cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Benard–Marangoni Instability as Possible Modifier of Surface Alloy Composition

Thermophysical properties of amorphous alloys represent the features of a given material specimen, and, as such, they are dependent, in general, on their elemental composition. Some properties are measured at surfaces, and others are measured for the bulk as a whole. Complications arise when the elemental composition varies as a function of position within the material specimen, as demonstrated by simultaneous measurements of thermal diffusivity and elemental composition by time-resolved spectroscopy of laser-produced plasma (LPP) plume emissions. To further understand the source of a rather common near-surface elemental composition anomaly, the evolution of the surface composition of Wood’s alloy under the influence of thermal cycling with, and without, a temperature gradient over the specimen has been investigated. Surface composition modifications have been found to take place by accumulation of irregularly spaced gray patches of an inhomogeneous composition on the surface in the presence of a temperature gradient. Determination of elemental composition by LPP spectroscopy shows the three-dimensional structure of the patches.
Buffer-gas cooling of atomic and molecular beams

We demonstrate direct loading and cooling of a thermal beam into a cryogenic helium buffer gas. Our test species is rubidium; we observe a thermal beam with $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{13}{\mathrm{s}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ flux entering a cryocell and thermalizing with a 4.2-K buffer gas. There is no evidence of clustering or other spurious loss mechanisms. The cooling technique should be applicable to a wide variety of species, including radicals.
Types of evolutionary stability and the problem of cooperation.

Abstract The evolutionary stability of cooperation is a problem of fundamental importance for the biological and social sciences. Different claims have been made about this issue: whereas Axelrod and Hamilton's [Axelrod, R. & Hamilton, W. (1981) Science 211, 1390-1398] widely recognized conclusion is that cooperative rules such as "tit for tat" are evolutionarily stable strategies in the iterated prisoner's dilemma (IPD), Boyd and Lorberbaum [Boyd, R. & Lorberbaum, J. (1987) Nature (London) 327, 58-59] have claimed that no pure strategy is evolutionarily stable in this game. Here we explain why these claims are not contradictory by showing in what sense strategies in the IPD can and cannot be stable and by creating a conceptual framework that yields the type of evolutionary stability attainable in the IPD and in repeated games in general. Having established the relevant concept of stability, we report theorems on some basic properties of strategies that are stable in this sense. We first show that the IPD has "too many" such strategies, so that being stable does not discriminate among behavioral rules. Stable strategies differ, however, on a property that is crucial for their evolutionary survival--the size of the invasion they can resist. This property can be interpreted as a strategy's evolutionary robustness. Conditionally cooperative strategies such as tit for tat are the most robust. Cooperative behavior supported by these strategies is the most robust evolutionary equilibrium: the easiest to attain, and the hardest to disrupt.
Altered Growth and Branching Patterns in Synpolydactyly Caused by Mutations in HOXD13

Hox genes regulate patterning during limb development. It is believed that they function in the determination of the timing and extent of local growth rates. Here, it is demonstrated that synpolydactyly, an inherited human abnormality of the hands and feet, is caused by expansions of a polyalanine stretch in the amino-terminal region of HOXD13. The homozygous phenotype includes the transformation of metacarpal and metatarsal bones to short carpal- and tarsal-like bones. The mutations identify the polyalanine stretch outside of the DNA binding domain of HOXD13 as a region necessary for proper protein function.
Transient hydroelastic analysis of sandwich beams subjected to slamming in water

Abstract This work deals with the transient hydroelastic analysis of a sandwich beam which represents a boat hull. The beam is subjected to slamming pressure while it enters into water with constant vertically downward velocity. A coupled hydroelastic finite element model is developed using higher order shear and normal deformation theories for the faces and the core of the beam and the velocity potential theory for the fluid. Transient responses of the beam for transverse deflection and stresses are studied. Dynamic failure analysis has been carried out to investigate the initiation and cause of the failure of the beam due to slamming load.
Volatile Organic Compounds in Human Milk: Methods and Measurements

