cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Parameter dependence of myoglobin-facilitated transport of oxygen in the presence of membranes

Abstract Some physicochemical entities involved in the facilitated transport of oxygen along a transport path z 1 ⩽ z ⩽ z n with membranes impermeable to myoglobin at z i , i =1,… n , were identified in an earlier paper [ Math. Biosci. 95:209 (1989)]. These entities are the partition between the oxygen and oxymyoglobin flows, the flow transfers taking place near a membrane, and the membrane resistance. Expressions for these entities were obtained that explicitly involve the parameters of the system. In this paper, for the case of prescribed boundary oxygen concentrations x 1 and x n , these expressions are incorporated into (i) an explicit representation for the facilitated transport value in terms of the difference, E ( x 1 )− E ( x n ), between the boundary oxymyoglobin equilibrium values and the sum, Γ, of the membrane resistances, and (ii) a representation for the distribution of the membrane oxygen concentrations x i at z i , i =2,…, n −1. This makes it possible to analyze the manner in which the facilitated transport depends on the parameters. For a physiological range of parameter values, the facilitated transport was found to increase as either the oxygen-myoglobin association rate constant k ', the dissociation rate constant k , the oxygen diffusion coefficient, or the oxymyoglobin diffusion coefficient increases. Thus, the facilitated transport does not depend directly on ratios of chemical and diffusion coefficients. Although the increase in the oxygen diffusion coefficient does not per se affect the chemical conductance, it diminishes the membrane resistance through an interface feature, with a resulting increase in the facilitated transport. For a larger range of values of k ′ and k , the dependences of the facilitated transport on k ′ and on k are both biphasic and are similar in shape. However, the mechanisms involved are different: The associated changes in E ( x 1 )− E ( x n ) and in Γ that result from the increase in k ′ are opposite to those that result from an increase in k . The use of (i) and (ii) permits, also, discrimination between the different roles of the physicochemical entities involved in a given facilitated transport change. In some cases (e.g., the decreasing phase of the facilitated transport as k ′ increases), this change depends in an essential manner on a secondary modification of the profile x i , i =1,…, n , along the transport path.
Screen of receptor and uptake-site activity of hypericin component of St. John's wort reveals sigma receptor binding.

The mechanism of the antidepressant action of St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) remains unknown. A central component similar to that of the other clinically-popular antidepressants (e.g., inhibitors of 5-HT or norepinephrine reuptake or MAO) is suspected to play a role, but other mechanisms distinct from the SSRIs, NSRIs or MAOIs are possible. The extract of St. John's wort that is used clinically consists of multiple compounds. Hypericin is believed to be one of the major components responsible for the antidepressant effect. In the present study, the affinity of hypericin was determined at thirty receptor or reuptake sites. At 1.0 microM, hypericin inhibited less than 40% of specific radioligand binding at all sites except mAChR and sigma receptors. The demonstration of sigma receptor binding of hypericin is a novel finding and it might contribute to a new understanding of the clinical attributes of St. John's Wort.
Inverse limit spaces of infinitely renormalizable maps

Abstract There are uncountably many distinct inverse limit spaces that can be formed with unimodal maps as bonding maps.
Regulation Of The Single Channel Conductance Of K2p10.1 (Trek2) By The Amino-terminus

K2P2.1 (TREK-1) and K2P10.1 (TREK-2), when expressed in mammalian cell lines, show several single channel conductance levels. Recent studies show that the N-terminus of TREKs controls the unitary conductance levels via alternative translation initiation mechanism that produces isoforms with long and short N-termini. For TREK-2, the isoform with the full length N-terminus (residues 1-69) has a low conductance level, whereas that with the short one (residues 55-69 or 67-69) has a large conductance level. The role of the N-terminus and the putative slide helix region in the control of the unitary conductance was studied further using deletion and substitution TREK-2 mutants. Deletion of the N-terminus up to residue 36 (out of 69 residues) had no effect on conductance levels. Further deletions up to residues 40 (∼150-pS at −40 mV), 44 (∼90-pS), and 49 (>30-pS) produced channels with levels that were different from the levels observed in the wild type TREK-2. A mutation within the putative slide helix region (residues 47-55) to render it non-helical resulted in formation of mainly the low conductance channel, and greatly reduced the open probability. These TREK-2 mutants also inhibited the alternative translation initiation. These results suggest that the distal region of the N-terminus (residues 37-55) including the putative helical region (residues 37-54) controls the unitary conductance of TREK-2 in an unpredictable way. The data also indicate that the putative helical region is important for the control of channel activity.
Factors affecting plasma postheparin diamine oxidase activity.

