cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of storage on sperm membrane integrity and other functional characteristics of canine spermatozoa: In vitro bioassay for canine semen

Abstract The effect of storage of canine semen on sperm membrane integrity, as determined by the hypoosmotic swelling test, and on other functional characteristics of the canine spermatozoa was evaluated by established procedures. The results of this study indicated that storage of canine semen at a chilling temperature of 5°C for 24 h did not significantly impair the physical and functional characteristics of the canine spermatozoa. The overall mean percentage of motility, hypo-osmotic swelling response, which assessed sperm membrane integrity, acrosome-reacted spermatozoa, acrosomal defects, and the percentage of live spermatozoa, did not significantly differ between the fresh and chilled semen samples. However, storage altered the rate of motility and acrosome reaction. The percentage of acrosome reaction in the canine capacitating medium peaked earlier in chilled than in fresh semen. It is probable that storing semen at 5°C initiated/triggered the acrosome reaction. This did not amount to impairment of functional properties. Significant correlations were observed between hypo-osmotic swelling vs motility (r=0.98, P
Chemical techniques for measuring and controlling the thermodynamic properties of aqueous fluids at high pressures and temperatures

Several chemical techniques have recently been developed for measuring and controlling the fugacities {integral}{sub O2}, {integral}{sub H{sub 2}}, {integral}{sub H{sub 2}}O, and {integral}{sub HC1} in supercritical aqueous fluids. Experimental samples consisting of fluid components and solid chemical {open_quotes}sensors{close_quotes} or {open_quotes}buffers{close_quotes} are sealed in H{sub 2}-permeable noble metal (Pt or Ag-Pd alloy) capsules and reacted at high pressure and temperature. Hydrogen diffusion through the walls of the capsule(s) allows {integral}{sub H2} to be controlled or measured. After quenching, the fluids and solids are analyzed to quantify one or more thermodynamic properties of interest. Methods for determining the activity-composition relations of H{sub 2}O in aqueous fluid mixtures are discussed.
Antibody Responses to Varicella-Zoster Virus and the Role of Antibody in Host Defense

Antibody titers to varicella-zoster (VZ) virus in persons aged 1-85 years were measured. Through age 50, the percent of seropostitive individuals continued to rise. There was no fall in geometric mean titer with aging, and there may have been an increase in VZ antibody titer in older persons. Thus, a fall in VZ antibody with increasing age does not seem likely to account for the increased incidence of zoster in the elderly. Similarly, immunocompromised patients who are more likely to develop zoster than normals did not have lower VZ antibody titers than normal persons. Finally, immunocompromised persons with disseminated zoster had antibody titers that were somewhat higher that those of immunocompromised persons with localized zoster. It appears that humoral immunity has little or no influence on either the development or the course of herpes zoster.
Proton energy deposition in molecular and atomic oxygen and applications to the polar cap

Abstract We extend the microscopic approach developed for proton energy deposition in N2 to the general case of proton bombardment of a polar atmosphere composed of N2, O2 and O. We calculate the volume emission rates of various N2+, O2, O2+ and OI emissions that would be encountered in a typical PCA event. Our results demonstrate that the ratios of I (5577) I (3914) and I (6300) I (3914) are strongly depe spectra considered.
Microsurgical Extraction of a Malfunctioned Pipeline Embolization Device Following Complete Deployment

The Pipeline Embolization Device (PED) is an effective treatment approach for complex intracranial aneurysms. Intraprocedural complications during PED deployment are seldom reported. We report a rare complication of a PED malfunction identified immediately following complete deployment during endovascular treatment of a giant middle cerebral artery (MCA) bifurcation aneurysm. After multiple failed attempts at endovascular retrieval of the malfunctioned PED, the patient was taken for microsurgical extraction due to accumulation of thrombus on the proximal unopened portion of the stent and widespread distal dissemination of emboli. After removing the PED from the vessel lumen and resecting the giant aneurysm, we could not reanastamose the proximal MCA to the distal segment. The management of PED malfunction is poorly understood. While removal of an incompletely deployed PED may be undertaken with limited adverse effects, retrieval of a fully deployed PED is associated with a much higher risk of morbidity. Until larger case series of such complications better define the risks and benefits of endovascular or microsurgical retrieval of malfunctioned PEDs, the management of these rare intraprocedural complications will be based on the unique aspects of each individual case and the expertise of the treating neurointerventionalist.
Pre‐stack anisotropic depth imaging of Forseti (North Sea) 2D 4C data

Tomographic inversion has been applied to derive anisotropic velocity models for the 2D 4C Forseti data. Application of these models in anisotropic pre-stack converted-wave depth imaging produces improved consistency between positive and negative offsets for PS images in both the pre-stack and stack domains. It also significantly improves image quality over that obtained by traditional prestack time migration methods. Inclusion of small anisotropy parameters that have little impact on PP imaging is helpful for improved PS imaging. Also, the correlation between the PP and PS depth images is much better than between the prestack time migration analogs.
Embodied Information, Knowing Bodies, and Power