The present study was conducted to optimize methods for measurement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by use of headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and to provide a preliminary assessment of levels in human milk. MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether), chloroform, benzene, and toluene were measured from two sources of milk: a North Carolina milk bank (n = 5) and multiple samples from three women within nonsmoking households in inner-city Baltimore, MD (n = 8). In Baltimore, indoor air VOC concentrations in the respective households were also measured by active sampling and thermal desorption gas chromatography/mass spectrometry in selective ion monitoring (GC/MS/SIM) over each of the 3 days of milk collection. By application of these optimized methods, we observed median VOC concentrations in Baltimore human milk of 0.09, 0.55, 0.12, and 0.46 ng/mL for MTBE, chloroform, benzene, and toluene, respectively. For benzene, toluene, and MTBE, milk levels trended with observed indoor air concentrations. On the basis of measured concentrations in air and milk, infant average daily dose by inhalation exceeded ingestion rates by 25-135-fold. Thus, VOC exposure from breast milk is vastly exceeded by that from indoor air in nonsmoking households. Accordingly, strategies to mitigate infant VOC exposure should focus on the indoor air inhalation pathway of exposure.
Observations of Currents in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron

During June 1991 through June 1994, six current meter moorings were deployed in the outer region of Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron to study the bay's dynamics and interaction with Lake Huron. Two current meters were configured on each subsurface mooring at 14 m below the water surface and 2 m above the bottom, and current speed, direction, and water temperature were recorded at 15 minute intervals. These data represent nearly 1.2 million observations and are the longest continuous set of observations conducted anywhere in Lake Huron and the first extensive set of winter observations conducted in Saginaw Bay. The winter months showed the highest mean currents from the moorings closest to Lake Huron, whereas the stratified season showed high mean currents at the moorings located in the bay proper. There was little consistency in mean flow vectors other than the bottom currents at the southeastern mooring which showed consistent flow from the bay into Lake Huron. Only a small fraction of the kinetic energy was cont...
In vivo validation of a theory-based single-point T1 mapping pulse sequence for quantitative first-pass cardiac perfusion MRI

Methods Two healthy volunteers were imaged in a short-axis plane of the heart on a 3 T whole-body MR scanner (Tim-Trio, Siemens) at 9 time points: pre-contrast, 5, 10, 15, and 20 min post first injection (0.1 mmol/kg, Magnevist) of GdDTPA, and 5, 10, 15, and 20 min post second injection of Gd-DTPA. A saturation-recovery TurboFLASH sequence was implemented with the following parameters: FOV = 320 mm × 262 mm, slice thickness = 8 mm, matrix = 144 × 94, TE/TR = 1.24 ms/2.4 ms, flip angle = 10°, T-SENSEfactor = 2, centric k-space trajectory, effective saturation pulse [3] with delay time (TD) = 50 ms, and total image acquisition time = 176 ms. The effective longitudinal magnetization in the center of k-space was calculated using the Bloch equation. A proton density-weighted image was acquired in the first heartbeat, without the saturation pulse, in order to normalize the image signal, and obtain a theoretical relationship between the signal and T1(Fig. 1a). Contours for the myocardium and left ventricular (LV) cavity were drawn manually (Fig 1b).
What are the time-frequency moments of a signal?

We review recent work on defining the time-frequency moments of a signal. Expressions are given for moments of all orders, in terms of the amplitude and phase of the signal and spectrum. Knowing the time-frequency moments is of interest for a variety of reasons, including their potential utility as features for classification of nonstationary signals, and also because from the moments one can construct the time-varying spectral density, or approximate it using a few moments.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Endothelial Cells Potentiate Oxidant-Mediated Kupffer Cell Phagocytic Killing