Plasma postheparin diamine oxidase (DAO) activity has been evaluated for assessing disease activity in Crohn's disease (CD) and other intestinal disorders. Since the mechanism of the reduced plasma DAO activity is poorly understood, our aim was to determine the effect of extent and location of disease and prior resection and therapy on plasma DAO activity in Crohn's disease. Plasma postheparin DAO activity was significantly lower (17.4±3.0 vs 32.8±30.8 units/ml) and Crohn's disease activity index (178±105 vs 14±19,P 60 cm) or colonic disease (13.0±6.9 segmental vs 24.0±15.4 units/ml, pancolitis). DAO activity was similar with small or large bowel disease (14.3±10.6 vs 18.8±13.1 units/ml). Prior enterectomy or colectomy did not significantly influence DAO activity. DAO activity responds predictably after effective therapy and recurrence and may prove useful in monitoring individual patients with CD. Failure of extent and location of disease and prior resection to influence DAO activity suggests that DAO activity is not directly related to enterocyte mass.
Self-Balanced Input-Series Two-Stage DC-DC Converter and Ripple Match Design

This paper proposes a new self-balanced input-series, two-stage scheme suitable for high input voltage DC-DC converters. Series connection is applied for the first stage to reduce voltage stress, while a single second stage is used to regulate the charge balance of the first stage. Also, this research proposes a new ripple match concept to choose optimized first stage inductance value to reduce the voltage ripple across the intermediate capacitors, and thus, significantly suppress the current ripple of the second stage. A prototype with 500-700V input and 5V/30A output is built. Experimental results verify the principle and performance of the new topology.
Pyrosequencing for discovery and analysis of DNA sequence variations

Since the invention of pyrosequencing, more than 500 articles have been published describing different applications of this technology, most notably for DNA structure variation and microbial detection. Technological advances have been made to enhance the robustness and accuracy of this technique as well as to reduce the cost and increase the throughput. This review intends to cover recent advances in this technology and discuss its application for low and high-throughput DNA variation studies.
A review of long-term effects of low sodium diet versus high sodium diet on blood pressure, renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, cholesterol and triglyceride.

Commentary on: NA Graudal, T Hubeck-Graudal, G Jurgens. Effects of lowsodium diet versus high sodium diet on blood pressure, renin, aldosterone, catecholamines, cholesterol, and triglyceride. Cochrane Database Syst Rev2011 Nov9;11:CD004022.
Superresolution performance for undersampled imagers

The enhancement of undersampled imager performance has been demonstrated using super-resolution techniques. In these techniques, the optical flow of the scene or the relative sub-pixel shifts between frames is calculated and a high resolution grid is populated with spatial data based as a result of scene motion. Performance enhancement has been demonstrated for the case of a static image with the undersampled imager output compared to a static image that has been acquired through a frame series in a dynamic scene. In this research, the performance is compared for four cases: static image with undersampled imager, static image with super-resolution frame sequence, dynamic image with undersampled imager, and dynamic image with super-resolution frame sequence.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Smiles for Life: an oral health education resource.

The elderly, especially those who reside in long term care facilities, are particularly vulnerable to poor oral health, which negatively impacts their overall health. This article introduces a tool to aid medical directors in addressing their patients’ oral health needs. Smiles for Life: A National Oral Health Curriculum has been widely used by physicians, medical residents, advance practice registered nurses, and physician assistants since its initial release in 2005. The newest module, Geriatric Oral Health, was released in October 2011. This module addresses the oral health needs of the elderly, oral health assessment, common oral conditions of the elderly, oral-systemic links particular to elderly, drug effects, caregiver issues, and encourages medico-dental collaboration.
TRUST-TECH Based Neural Network Training

Efficient training in a neural network plays a vital role in deciding the network architecture and the accuracy of these classifiers. Most popular local training algorithms tend to be greedy and hence get stuck at the nearest local minimum of the error surface and this corresponds to suboptimal network model. Stochastic approaches in combination with local methods are used to obtain an effective set of training parameters. Due to the lack of effective fine-tuning capability, these algorithms often fail to obtain such an optimal set of parameters and are computationally expensive. As a trade-off between computational expense and accuracy required, a novel method to improve the local search capability of training algorithms is proposed in this paper. This approach takes advantage of TRUST-TECH (TRansformation Under STability-reTaining Equilibrium CHaracterization) to compute neighborhood local minima on the error surface surrounding the current solution in a systematic manner. Empirical results on different real world datasets indicate that the proposed algorithm is computationally effective in obtaining promising solutions.
Shifting Boundaries and Splintering Movements: Abortion Rights in the Feminist and New Right Movements†

Social movement boundaries are fundamentally about deciding who “we” are by defining who we are not. However, newly salient issues in a movement community can shift these boundaries by changing the membership criteria for both insiders and outsiders. Through a comparative case study of two relatively conservative feminist organizations, Women's Equity Action League (WEAL) and Feminists for Life (FFL), I examine how shifting boundaries around abortion rights in the feminist movement led to movement splintering, as organizations struggled and sometimes failed to maintain their relationships in a movement that increasingly defined them as outsiders. This analysis reveals how abortion rights' growing importance to both the feminist movement and the New Right resulted in the realignment of FFL with the feminist countermovement. This process had important consequences for both the organization and the countermovement with which it was realigned. This article contributes to our understanding of how shifting boundaries affect individual organizations, the movements in which they participate, and the relationships between countermovements.
Re-Os isotope systematics in Samoan shield lavas and the use of Os-isotopes in olivine phenocrysts to determine primary magmatic compositions