The turn to materialism emerging in world politics scholarship promises fruitful ways of understanding power and political life by focusing on agency in the physical world. Yet immaterial information and ‘the virtual’ seem to dominate our lives. How can we understand the relationship between the material and the informational? Does this understanding promise any further insight into agency, power, and world politics? The focus in this paper is on the materiality (corporeality) and information of the human body as a special case. Embodied information is the information contained in the body that can potentially be accessed by others through an act of power. The way in which embodied knowledge is implicated in practices of world politics is exemplified by surveillance, DNA databases, and organ trade. Bodies are also the means by which information becomes sensible: we understand information from various sources and with various kinds of content through our bodies’ ability to sense. This knowing body is also ...
Wind effects on emergency vehicles

The paper presents the results of a study to define the wind speed limits and conditions beyond which fire and rescue vehicles should not be operated during a hurricane. For that purpose, reduced scale models of a typical fire truck, ambulance, and sports utility vehicle (SUV) were tested in a wind tunnel and surface pressures and overall forces were measured. For the fire truck wind tunnel tests, the pressure measurements at low yaw angles are compared with full-scale measurements on a real truck and the results are also compared to those from some numerical simulation, and give some confidence in the wind tunnel tests technique. Based on the results of the tests and the analyses, safe wind speeds are defined for the operation of these fire and rescue vehicles to prevent course deviation and overturning.
An Efficient Zero-One Formulation of the Multilevel Lot-Sizing Problem

This paper presents a zero-one linear formulation of the multilevel lot-sizing problem for materials requirement planning systems without capacity constraints. The model is an efficient statement of the problem and has a structure that is particularly convenient for research work. In addition, it is demonstrated that the relaxed linear programming solution to this formulation will always be integer. The results of a rather large computational history are reported along with a variable reduction methodology that allows for the solution of reasonably sized research problems.
Sanitation procedures and policies among university climbing walls in the United States

The primary purpose of this investigation was to examine sanitation practices, procedures, and policies presently being used at University climbing wall facilities in the United States. Using a systematic random sampling of University climbing facilities a total of 54 university climbing walls directors responded to the telephone survey. There appears to be a lack of consistency amongst University climbing facilities concerning sanitation practices, procedures and policies. There are numerous direct sanitation recommendations for administrators to consider from this article. For example, the need for establishing a sanitation schedule for all equipment which might include frequency of each items cleaned, type of cleaning materials/agents, detail procedures, staff protections, participant protections (i.e. does the wall need to be shut down to do this type of cleaning) may be suggested. Air quality and chalk issues, impact attenuating surfaces (mats and barefoot belayers), bloodborne pathogen concerns, rental equipment (e.g., shoe cleaning, helmets and lice problems), climbing shoe cleanliness (e.g., removal of shoes and harnesses before entering restrooms policies, bottoms of shoes cleaning, and much more are brought to light in this article. To date, there is no evidence or study that anyone has been exposed or even ill directly from an indoor climbing facility due to sanitation levels. However, a proactive examination, discussion and possible need to establish industry level sanitation best practices may be necessary.
WITNESS: CC TV for the Masses? (Innovations Case Discussion: WITNESS)

One of the most profound challenges we face today as our existence becomes more intimately connected with all those other countries, cultures, towns, and individuals who also make up humanity, is to connect to them as fellow human beings and not just as economic migrants, cheap labor, oil cartels, terrorists, or oppressive states. We use these groupings and labels all the time to help us make sense of a complex world, but in so doing we render down the totality of humanity to a few measurable depersonalized variables. Capturing the complexity and proximity of this distant humanity has been a goal of writers and musicians throughout the ages. A favorite book of mine is Last of the Name, a sort of oral history from a 90 year old Irish man, recalling not just his youth but that of his parents, who survived the great Irish famine of the midto late 1840s. The simplicity and directness of the tales, as told in his words, make the famine real; not just a collection of statistics but tales of the courage of mothers and the suffering of children. You read the passages and think, that could be my family. You read the passages, describing life one and a half centuries ago and you think, this is just like I have seen in Darfur or Cambodia or any other famineeffected country in the past decades. And moving from written words to images, the great American documentary
Macroeconomic forecasting experience with balanced state space models

Abstract The paper surveys the forecasting experience in macroeconomics with recently developed balanced state space methods. After relating the state space approach to traditional time series modeling, we give a brief overview of the alternative methods to balanced state space modeling. Results of various recent macroeconomic studies applying these techniques and comparing their forecasting performance to the ones of econometric time series models are discussed.
Medical treatment of pediatric urolithiasis

