven square cavity with an isothermally heated square blockage inside

Abstract Laminar mixed convection characteristics in a square cavity with an isothermally heated square blockage inside have been investigated numerically using the finite volume method of the ANSYS FLUENT commercial CFD code. Various different blockage sizes and concentric and eccentric placement of the blockage inside the cavity have been considered. The blockage is maintained at a hot temperature, Th, and four surfaces of the cavity (including the lid) are maintained at a cold temperature, Tc, under all circumstances. The physical problem is represented mathematically by sets of governing conservation equations of mass, momentum, and energy. The geometrical and flow parameters for the problem are the blockage ratio (B), the blockage placement eccentricities (ɛx and ɛy), the Reynolds number (Re), the Grashof number (Gr), and the Richardson number (Ri). The flow and heat transfer behavior in the cavity for a range of Richardson number (0.01–100) at a fixed Reynolds number (100) and Prandtl number (0.71) is examined comprehensively. The variations of the average and local Nusselt number at the blockage surface at various Richardson numbers for different blockage sizes and placement eccentricities are presented. From the analysis of the mixed convection process, it is found that for any size of the blockage placed anywhere in the cavity, the average Nusselt number does not change significantly with increasing Richardson number until it approaches the value of the order of 1 beyond which the average Nusselt number increases rapidly with the Richardson number. For the central placement of the blockage at any fixed Richardson number, the average Nusselt number decreases with increasing blockage ratio and reaches a minimum at around a blockage ratio of slightly larger than 1/2. For further increase of the blockage ratio, the average Nusselt number increases again and becomes independent of the Richardson number. The most preferable heat transfer (based on the average Nusselt number) is obtained when the blockage is placed around the top left and the bottom right corners of the cavity.
Agonistic action of a benzodiazepine antagonist: Effects of Ro 15-1788 and midazolam on hypertonic NaCl intake1

Rats adapted to a 23-hr water deprivation regimen were allowed a daily 1-hr water rehydration session. On test days the session drinking fluid was 1.5% NaCl solution rather than water. One group was injected (SC) with the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788 (2.5–10 mg/kg) and another group with the agonist agent midazolam (0.13–2.0 mg/kg) every 5–6 days at 10 and 15 min before a test session, respectively. Both Ro 15-1788 and midazolam increased 1.5% NaCl solution intake in a dose-related manner. In this study and in previous research, benzodiazepines and barbiturates were shown to increase the intake of hypertonic NaCl solutions. The present results reveal a similar effect for Ro 15-1788, indicating an agonistic dimension to the spectrum of action of this specific receptor antagonist.
The Experiences of School Nurses Caring for Students Receiving Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion Therapy

Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder in childhood. Today, children with diabetes are receiving new technologically advanced treatment options, such as continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy. School nurses are the primary health caregivers of children with diabetes during school hours. Therefore, it is important to determine their perceptions, resources, and resource needs when caring for students with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or insulin pump therapy. This study uses a phenomenological approach to examine the experiences of school nurses caring for students receiving insulin pump therapy. Eleven school nurses were interviewed using semistructured taped interviews. The nurses' responses indicated that they were "scared" when first caring for students with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy. However, they were able to work through their fear by using their resources and gaining more knowledge and hands-on experience with insulin pumps. The data also revealed that school nurses who were able to learn the language of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy and successfully deal with pump problems developed trusting and knowing relationships with students, teachers, and parents.
Head Impact Exposure in Youth Football: Middle School Ages 12–14 Years

The head impact exposure for athletes involved in American football at the college and high school levels has been well documented; however, there is limited information regarding youth football players, despite its dramatically larger population. The objective of this study was to investigate head impact exposure in middle school football. Impacts were monitored using a commercially available accelerometer array installed inside the helmets of 10 players aged 12 to 14 years during each game and practice for an entire season. A total of 3414 impacts were measured, with an average of 341 ± 254 impacts per player. Linear accelerations ranged from 10 g to 150 g, and rotational accelerations ranged from 7 rad/s2 to 9019 rad/s2. The average instrumented player had a median impact of 21 ± 2 g and 890 ± 112 rad/s2, and a 95th percentile impact of 59 ± 10 g and 2641 ± 433 rad/s2. Similar to high school and collegiate head impact exposure distributions, these data show that middle school football players experience greater impact frequency and acceleration magnitudes during games than practices. The distribution of impact locations in middle school football is similar to that of high school and collegiate distributions, with front and rear impacts being most common. These data have applications towards youth football helmet design and development of strategies designed to limit head impact exposure. Language: en
Time consistency of MSC-2000 specifications

Message Sequence Charts (MSC) is a formal language for the specification of behavioral scenarios and use cases. In the latest standard, time constructs have been added to the language to handle real-time constraints specification. In this paper, we investigate the time consistency of MSC-2000 specifications. Both basic MSCs and high-level MSCs (HMSCs) are taken into account. However, the focus is on HMSCs. We define the notion of consistency for basic MSCs and the notions of strong and weak consistency for HMSCs. We also develop and analyze algorithms for checking the time consistency of MSCs.
On Becoming a Psychoanalyst

One has the opportunity and responsibility to become an analyst in one’s own terms in the course of the years of practice that follow the completion of formal analytic training. The authors discuss their understanding of some of the maturational experiences that have contributed to their becoming analysts in their own terms. They believe that the most important element in the process of their maturation as analysts has been the development of the capacity to make use of what is unique and idiosyncratic to each of them; each, when at his best, conducts himself as an analyst in a way that reflects his own analytic style; his own way of being with, and talking with, his patients; his own form of the practice of psychoanalysis. The types of maturational experiences that the authors examine include situations in which they have learned to listen to themselves speak with their patients and, in so doing, begin to develop a voice of their own; experiences of growth that have occurred in the context of presenting ...
Determining the preferences

This paper discusses the process of placing a preference in a decision-making process. In a decision-making process, one may have to make a decision that will satisfy more than one objective. An important or preference may be place on an objective. Once the preference has been placed, the decision can be made. For the fuzzy logic based technique of multiobjective decision making, the same thing basically occurs. Here, one alternative or decision to be made will satisfy more than one objective to a certain degree. This research goes far beyond just using the equations of a fuzzy logic based technique in a program. It allows for calculations to occur for the objective fuzzy set and preference values. The programmer would set the equations for the objective fuzzy sets and preferences. But based on the distance an obstacle is from the robot and the width of a possible path, the values for the objectives and preferences would be calculated.