Abstract Samoan shield-stage lavas (from the islands of Ta'u, Savai'i, and Ofu and the seamounts of Vailulu'u and Malumalu) with Os concentrations > 30 ppt have 187Os/188Os ratios that exhibit a narrow range of values between 0.128 and 0.132. Lavas with ≤ 30 ppt Os show more radiogenic 187Os/188Os ratios, in some cases as high as 0.191, suggesting that the 187Os/188Os ratios of the extreme Samoan EM2 (enriched mantle 2) lavas likely have been compromised by assimilation of altered oceanic crust. The 187Os/188Os ratios for rejuvenated-stage lavas from Savai'i are lower than shield lavas, and they exhibit some of the lowest 187Os/188Os ratios in the global ocean island basalt database ( Hauri and Hart, 1993 ). The difference may owe to contamination of the rejuvenated lavas with unradiogenic Os from disaggregated xenoliths from the mantle lithosphere, and their low Os isotopic composition does not reflect the EM2 mantle source of magmas. The limited range in 187Os/188Os ratios of the higher Os-abundance shield lavas (0.128–0.132), coupled with a tremendous range of 87Sr/86Sr (0.7045–0.7114), are characteristics of the EM2 source that can be explained by mixing a continental crustal sediment characterized by a high Sr/Os (~ 107) with a mantle peridotite that has low Sr/Os (~ 104). Os abundances for nine whole rocks and their olivine phenocrysts show opposite trends with respect to whole rock MgO content: olivines have less than 0.1 ppb Os at 15 wt.% MgO and increase to 1–2 ppb Os in lavas with 8 wt.% MgO. Even though the Os isotopic composition of an evolved lava is susceptible to crustal assimilation, olivine phenocrysts with high Os concentrations preserve the pre-assimilation magmatic 187Os/188Os ratio. For example, the range of 187Os/188Os ratios measured on magmatic olivines from Samoan shield lavas (0.127 to 0.130) is lower (and narrower than) the range estimated using Os-rich (> 30 ppt) whole rock lavas (0.128–0.132).
Taming 3-manifolds using scalar curvature

In this paper we address the issue of uniformly positive scalar curvature on noncompact 3-manifolds. In particular we show that the Whitehead manifold lacks such a metric, and in fact that $${\mathbb{R}^3}$$ is the only contractible noncompact 3-manifold with a metric of uniformly positive scalar curvature. We also describe contractible noncompact manifolds of higher dimension exhibiting this curvature phenomenon. Lastly we characterize all connected oriented 3-manifolds with finitely generated fundamental group allowing such a metric.
Dermatology Training During the Pediatric Residency

The diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the skin and subcutaneous tissue represents a significant aspect of general pediatric practice. A study was carried out to assess the status of training in dermatology among residents in pediatrics. Sixty five pediatric residents in seven different training programs were asked to identify color transparencies of 20 common dermatoses. Their mean score of 53.2 percent was considerably lower than that of an equivalent group of residents in dermatology (86.4%). A survey of pediatric residencies throughout the United States indicated that 67 percent of those responding offer an elective in pediatric dermatology.
Editorial Comment—Prenatal Influences on Stroke Mortality in England and Wales

Genetic and environmental factors may interact in complex ways to alter an individual’s susceptibility to a variety of diseases, including stroke. Analysis of epidemiological data in the present study shows that people who were born in areas of high stroke mortality in England and Wales were at higher risk of stroke-related mortality than those migrating into these localities.1 The same may be true in the United States. South Carolina has one of the highest stroke mortality rates in the southeastern “stroke belt” region of the country,2 the existence of which is not fully understood.3 Those born and residing in South Carolina have higher stroke …
Lactation Yields and Accuracies Computed from Test Day Yields and (Co)Variances by Best Prediction

Lactation records are calculated from data on milk, fat, and protein obtained from one or more milkings on several days during the lactation. The test interval method, which estimated missing daily milk yields by simple interpolation, was used for many years for standard monthly data but may not be as useful for the wider variety of test plans now being proposed. More accurate 305-d yields can be computed using best prediction, which has optimum properties if means and (co)variances are known and distribution is multivariate normal. The covariance of test day and 305-d yields is multiplied by the inverse of the test day (co)variance matrix, which is then multiplied by the test day deviation vector. This predicted 305-d deviation plus the mean 305-d yield equals the predicted 305-d yield. Similar algebraic methods are used to compute the correlation of true and estimated 305-d yields, which is needed to calculate lactation weights. Computation times were affordable but not trivial; they ranged from 0.001 to 1 s per lactation. Equations were modified to account for differing accuracies of data for partial days, means for multiple days, and data for unsupervised tests. Complete or incomplete lactations recorded with very different testing plans can be graphed and compared by best prediction.
Neural circuitry of the prefrontal cortex in schizophrenia.