In recent years the incidence of pediatric stone disease has increased several fold, mostly due to hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia. The goal of medical treatment is to protect the patient from formation of new stones and expansion of existing ones. The non-pharmacological means to address stone disease include high fluid intake and, frequently, modification of nutritional habits. The pharmacological treatment is based on the chemical composition of the stone and the biochemical abnormalities causing its formation; hence, chemical analysis of the stone, urine and blood is of paramount importance and should be done when the first stone is detected. This review discusses the current options of medical treatment of pediatric urolithiasis.
Fundamentals and applications of pervaporation through zeolite membranes

Abstract Zeolite membranes have uniform, molecular-sized pores, and they separate molecules based on differences in the molecules’ adsorption and diffusion properties. Zeolite membranes are thus well suited for separating liquid-phase mixtures by pervaporation, and the first commercial application of zeolite membranes has been for dehydrating organic compounds. Because of the large number of zeolites that can be prepared, zeolite membranes have also been used to remove organic compounds from water, separate organic mixtures, and remove water from acid solutions on the laboratory scale. The fundamental aspects of separations by pervaporation through zeolite membranes are reviewed, and examples of the selectivities and fluxes obtained are presented. Some aspects of these separations are similar to gas-phase separations using zeolite membranes, but feed-side coverages are close to saturation during pervaporation, making competitive adsorption and molecule–molecule interactions more important during multicomponent diffusion. Some of the topics that are discussed include: (1) the use of feed fugacities to predict separation selectivities; (2) the effects of coverage, competitive adsorption, heats of adsorption, molecular sizes, temperature, membrane structure, non-zeolite pores, concentration polarization, and support resistance on transport and separations; (3) the ability of one molecule to slow down or speed up another molecule in the zeolite pores, and (4) the techniques used to measure adsorption and diffusion properties. Several possibilities for improving understanding and effectiveness of pervaporation through zeolite membranes are also suggested.
Artificial disc replacement--evolutionary treatment for degenerative disc disease.

ABSTRACT •BACK PAIN IS A COMMON PROBLEM that affects the majority of people at some point in their lives. Most back pain is not serious, but back pain caused by injury and aging can result in chronic pain that can last months, years, or indefinitely. •ARTHRODESIS (ie, spinal fusion) has been the treatment of choice for symptomatic degenerative disc disease that has not responded to conservative treatment modalities. Artificial disc replacement is a more recent option that preserves spinal motion but also recreates the natural function of the disc. •THE HISTORY OF ARTIFICIAL DISC replacement surgery, preoperative preparation, the surgical procedure, and postoperative recovery are discussed. AORN J 82 (August 2005) 192–206.
Further Evaluation Of Inpatient Child Behavior Ratings Consistency Across Settings, Time, And Sources

Three related studies evaluated the consistency of ratings collected by using the Child Behavior Rating Form across different activities, settings, days, and sources on a child psychiatric unit. Children were observed by unit staff nurses (day, evening shifts), classroom teachers (reading, math), and research assistants, who observed children in individual settings (breakfast, lunch, free play). Based on repeated measures, analyses of variance (ANOVAs), and Pearson correlations, the factors were found to possess differential reliability and stability across settings, time, and sources. Overall, most consistency was found for the Hyperactivity/Inattention factor and two social competence factors, followed next by the Antisocial Behavior/Defiance and Negative Self-Image/Self-Injury factors. The findings highlight specific dimensions that may facilitate an accurate assessment of child dysfunction in different contexts and treatment outcome during hospitalization.
Selecting among weibull, lognormal and gamma distributions using complete and censored smaples

In a recent paper, Kent and Quesenberry [19] considered using certain optimal invariant statistics to select the best fitting member of a collection of probability distributions using complete samples of life data. In the present work extensions of this approach in two directions are given. First, selection for complete samples based on scale and shape invariant statistics is considered. Next, the selection problem for type I censored samples is considered, and both scale invariant and maximum likelihood selection procedures are studied. The two-parameter (scale and shape) Weibull, lognormal, and gamma distributions are considered and applications to real data are given. Results from a (small) comparative simulation study are presented.
Predicting full thickness skin sensitization using a support vector machine.

To assess the public’s propensity for allergic contact dermatitis (ACD), many alternatives to in vivo chemical screening have been developed which generally incorporate a small panel of cell surface and secreted dendritic cell biomarkers. However, given the underlying complexity of ACD, one cell type and limited cellular metrics may be insufficient to predict contact sensitizers accurately. To identify a molecular signature that can further characterize sensitization, we developed a novel system using RealSkin, a full thickness skin equivalent, in co-culture with MUTZ-3 derived Langerhan’s cells. This system was used to distinguish a model moderate pro-hapten isoeugenol (IE) and a model strong pre-hapten p-phenylenediamine (PPD) from irritant, salicylic acid (SA). Commonly evaluated metrics such as CD86, CD54, and IL-8 secretion were assessed, in concert with a 27-cytokine multi-plex screen and a functional chemotaxis assay. Data were analyzed with feature selection methods using ANOVA, hierarchical cluster analysis, and a support vector machine to identify the best molecular signature for sensitization. A panel consisting of IL-12, IL-9, VEGF, and IFN-γ predicted sensitization with over 90% accuracy using this co-culture system analysis. Thus, a multi-metric approach that has the potential to identify a molecular signature may be more predictive of contact sensitization.
Severe hyponatremia associated with combined pancreatic and renal transplantation