The FINDINGS of an increasing number and variety of studies have implicated the prefrontal cortex (PFC), especially the dorsolateral region, as a site of dysfunction in schizophrenia. For example, schizophrenic patients perform poorly on cognitive tasks that are subserved by neural systems involving PFC circuitry. 1,2 In addition, functional imaging studies have demonstrated reduced blood flow or metabolic activity in this region of the cerebral cortex in many schizophrenic patients. 3-7 See also pages 258, 267, and 274 However, despite the accumulating evidence of PFC dysfunction in schizophrenia, major challenges for research in this area continue to include (1) the identification of specific alterations of PFC circuitry in schizophrenia and (2) the development of a rational pathophysiological accounting, based on our current understanding of the structure and operation of cortical neural systems, for the relation between altered PFC circuitry and disturbed PFC function in schizophrenia. Although relegated to the graveyard
Evidence for Fluoride Effects on Salmon Passage at John Day Dam, Columbia River, 1982–1986

Abstract There is evidence that fluoride from an aluminum plant near John Day Dam had a significant negative effect on passage time and survival of adult Pacific salmon Oncorhynchus spp. at the dam. In 1982, fluoride concentrations of 0.3-0.5 mg/L were recorded at the dam. These concentrations were probably representative of fluoride levels at the dam in earlier years as well, based on the aluminum plant's fluoride discharge records since 1971. From 1980 to 1982, the time (> 150 h) required for upstream migrants to pass John Day Dam and the mortality (>50%) of migrants between Bonneville and McNary dams (below and above John Day Dam) were unacceptably high. Bioassay experiments on the behavior of upstream-migrating adult salmon suggested that fluoride concentrations of about 0.5 mg/L would adversely affect migration. Subsequent experiments suggested that 0.2 mg F/L was at or below the threshold for fluoride sensitivity of chinook salmon O. tshawytscha and below the threshold for fluoride sensitivity of co...
A Rare Case of Neck Pain: Acute Longus Colli Calcific Tendinitis in a Possibly Immunocompromised Individual

We present a rare case of severe neck pain in a 45-year-old man with severe hidradenitis suppurativa who was participating in a study involving adalimumab. The neck pain was associated with acute longus colli calcific tendinitis, which is a noninfectious inflammatory response in the longus colli tendons secondary to deposition of calcium hydroxyapatite crystal. The diagnosis was made by computed tomography, which showed calcifications and deposits, and magnetic resonance imaging, which showed a retropharyngeal effusion. Ears, Nose, and Throat Services performed a fiberoptic scope examination, which revealed a patent airway and no drainable abscess. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs resulted in a dramatic improvement in the patient9s clinical symptoms. In acute longus colli tendinitis, differentiating retropharyngeal aseptic effusion from infection is important. Of note, the confounding factor in this case was that the patient was blinded to whether he was receiving the placebo or adalimumab, so whether the patient was immunosuppressed and at risk for infection was unknown. Clinician familiarity and education concerning acute calcific longus colli tendinitis may lead to decreased costs stemming from incorrect diagnosis and unnecessary treatment.
The evolving role of FLT3 inhibitors in acute myeloid leukemia: quizartinib and beyond:

Acute myeloid leukemia remains associated with poor outcomes despite advances in our understanding of the complicated molecular events driving leukemogenesis and malignant progression. Those patients harboring mutations in the FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase have a particularly poor prognosis; however, significant excitement has been generated by the emergence of a variety of targeted inhibitors capable of suppressing FLT3 signaling in vivo. Here we will review results from preclinical studies and early clinical trials evaluating both first- and second-generation FLT3 inhibitors. Early FLT3 inhibitors (including sunitinib, midostaurin, and lestaurtinib) demonstrated significant promise in preclinical models of FLT3 mutant AML. Unfortunately, many of these compounds failed to achieve robust and sustained FLT3 inhibition in early clinical trials, at best resulting in only transient decreases in peripheral blast counts. These results have prompted the development of second-generation FLT3 inhibitors, epitomized by the novel agent quizartinib. These second-generation inhibitors have demonstrated enhanced FLT3 specificity and have been generally well tolerated in early clinical trials. Several FLT3 inhibitors have reached phase III clinical trials, and a variety of phase I/II trials exploring a role for these novel compounds in conjunction with conventional chemotherapy or hematopoietic stem cell transplantation are ongoing. Finally, molecular insights provided by FLT3 inhibitors have shed light upon the variety of mechanisms underlying the acquisition of resistance and have provided a rationale supporting the use of combinatorial regimens with other emerging targeted therapies.
Environmental regulation of feeding and egg production by Acartia tonsa off southern California

The feeding, diet and egg production of the copepod Acartia tonsa were dermined during ten experiments in Los Angeles Harbor, California, between November 1986 and October 1987. Copepods were incubated in situ, in quasi-natural food environments. Water temperatures ranged from 14.6 to 21.5°C. Particulate organic carbon and nitrogen (POC and PON) were high (534 to 3710 μg Cl-1, 51 to 459 Nl-1) but dominated by small ( 8 μm. Plankton biomass was always low. Daily ingestion rates ranged from 3 to 96% of body C; egg production ranged from 4 to 35% of body carbon. Mean ingestion and egg production rates during spring-summer were 1.9 and 1.5 times higher than average for the entire study, respectively. The average gross efficiency of egg production for the study was 80%; the spring-summer mean was 41%. Bivariate and multiple-regression analyses revealed that the ingestion rate was dependent upon both temperature and food availability, but that, below 21°C, egg production depended more upon temperature than upon food concentration. To detect dietary preferences, the composition of diet was compared with that of the food supply. Selective feeding was infrequent, but the diet was often dominated by dinoflagellates and ciliates. It would appear that within metabolic limits governed by temperature, the feeding response of A. tonsa is dependent upon food concentration, while egg production depends more on qualitative attributes of the food supply.
Heads or tails? Amphioxus and the evolution of anterior-posterior patterning in deuterostomes.

In Xenopus, the canonical Wnt-signaling pathway acting through beta-catenin functions both in establishing the dorso-ventral axis and in patterning the anterior-posterior axis. This pathway also acts in patterning the animal-vegetal axis in sea urchins. However, because sea urchin development is typically indirect, and adult sea urchins have pentamerous symmetry and lack a longitudinal nerve cord, it has not been clear how the roles of the canonical Wnt-signaling pathway in axial patterning in sea urchins and vertebrates are evolutionarily related. The developmental expression patterns of Notch, brachyury, caudal, and eight Wnt genes have now been determined for the invertebrate chordate Amphioxus, which, like sea urchins, has an early embryo that gastrulates by invagination, but like vertebrates, has a later embryo with a dorsal hollow nerve cord that elongates posteriorly from a tail bud. Comparisons of Amphioxus with other deuterostomes suggest that patterning of the ancestral deuterostome embryo along its anterior-posterior axis during the late blastula and subsequent stages involved a posterior signaling center including Wnts, Notch, and transcription factors such as brachyury and caudal. In tunicate embryos, in which cell numbers are reduced and cell fates largely determined during cleavage stages, only vestiges of this signaling center are still apparent; these include localization of Wnt-5 mRNA to the posterior cytoplasm shortly after fertilization and localization of beta-catenin to vegetal nuclei during cleavage stages. Neither in tunicates nor in Amphioxus is there any evidence that the canonical Wnt-signaling pathway functions in establishment of the dorso-ventral axis. Thus, roles for Wnt-signaling in dorso-ventral patterning of embryos may be a vertebrate innovation that arose in connection with the evolution of yolky eggs and gastrulation by extensive involution.
Earnings and ethnicity in Trinidad and Tobago

This study employs 1993 Continuous Sample Survey of the Population (CSSP) data for Trinidad and Tobago to investigate the determinants of earnings by ethnicity. The data, organised into three ethnic groupings, reveal lower levels of remuneration in the labour market for Africans and Indians than for individuals of other ethnicities taken as a whole. While the larger portion of the earnings differentials generally appears to be explained by ethnic differences in characteristics valued by the labour market, Africans and Indians would benefit substantially if they were to receive the same rates of remuneration for their educational endowments as workers of other ethnicities in the Trinidad and Tobago labour market. Notwithstanding Indians’ lowest average earnings, Africans appear more likely to be discriminated against.
Sites That Direct Nuclear Compartmentalization Are near the 5′ End of the Mouse Immunoglobulin Heavy-Chain Locus

VDJ rearrangement in the mouse immunoglobulin heavy chain (Igh) locus involves a combination of events, including a large change in its nuclear compartmentalization. Prior to rearrangement, Igh moves from its default peripheral location near the nuclear envelope to an interior compartment, and after rearrangement it returns to the periphery. To identify any sites in Igh responsible for its association with the periphery, we systematically analyzed the nuclear positions of the Igh locus in mouse non-B- and B-cell lines and, importantly, in primary splenic lipopolysaccharide-stimulated B cells and plasmablasts. We found that a broad 1-Mb region in the 5 half of the variable-gene region heavy-chain (Vh) locus regularly colocalizes with the nuclear lamina. The 3 half of the Vh gene region is less frequently colocalized with the periphery, while sequences flanking the Vh gene region are infrequently so. Importantly, in plasmacytomas, VDJ rearrangements that delete most of the Vh locus, including part of the 5 half of the Vh gene region, result in loss of peripheral compartmentalization, while deletion of only the proximal half of the Vh gene region does not. In addition, when Igh-Myc translocations move the Vh genes to a new chromosome, the distal Vh gene region is still associated with the nuclear periphery. Thus, the Igh region that interacts with the nuclear periphery is localized but is likely comprised of multiple sites that are distributed over 1M b in the 5 half of the Vh gene region. This 5 Vh gene region that produces peripheral compartmentalization is the same region that is distinguished by requirements for interleukin-7, Pax5, and Ezh2 for rearrangement of the Vh genes.
A 700kHz High-Efficiency High-Power-Density Three-Level Parallel Resonant DC-DC Converter for High-Voltage Charging Applications

This paper proposes a variable-frequency zero-voltage-switching (ZVS) three-level parallel resonant converter, which is able to utilize the parasitic components of the high-turns-ratio transformer. Voltage stress of primary switches is half of input voltage. Low voltage MOSFETs with better performance can be applied. Zero-current-switching (ZCS) is achieved for rectifier diodes. Magnetic integration technique is applied. Only one magnetic component is required in this converter. The power factor concept of resonant converters is proposed and analyzed. A novel constant power factor control scheme is proposed. Based on this control strategy, the circulating energy of resonant converters is considerably reduced. High efficiency can be obtained for high-voltage high-power charging applications. The operation principle of the converter is analyzed and verified on a 700kHz, 3.7kW prototype. The power density of 72W/inch3 is achieved with over 88% efficiency.
Fusion transmutation of waste and the role of the In-Zinerator in the nuclear fuel cycle.