On a observe 3 malades chez qui une hyponatremie grave (<120 mmol/l) est apparue apres une transplantation combinee pancreatique et renale avec drainage par duodenocytostomie des secretions exocrines de l'allogreffe
Annette Bunge: Developing the Principles in Percutaneous Absorption Using Chemical Engineering Principles

Annette Bunge and her research group have had the central theme of mathematically modeling the dermal absorption process. Most of the research focus has been on estimating dermal absorption for the purpose of risk assessment, for exposure scenarios in the environment and in the occupational setting. Her work is the basis for the United States Environmental Protection Agency's estimations for dermal absorption from contaminated water. It is also the basis of the dermal absorption estimates used in determining if chemicals should be assigned a ‘skin notation' for potential systemic toxicity following occupational skin exposure. The work is truly translational in that it started with mathematical theory, is validated with preclinical and human experiments, and then is used in guidelines to protect human health. Her valued research has also extended into the topical drug bioavailability and bioequivalence assessment field.
Examining the impact of mathematics identity on the choice of engineering careers for male and female students

Previous research suggests strong connections between mathematics background and persistence in engineering career aspirations. This study expands on this research by examining how mathematics identity impacts the choice of engineering careers for male and female students. Our framework encompasses interest, recognition, performance, and competence as central factors that contribute to the development of mathematics identity. The data used in this study were drawn from the Factors Influencing College Success in Mathematics (FICS-Math) project; the survey included questions on students' demographics, mathematics background/experiences, interest in mathematics, and career aspirations. Results indicate that factors of mathematics interest, mathematics competence and performance, and mathematics recognition are significant predictors of the choice of an engineering career, even after controlling for SAT/ACT math scores and demographics such as parental education. Moreover, the interaction between mathematics recognition and gender is also significant with the estimate indicating that females who are recognized in mathematics are more likely to choose engineering careers. This work reaffirms the importance of mathematics to engineering career choices and furthers the discussion by looking beyond mathematics grades to ascertaining the importance of mathematics identity.
Conifer needle processing in a subalpine lake 1

Fir and hemlock needles lost an average of 80–90% of their initial dry weight after a 1-year incubation on a littoral benthic site in Findley Lake, Washington. Considerably less mean weight was lost from needles in fine and coarse mesh bags. In all treatments there was little change in mean needle weight during the second year of the experiment.
Ionization in gaseous detonation waves

Using numerical simulations the spatial and temporal evolution of the electrical conductivity in ionized gas mixtures produced by detonation is investigated in mixtures with and without potassium seeding. Without flow seeding, the magnitude of the electrical conductivity is observed to be too small for significant magnetohydrodynamic forces to affect the conducting flow. This is consistent with past observations. With potassium seeding the electrical conductivity can be increased by 4–5 orders of magnitude, however, a critical percentage of seed particles is observed for which detonation is no longer sustainable. Therefore, there are limits to the electrical conductivity that can be achieved in burned gas mixtures. To further understand the dynamics of the physics involved a parametric study is conducted by varying the ambient pressure, the nitrogen dilution and the potassium seeding percentage. In order to reach these conclusions, a detailed kinetic mechanism of 26 species and 65 reactions has been compiled from the available literature and validated for applications of detonation and ionization chemistry. From the computed mass fractions the mixture-averaged electrical conductivity is then computed.
Decision Making with Naive Advice

In many of the decisions we make we rely on the advice of others who have preceded us. For example, before we buy a car, choose a dentist, choose a spouse, find a school for our children, sign on to a retirement plan, etc. we usually ask the advice of others who have experience with such decisions. The same is true when we make major financial decisions. Here people easily take advice from their fellow workers or relatives as to how to choose stock, balance a portfolio, or save for their child’s education. Although some advice we get is from experts, most of the time we make our decisions relying only on the rather uninformed word-of-mouth advice we get from our friends or neighbors. We call this ?aive advice? In this paper I will outline a set of experimental results that indicate that word-of-mouth advice is a very powerful force in shaping the decisions that people make and tends to push those decisions in the direction of the predictions of the rational theory.
Effects of bot fly (Alouattamyia baeri) parasitism on a free-ranging howler monkey (Alouatta palliata) population in Panama