The Z-Pinch fusion experiment at Sandia National Laboratories has been making significant progress in developing a high-energy fusion neutron source. This source has the potential to be used for the transmutation of nuclear waste. The goal of this research was to do a scoping-level design of a fusion-based transmuter to determine potential transmutation rates along with the fusion yield requirements. Two ''In-Zinerator'' designs have been developed to transmute the long-lived actinides that dominate the heat production in spent fuel. The first design burns up all transuranics (TRU) in spent fuel (Np, Pu, Am, Cm), and the second is focused only on burning up Am and Cm. The TRU In-Zinerator is designed for a fuel cycle requiring burners to get rid of all the TRU with no light water reactor (LWR) recycle. The Am/Cm In-Zinerator is designed for a fuel cycle with Np/Pu recycling in LWRs. Both types of In-Zinerators operate with a moderate fusion source driving a sub-critical actinide blanket. The neutron multiplication is 30, so a great deal of energy is produced in the blanket. With the design goal of generating 3,000 MW{sub th}, about 1,200 kg/yr of actinides can be destroyed in each In-Zinerator. Each TRU In-Zinerator willmore » require a 20 MW fusion source, and it will take a total of 20 units (each producing 3,000 MWth) to burn up the TRU as fast as the current LWR fleet can produce it. Each Am/Cm In-Zinerator will require a 24 MW fusion source, and it will take a total of 2 units to burn up the Am/Cm as fast as the current LWR fleet can produce it. The necessary fusion yield could be achieved using a 200-240 MJ target fired once every 10 seconds.« less
Language-Minority Learners in Special Education Rates and Predictors of Identification for Services

Using data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten Cohort, this study was designed to investigate proportional representation, identification rates, and predictors of language-minority (LM) learners in special education using a nationally representative sample of kindergarten, first graders, and third graders. The findings indicate that although LM learners were underrepresented in special education in kindergarten and first grade, they were overrepresented in third grade across all disability categories. LM status, teacher ratings of language and literacy skills, and reading proficiency level were significant predictors of placement in special education. Kindergarten teacher ratings of language and literacy skills were highly predictive of subsequent placement in special education. The implications for developing a model of early identification, the response-to-intervention model in particular, for LM learners at risk for academic difficulties are discussed.
Materials for Thermal Control for Mars Surface Operations

The thermal environment for Mars surface exploration provides unique challenges for materials for use in structure and thermal control. The Sojourner Mars Rover has a lightweight integrated structure/insulation that has been environmentally tested and qualified for the Pathfinder mission to Mars. The basic structure with insulation, called the Warm Electronics Box (WEB), accounts for only 10% of the total Rover mass. The WEB is a thermal isolating composite structure with co-cured thermal control surfaces and an ultra-lightweight hydrophobic solid silica aerogel which minimizes conduction and radiation. This design provides excellent thermal insulation at low gas pressures and meets the structural requirements for spacecraft launch loads and for a 60 g impact landing at Mars without damage to the insulation or structure. Since the Pathfinder mission, this basic design concept has been developed and improved for future Mars surface robotic missions.
THE PEKERIS WAVEGUIDE: A CASE STUDY IN CLASSICAL APPLIED MATHEMATICS

In this paper various mathematical models for underwater acoustic wave propagation are reviewed and summarized. The primary model is the Pekeris waveguide, and this is used as a case study by incorporating many related mathematical methods in a single context. Often such methods are perceived by graduates in a compartmentalized fashion, and rarely, without artificiality, is it possible to utilize more than a few such techniques to gain deeper insight into a physical problem. In addition, (i) a continuously-stratified problem, (ii) a related inverse problem and (iii) a non-self-adjoint problem associated with a lossy waveguide are discussed in the light of results from the basic two-layer model. Three appendices briefly address more technical aspects of the associated governing differential equations.
On the effectiveness of using midterm examinations strictly for formative feedback

Research shows that, when it is conducted properly, formative assessment can have a significant impact on student learning. Examinations administered throughout the course, defined here as midterm exams, can be used effectively for formative assessment. However, misconceptions about the differences between the purposes of formative and summative assessment often lead to faulty application of midterm exams for summative assessment. The purposes of this paper are to clarify the pedagogical differences between exams used for formative and summative purposes, and to present data that illustrate that when midterm exams are used strictly for formative purposes, they can significantly enhance student learning, as measured by student performance on summative final examinations.
Effects of Systemic Hypothermia and Selective Brain Cooling on Ischemic Brain Damage and Swelling

The present study investigates the neuroprotective effects of temporary mild systemic hypothermia and selective brain cooling against focal cerebral infarction in the rat and the changes of cortical blood flow, and compares these two treatment modalities. In permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) model, the treatments were induced 15 min following the artery occlusion. The animals were kept at the desired rectal or brain temperature (about 32 degrees C) for 30 min; (each, n = 6) and for 1 hr (each, n = 6), and then allowed to rewarm spontaneously, whereas control animals were kept at normothermia throughout the experiment. The volumes of brain infarction and edema were assessed 24 hr post-occlusion. The blood flow of the dorsolateral cortex was monitored by Laser-Doppler flowmetry (LDF) in the other experiments. Hemispheric infarct volume was attenuated only in the animals treated for 1 hr with systemic hypothermia (49.2%, P < 0.001) and selective brain cooling (26.7%, P < 0.01). The volume of brain swelling was diminished only in the animals treated with systemic hypothermia for 1 hr (23.6%, P < 0.05). LDF examination revealed a sharp drop in blood flow upon MCA occlusion and maintaining in low blood flow throughout the experiment in the control and systemic hypothermia. However, in the selective brain cooling, the reduced blood flow increased from 40% to 70% of baseline value while the brain was rewarmed. The present study indicates that mild systemic hypothermia has much stronger protective effects against focal cerebral infarction and edema than selective brain cooling. The lack of protective effects of selective brain cooling may be caused by post-cooling cerebral hyperemia in the ischemia area.
Human Platelets Display High-Affinity Receptors for Thrombopoietin

Thrombopoietin (Tpo) is a major regulator of megakaryopoiesis both in vivo and in vitro. Tpo initiates its biologic effects by binding to the Mpl receptor, which is a member of the hematopoietin receptor family. To define the Tpo binding characteristics of the Mpl receptor, we iodinated purified 70-kD recombinant human Tpo using the Bolton-Hunter reagent. Autoradiographic analysis of 125I-Tpo binding to normal human marrow mononuclear cells showed many grains specifically associated with megakaryocytes; there were no grains specifically associated with myeloblasts or erythroblasts. Equilibrium binding experiments with 125I-Tpo and normal human platelets showed a single class of high-affinity receptors (kd, 190 pmol/L) with approximately 30 Mpl receptors per platelet. Affinity cross-linking with 125I-Tpo showed that the Mpl receptor on platelets is of molecular weight ∼98 kD. Despite their sequence similarity, erythropoietin and Tpo did not cross-compete for binding to BaF3 cells engineered to coexpress Mpl receptor and erythropoietin receptor. Progeny of normal human burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E) contained Mpl receptor mRNA, and flow cytometric analysis showed the presence of Mpl receptor protein on the surface of these cells. These data indicate that display of the Mpl receptor is not limited to the megakaryocytic lineage, but also includes progeny of BFU-E. Like receptors for other hematopoietic cytokines, the binding affinity of the Mpl receptor for Tpo is high, with relatively few receptors displayed per cell. These results suggest that the effects of Tpo to speed red blood cell recovery after myelosuppressive therapy in vivo and to enhance colony-forming unit-erythroid generation in vitro may be mediated by direct interaction of Tpo and erythroid progenitor cells.
Asian Indian Settlement Patterns in Select American Gateways

Asian Indian immigration to the United States (U.S.) has had a distinguished history in the twentieth century, with the 1965 Hart-Celler Immigration and Nationality Act dividing this history into two distinct phases. Although the pre-1965 phase was characterized by exclusion, post-1965 was about progressive inclusion of the immigrants. With the economic restructuring causing a shift from manufacturing to services and quaternary sector in the U.S. during the later 1980s and early 1990s, Asian immigration was now characterized by high human capital. The authors establish that Asian immigration continues to increase in spite of recent setbacks caused by recession in the economy and some evidence of reverse migration. Drawing upon case studies from the metroplexes of Dallas–Ft. Worth, Metropolitan Phoenix, and Austin, Texas, the authors conclude that Asian Indian immigration represents a significant and continuing current wave of immigration to the United States.
In Response to the Article 'Worse than Exemption'

In recent years there has been wide debate among scholars about the deferral approach of the US tax system. The dispute is mainly focused on the right set of rules that should be adopted when taxing foreign income generated by US-based multinational enterprises (hereinafter MNEs) from their foreign-controlled subsidiaries. Recently, the scholars J. Clifton Fleming, Robert J. Peroni and Stephen E. Shay suggested in their article WORSE THAN EXEMPTION that the current American tax system is worse for the US public treasury than an exemption tax system would be, since it in effect creates tax advantages that keep the US public treasury in a deficit until the MNEs repatriate their foreign profits. This paper will review the foregoing article and will argue that the reason for the disadvantages is the non-competitive corporate income tax (hereinafter CIT) rates prevailing in the US, combined with a misguided tax treatment of US-based MNEs when repatriating their profits from overseas. Finally, this article presents the solution formulated by President Barak Obama in “The President’s Framework for Business Tax Reform,” which proposes to replace the current treatment of overseas-generated profits of US based MNEs.
A Note on Densities of Order Statistics

(1974). A Note on Densities of Order Statistics. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 47, No. 2, pp. 100-101.
Immune restoration and CD4+ T-cell function with antiretroviral therapies.