To evaluate effects of persistent bot fly (Alouattamyia baeri) parasitism on a host population of Panamanian howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata), a 68-month study was carried out which included: (i) examination of the parasite's life cycle; (ii) monthly estimates of prevalence and mean intensity; (iii) monitoring of howler mortality; (iv) censuses of howler monkey troops; and (v) analysis of blood samples from infected and uninfected monkeys. A complete life cycle of A. baeri takes approximately 13 weeks; larvae remain in howlers for approximately six weeks, passing through three instars. Overall prevalence of infection was 60%, overall mean intensity 2.8±0.04. No difference in prevalence or mean intensity was found between adult males and females. As a class, juveniles had a significantly higher prevalence and a significantly lower mean intensity than adults; the adult and juvenile classes both showed a significantly higher prevalence and mean intensity than the infant class. Such differences may relate to characteristics of younger age classes rather than host selectivity on the part of the parasite. Although larvae were observed in the howler population throughout the year, relative density fluctuated from month to month, showing from one to three significant peaks per year. Larvae were most abundant during the mid-to-late rainy season (Aug.-Nov.). Relative density was strongly correlated with howler mortality. Several hematological parameters including serum albumin levels and albumin/globulin ratio were significantly lower in individuals with heavy larval burdens. No endoparasites or diseases were found in blood samples. I conclude that the annual pattern of howler mortality results from a synergistic effect between the age, physical condition, and fat reserves of parasitized individuals, the size of the larval burden, and increasing dietary stress as the rainy season progresses. The lack of growth in this closed primate population over >20 years apparently results, in large part, from primary and secondary effects of bot fly parasitism.
The influence of chromatic context on binocular color rivalry: perception and neural representation.

Abstract The predominance of rivalrous targets is affected by surrounding context when stimuli rival in orientation, motion or color. This study investigated the influence of chromatic context on binocular color rivalry. The predominance of rivalrous chromatic targets was measured in various surrounding contexts. The first experiment showed that a chromatic surround’s influence was stronger when the surround was uniform or a grating with luminance contrast (chromatic/black grating) compared to an equiluminant grating (chromatic/white). The second experiment revealed virtually no effect of the orientation of the surrounding chromatic context, using chromatically rivalrous vertical gratings. These results are consistent with a chromatic representation of the context by a non-oriented, chromatically selective and spatially antagonistic receptive field. Neither a double-opponent receptive field nor a receptive field without spatial antagonism accounts for the influence of context on binocular color rivalry.
Some observations (or problems) on the characterization of gellan gum solutions

Abstract Both acetylated and deacetylated gellan gum form molecular solutions in 90% dimethyl sulphoxide at concentrations less than 4 mg ml−1. The molecular weights are (1–2) × 106 for the deacetylated and acetylated forms. The polymers adopt the configuration of stiff polymer coils. Light scattering and viscometry suggest radii of gyration of the order of 0.1 μm. Polymer-polymer entanglement is observed at concentrations above 4 mg ml−1.
Satellite scintillation observations at Boulder, Colorado

Abstract Observations of radio signals from an artificial earth satellite were used in a study of F -region irregularities. In general, the average height of the irregularities was found to change with magnetic latitude. Occasionally the height changes discontinuously with magnetic latitude and it is shown how this effect can be related to a thickening of the layer in the ionosphere containing the irregularities. A difference in the geographical distribution of the irregularities as observed at Boulder, Colorado and Urbana, Illinois appears to be related to a change in the latitudinal distribution of spread- F from sunspot maximum to minimum. The spectrum of irregularity size is found to consist of one or more discrete components and in general the spectra are similar for observations at two different radio frequencies.
Cardiac design in lower vertebrates: what can phylogeny reveal about ontogeny?

In very few instances can the cardiovascular systems of adult ‘lower’ vertebrates serve asdirect models for development in ‘higher’ vertebrates, primarily because numerous evolutionary specializations for preferential distribution of cardiac output between systemic tissues and gas exchange, organs occur in the highly derived circulation of most extant lower vertebrates. Yet, the extensive literature on the cardiovascular anatomy and physiology of aquatic and air breathing fishes, amphibians and reptiles offers important conceptual insights into both patterns and mechanisms of development in birds and mammals. The primary contribution of such studies to the student of developing bird and mammal circulations is the clear demonstration that surprisingly complex hemodynamic function can develop from supposedly ‘simple’ cardiovascular systems typified by incompletely divided heart chambers. Thus, the hemodynamics of embryonic bird and mammal circulations should be determined by measurement, rather than inferred from structure.
Promoting Writing Stars

A mnemonic strategy designed to increase the written production of students with learning disabilities
Isolation and characterization of temperature-sensitive, high-fluorescence mutations of the blue-green alga, Synechococcus cedrorum

Abstract Two types of temperature-sensitive mutations have been obtained in the blue-green alga Synechococcus cedrorum after nitrosoguanidine mutagenesis. One type, obtained using ampicillin enrichment at 40°C was, unable to grow either on plates or in liquid culture at 40°C, but grew normally at 26°C. The second kind was selected by virtue of high fluorescence after growth at 40°C. Most of these temperature-sensitive (ts), high fluorescence mutants grew at wild-type rates at 26°C, but only half as fast at 40°C. They were also characterized by lower rates of oxygen evolution at the high temperature and by abnormal fluorescence kinetics. The variable fluorescence of mutant cells grown at 40°C was always two-fold greater than the wild-type, and the mutant fluorescence showed a differential sensitivity to the addition of the herbicide dichlorophenyl dimethylurea (DCMU).
Compound nucleus (α, p) and (p, p') reactions on odd-A nuclei in the Ni region

Experimental compound nucleus cross sections are obtained for (p,p') and (..cap alpha..,p) reactions induced by 12 MeV protons and 15 and 18 MeV ..cap alpha.. particles on /sup 55/Mn, /sup 57/Fe, /sup 59/Co, /sup 61/Ni, and /sup 63/Cu. The noncompound nucleus cross sections, estimated from the spectra from /sup 64/Ni, are found to account for at least 20% of the total proton cross sections and also soften the spectra in the (p,p') cases. When these are subtracted off, good agreement in spectral intensities is found between experimental compound nucleus cross sections and predictions using Hauser-Feshbach calculations with Gilbert-Cameron level density parameters. No adjustable parameters were used. The slopes of the proton energy spectra from both (p,p') and (..cap alpha..,p) reactions are consistently flatter (i.e., decrease less rapidly with increasing proton energy) for odd-A than for even-even targets.
Asymmetric Role of Negative Curvature Lipids on the SNARE Mediated Vesicle Docking and Fusion

N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) are fundamental machinery in the cellular membrane fusion process. Much of focuses of studies have been placed on the formation of core ternary SNARE complex and key accessory proteins, but the role of membrane environment in SNARE complex assembly is still unclear. We have used neuronal SNARE proteins (syntaxin-1HT, soluble SNAP-25 and VAMP-2) reconstituted proteoliposomes to study the effect of the cholesterol on the membrane fusion. Cholesterol is one of the most abundant components of eukaryotic plasma membrane. Bulk lipid mixing assay revealed that the addition of cholesterol to both acceptor and donor vesicles promote lipid mixing. However, when cholesterol was added to only one of the vesicle, VAMP-2 containing vesicle was found to contribute more towards the overall effect. Surprisingly, a similar result was observed using another negative curvature lipid POPE. Single vesicle fusion assay further revealed that this asymmetry comes from the fact that the vesicle docking and fusion of syntaxin-1HT/SNAP-25 and VAMP-2 containing vesicles are promoted differently in the presence of negative curvature lipids. A molecular mechanism behind this effect is discussed in the context of protein organization in different membrane environment. This study demonstrates the importance of membrane context in which SNARE proteins are being studied in in vitro system.
Synthesis and chromatographic properties of partially O-methylated 2-deoxy-2-methylamino-D-glucoses; standards for methylation studies on polysaccharides

Abstract 3-, 4-, 6-Mono-, 3,4-, 3,6-, 4,6-di- and 3,4,6-trimethyl ethers of 2-deoxy-2-methylamino- D -glucose hydrochloride have been prepared. The chromatographic behaviour of these derivatives on paper and on an amino acid analyzer, and the retention times of their O-trimethylsilyl derivatives by g.l.c. were determined. These constants are for use in the identification of fragments arising from polysaccharides containing 2-acetamido-2-deoxy- D -glucopyranosyl residues when they are successively methylated by the Kuhn procedure and hydrolyzed.
Mapping optical motion capture data to skeletal motion using a physical model

Motion capture has become a premiere technique for animation of humanlike characters. To facilitate its use, researchers have focused on the manipulation of data for retargeting, editing, combining, and reusing motion capture libraries. In many of these efforts joint angle plus root trajectories are used as input, although this format requires an inherent mapping from the raw data recorded by many popular motion capture set-ups. In this paper, we propose a novel solution to this mapping problem from 3D marker position data recorded by optical motion capture systems to joint trajectories for a fixed limb-length skeleton using a forward dynamic model. To accomplish the mapping, we attach virtual springs to marker positions located on the appropriate landmarks of a physical simulation and apply resistive torques to the skeleton's joints using a simple controller. For the motion capture samples, joint-angle postures are resolved from the simulation's equilibrium state, based on the internal torques and external forces. Additional constraints, such as foot plants and hand holds, may also be treated as addition forces applied to the system and are a trivial and natural extension to the proposed technique. We present results for our approach as applied to several motion-captured behaviors.
Insulin Stimulation of Glycogen Synthase in Cultured Human Diploid Fibroblasts