Objectives:To review the current understanding of the details and mechanisms of immune restoration that follows administration of suppressive antiretroviral therapies to persons with chronic HIV-1 infection.Summary:A first-phase cellular increase often includes increases in multiple circulating lymp
Rules of Two-Factor Enrichiment for Marine Shale Gas in Southern China——Understanding from the Longmaxi Formation Shale Gas in Sichuan Basin and Its Surrounding Area

Following experimental news of a high output of well JY1in the Malongxi Formation shale,which has made a breakthrough in marine shale gas exploration in southern China,recently obtained data from the wells in the Jiaoshiba area shows a great prospect for marine shale gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin.Based on lithological and organic geochemical features,mineral contents and physical property of many wells in the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas,this study discussed accumulation type,microstructural features and fracture development,gas-bearing and gas producing capability.Along with drilling data and analysis results,a rule of two-factor enrichiment for marine shale gas in Southern China was established:development of high quality marine shale in deep continental shelf constitutes a base of hydrocarbon-generating of shale gas and excellent preservation condition is the key in accumulation and gas generation of shale gas.This study is of great and guide importance for effective exploration in marine shale gas of southern China.
Plasma urea kinetics in urea infusion

Seven patients undergoing an infusion of 30 per cent urea-10 per cent invert sugar solution (Urevert) for treatment of cerebral edema were studied with regard to plasma urea kinetics. The 2 compartment (extracellular and intracellular fluid spaces) model has been applied to analysis of the plasma levels. On the average, the human data could be simulated with our standard canine correlation: 2 compartment urea transport coefficient K, (liters per hour)= 0.735 weight (kilograms)± 14 per cent.
Range-space based identification of parametric linear systems

Range-space based identification aims at the recovery of a linear system (e.g multi-FIR channel identification for deblurring) by its output span, and constraints on its structure, often given by explicit parameterization. A key question for this inverse problem is under what conditions the recovered system is unique. When the parametrization is polynomial, algebraic geometry is a natural apparatus to analyze this problem. In this paper, we show that the collection of all non-identifiable parameters form an algebraic variety in the parameter space, which under certain conditions is nowhere dense. This allows to develop a simple numerical test to guarantee identifiability of certain parametric families of linear systems.
Information, Communication, and Space Technology

Many books have covered the rapidly evolving fields of information and communication technology (ICT) and space technology separately. However, no single book has ever focused on how the integration of these two areas is creating a stronger platform for various scientific advancements—including some research work that cannot be performed on Earth. To fill the void, Information, Communication, and Space Technology provides a novel illustration of that connection. Dividing content into sections that cover ICT, existing and future space technologies, and satellites, the author demonstrates the individual and combined power of each of these parts of the overall system. He explores how the combination of concepts from each of these interrelated fields is creating massive potential for broader advances in areas such as robotics, communications, navigation, agriculture, health care, and nanotechnology. The book introduces particular potential innovations, including "rocket-less" spacecraft launches, and development of a global system to balance energy distribution by using satellites that would collect solar energy and transmit it via microwave beams to different locations around the world. Equally useful to students and professionals, this work is a culmination of the domestic and international experience that the author has acquired throughout more than three decades as an instructor and researcher. Emphasizing the strong need to incorporate ICT and space technology into the general university curriculum, the book starts with basic explanations of key concepts and theories, building toward more concrete, application-oriented examples that reveal the importance and impact of new technologies. This includes coverage of how satellites transfer voice, video, and other data across continents, as well as techniques used to obtain very-high-resolution images from space for use in agricultural and environmental sciences.This timely work employs a logical, practically structured approach that will help readers to better understand existing and emerging ICT and space technologies, including the most recent developments and achievements in the field.
Multi-Octave and Frequency-Agile LNAs Covering S-C Band Using 0.25 µm GaN Technology

This paper reports the design and measured results of a multi-octave low noise amplifier (LNA) and a frequency-agile LNA utilizing a 0.25 μm gallium nitride (GaN) integrated circuit process technology for multi-band receiver applications. The demonstrated broadband LNA covers an instantaneous bandwidth from S- to C-bands (2.2-7.0 GHz), and the frequency-agile LNA cumulatively spans across 3 distinct bands (2.2-2.4 GHz, 4.4-5.0 GHz, and 5.0-6.7 GHz). The measured noise figure (NF), output third order intercept (OIP3), and peak gain of the wideband LNA is 1.0-1.7 dB, 19.0-26.0 dBm, and 10.6 dB with a gain flatness of +/- 0.35 dB respectively at a nominal power consumption of 480 mW across the band. At the same nominal power consumption, the frequency-agile LNA demonstrated a NF of 1.3, 1.4, and 1.2 dB; OIP3 of 23, 27, and 31 dBm; and gain of 13.6, 10.6, and 10.8 dB at 2.3 GHz, 4.7 GHz, and 5.8 GHz, respectively. The performance of the frequency-agile LNA is comparable to that of optimized narrowband LNAs at S- and C-bands. Compared to the multi-octave LNA, the frequency-agile LNA demonstrated better performance in gain and OIP3 at the frequencies of interest.