The effect of insulin on glycogen synthase activity in human diploid fibroblasts has been studied. As little as 2 × 10 −10 M insulin increased the glycogen synthase / activity without changing the total activity. Stimulation occurred within 5 minand became maximal in 30 min. A half-maximal increase of / activity was achieved at 3 × 10 −9 M insulin. Glucose starvation increased the magnitude of response of glycogen synthase to insulin but did not change the insulin concentration necessary to give a half-maximal stimulation. Glucose increased the basal level of / activity in human diploid fibroblasts; the effect of insulin was additive. During in vitro senescence the total glycogen synthase activity declined, but the concentration of insulin that produced a half-maximal stimulation remained unchanged. These data indicate that regulation of glycogen synthase activity in human diploid fibroblasts is responsive to physiologic insulin levels and that the system provides a useful model for the in vitro study of insulin sensitivity.
Kohlenhydratmimetika: ein neuer Lösungsansatz für das Problem der kohlenhydratvermittelten biologischen Erkennung

Zahlreiche nutzliche Strategien fur das Design von Molekulen, die Kohlenhydrate nachahmen, wurden in den letzten Jahren entwickelt. Mimetika der Targets konnen neue funktionelle Gruppen und/oder neue Geruste enthalten (in der schematischen Darstellung ist der naturliche Ligand links und der modifizierte rechts gezeigt). Es liegen bislang viele Beispiele fur Kohlenhydratmimetika vor, die Zucker-Protein- und Zucker-Nucleinsaure-Wechselwirkungen effizient storen.
Universal utility interface for Plug-in Hybrid electric vehicles with vehicle-to-grid functionality

This paper proposes a novel topology for Electrical Vehicles and Plug-in Hybrid Electrical Vehicles with controllable power factor with 3-phase input and unity power factor with single phase input. The proposed on-board topology provides bidirectional power flow to/from the grid, low weight, low volume, and isolation. A control scheme is devised and a complete simulation of power control is performed over varying loads, varying input voltages, three phase or single phase input, and switching schemes. Simulation results are presented that demonstrate the ability to control power flow and synthesize the grid currents to be sinusoidal.
Draining Lymph Nodes of Corneal Transplant Hosts Exhibit Evidence for Donor Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class II–positive Dendritic Cells Derived from MHC Class II–negative Grafts

To examine the widely accepted dogmas that corneal grafts lack passenger leukocytes or cells capable of migrating directly to lymph nodes (LNs), we tracked the migration of corneal graft-derived transgenic green fluorescent protein (GFP; Iab) cells into the draining LNs of allogeneic (Iad) recipients. GFP+ cells were identified in cervical LNs several hours after transplantation, and this traffic was significantly enhanced when grafts were placed in inflamed recipient beds. Draining cells were Iab+, CD45+, and CD11c+, and examination of ungrafted corneas revealed numerous similarly CD45+CD11c+CD3−CD8α− cells that uniformly lacked major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression; transmission electron microscopy confirmed the presence of morphologically similar cells. After transplantation, or placement in culture, these CD11c+ cells became class II+ in a time-dependent manner and were capable of allostimulatory function. However, the stimulatory capacity of these cornea-derived dendritic cells (DCs) was suppressed compared with splenic controls. These results demonstrate for the first time that the cornea is endowed with resident DCs that are universally MHC class II− but that are capable of expressing class II antigen after surgery and migrating to draining LNs of allografted hosts. These data refute the tenet that the cornea is immune privileged due to lack of resident lymphoreticular cells or due to antigenic sequestration from systemic immunity.
Environmental Justice Grantmaking: Elites and Activists Collaborate to Transform Philanthropy

The rise of environmental justice activism since the 1980s provides an exceptional opportunity to study the relations between a grassroots movement and philanthropic foundations. I utilize archival documents and interviews with activists and funders to pose two guiding questions. One, to what degree has the environmental justice movement gained access to foundations? Two, to what degree does this movement maintain self-determination in its relations with foundations? This paper shows that the movement successfully established connections with a few key foundations. I also show how environmental justice grantee organizations maneuvered around some of the foundation-related constraints that might otherwise present very real threats to their self-determination. This analysis builds on, but also goes beyond, the channeling and co-optation literatures that emphasize the potentially negative influence of foundation funding on grantees. It also contributes to the newly developing social relations perspective which conceptualizes social movement philanthropy as a relationship that is mediated by many factors (for instance, the political orientation of the funder and grantee, among others).
System Identification With Sparse Coprime Sensing

Given a continuous time LTI system with impulse response hc(t), it is shown that the uniformly spaced samples hc(nT) can be identified for any chosen spacing T by using an impulse train input with an arbitrarily small rate 1/NT and sampling the system output with an arbitrarily small rate 1/MT , provided M and N are coprime. This idea, referred to here as the sparse coprime sensing method for system identification, is closely related to well known results in multirate signal processing. It is shown that the problem can be related to the identification of a decimation filter from input-output measurements. It is also shown that the problem is equivalent to the identification of a discrete time N × M LTI system from a knowledge of the full rate input and output vector sequences.
Vibrational perturbation: A chemical aid to assignment. I—Fermi resonance in the ν8 region of isotopic pyridines

Complete Raman data are reported for the ν1, ν6 and ν8 regions of the vibrational spectra of the C2ν deuterium-labeled pyridines and of their water complexes. Raman data are given for frequency shifts observed when some of these pyridines are dissolved in a selection of hydrogen-bonding solvents. The complicated ν8 region is afforded definitive assignment based on Fermi resonance between the A1 component of ν8 and the A1 combination tone ν1 + ν6a, as well as on the ways in which these resonances are made or broken when hydrogen-bonded complexes are formed with the deuterium-labeled pyridines.
Degradation of individual cells in a module measured with differential IV analysis

A methodology is developed for the extraction of cell-level properties from the analysis of differential IV response in a solar module with series connected cells. Through a combination of simulation and experimental verification we show that the shunt resistance and short circuit current of individual cells can be determined from a peak in the module differential resistance with cells that are partially shaded. The magnitude of the peak is equal to the shunt resistance of the cell for small values of shunt resistance. The current at which the peak occurs is proportional to the product of the short circuit current and the shading factor of the particular cell. With this methodology, we are able to measure degradation of 72 individual cells in a single commercial module after a high temperature/high humidity/high voltage stress test. Therefore, the statistics of degradation in this test were improved 72-fold. Copyright # 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
3D display design concept for cockpit and mission crewstations

Simple visual cues increase human awareness and perception and decrease reaction times. Humans are visual beings requiring visual cues to warn them of impending danger especially in combat aviation. The simplest cues are those that allow the individual to immerse themselves in the situations to which they must respond. Two-dimensional (2-D) display technology has real limits on what types of information and how much information it can present to the viewer without becoming disorienting or confusing. True situational awareness requires a transition from 2-D to three-dimensional (3-D) display technology.
Angiogenic factors and alveolar vasculature: development and alterations by injury in very premature baboons

Proper formation of the pulmonary microvasculature is essential for normal lung development and gas exchange. Lung microvascular development may be disrupted by chronic injury of developing lungs in clinical diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia. We examined microvascular development, angiogenic growth factors, and endothelial cell receptors in a fetal baboon model of chronic lung disease (CLD). In the last third of gestation, the endothelial cell marker platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM)-1 increased 7.5-fold, and capillaries immunostained for PECAM-1 changed from a central location in airspace septa to a subepithelial location. In premature animals delivered at 67% of term and supported with oxygen and ventilation for 14 days, PECAM-1 protein and capillary density did not increase, suggesting failure to expand the capillary network. The capillaries of the CLD animals were dysmorphic and not subepithelial. The angiogenic growth factor vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor (Flt-1) were significantly decreased in CLD. Angiopoietin-1, another angiogenic growth factor, and its receptor tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin and epidermal growth factor homology domains were not significantly changed. These data suggest that CLD impairs lung microvascular development and that a possible mechanism is disruption of VEGF and Flt-1 expression.
PRISONIZATION AS AN INHIBITOR OF EFFECTIVE RESOCIALIZATION

This study focuses on data collected from 267 incarcerated, male delinquents The intent of this report is to identify and discuss the possible impact of prisonization on the inmate—an impact that in fact may impede the resocialization goals of the formal organization. Prisonization is conceptualized as the degree of assimilation into the inmate contraculture, and the particular type of social role assumed by the inmate. The proposed consequences of this socialization process are conceptualired as opposition to the institution, the degree of priority placed on interpersonal contact with other inmates while incarcerated, and opposition to the legal system. The findings of this study suggest that prisonization is related to self-attitudes that are not conducive to effective reconciliation.
An overview of data aggregation architecture for real-time tracking with sensor networks

Since sensor nodes normally have limited resources in terms of energy, bandwidth and computation capability, efficiency is a key design goal in sensor network research. As one of techniques to achieve efficiency, data aggregation has been extensively investigated in recent literature. Previous research on data aggregation has demonstrated its effectiveness in reducing traffic, easing congestion and decreasing the energy consumption. However few are actually designed for a real-world application and implemented in a running system. This paper describes our design and implementation of a physical tracking system, using an aggressive data aggregation architecture as one of building blocks. This architecture can be generally applied to other sensor systems, where communication efficiency is a paramount concern and networking resources are limited.
Design and modeling challenges for DDR II memory subsystems

This paper describes the electrical packaging challenges, design issues, and design solutions for source-synchronous DDR II memory subsystems utilizing the double data rate (DDR) timing protocols. Major design and modeling issues are discussed, such as crosstalk, delay skew, impedance control and inter-symbol interference. The timing and jitter budgets, and the noise margin allocation for the various components of the optimization equations are discussed in conjunction with their associated design control techniques. A novel termination technique is discussed that allows for maximum memory capacity per channel at a given data rate.