Abstract Phagocytosis and killing of circulating organisms by Kupffer cells (KCs) are discrete, important components of host defense. However, the killing mechanism(s) are not fully understood, and the potential role of adjacent nonparenchymal cells such as hepatic endothelial cells has not been defined. Rat KCs ∓ an hepatic endothelial cell enriched cellular fraction (HECEF) were incubated with Candida parapsilosis and assayed for phagocytosis and phagocytic killing by validated fluorochromatic vital staining. The role of reactive oxygen metabolites in KC phagocytic functions was examined by inhibition with superoxide dismutase and/or catalase. Diphenyleneiodonium and allopurinol were used to examine the potential roles of NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase, respectively, in generating these toxic oxidants. Coculture with HECEF increased KC phagocytic activity (from 75% to 88%) and candidacidal activity (from 20% to 31%). Superoxide dismutase, catalase, diphenyleneiodonium, or allopurinol caused inhibition of candidacidal activity, but did not affect phagocytosis, and did not block the potentiation of phagocytosis or of killing caused by coculture with HECEF. Reactive oxygen intermediates generated by both NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidase-dependent pathways are important in KC killing of Candida parapsilosis. In vitro, KC phagocytosis and killing are potentiated (via a non-oxidant-mediated mechanism) by coculture with a preparation of hepatic non-parenchymal cells composed primarily of endothelial cells.
Protein isoaspartate methyltransferase-mediated 18O-labeling of isoaspartic acid for mass spectrometry analysis.

Arising from spontaneous aspartic acid (Asp) isomerization or asparagine (Asn) deamidation, isoaspartic acid (isoAsp, isoD, or beta-Asp) is a ubiquitous nonenzymatic modification of proteins and peptides. Because there is no mass difference between isoaspartyl and aspartyl species, sensitive and specific detection of isoAsp, particularly in complex samples, remains challenging. Here we report a novel assay for Asp isomerization by isotopic labeling with 18O via a two-step process: the isoAsp peptide is first specifically methylated by protein isoaspartate methyltransferase (PIMT, EC 2.1.1.77) to the corresponding methyl ester, which is subsequently hydrolyzed in 18O-water to regenerate isoAsp. The specific replacement of 16O with 18O at isoAsp leads to a mass shift of 2 Da, which can be automatically and unambiguously recognized using standard mass spectrometry, such as collision-induced dissociation (CID), and data analysis algorithms. Detection and site identification of several isoAsp peptides in a mon...
Effects of Water Level Fluctuations on Zebra Mussel Distribution in a Lake Erie Coastal Wetland

ABSTRACT In May–August 2002, we examined how seasonal water level changes and frequent wind-driven seiches limited the amount of habitat for zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) in a Lake Erie coastal wetland. We counted numbers of veligers that colonized artificial substrates at different depths (1–17 cm, 18–34 cm and >34 cm below the water surface). Water levels decreased during the summer, and by August colonization plates set at 1–17 cm were exposed 85% of the time, plates set at 18–34 cm were exposed 15% of the time, but plates set at >34 cm were rarely exposed. The highest densities (numbers/m2) of colonization occurred in June (7176.1) and August (3119.5), and this bimodal pattern has been observed in other Great Lake habitats. Densities were highest at >34 cm depths (5552.7), intermediate at 18–34 cm (2802.1) and lowest at 1–17 cm (410.8). Veliger numbers on some plates in deep water levels were as high as 10,000/m2, which are similar to densities in the Great Lakes. We also measured survivorship ...
Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus and Resistant Corn Silks Enhance Mortality of Corn Earworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Larvae

Abstract Plant resistance to insects, specifically antibiosis, offers a biologically, economically, and environmentally sound alternative to pesticides for controlling the corn earworm, Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), in corn, Zea mays L. Our study included a series of experiments to evaluate the effects of resistant and susceptible silks incorporated into pinto bean diets on the infectivity of a nuclear polyhedrosis virus (Elcar) applied to the surface of diet with and without formalin. Neonate, 4- and 8-day-old corn earworm larvae were tested. The combination of Elcar and resistant corn silks increased mortality of the corn earworm neonates. When resistant silks were tested in diet without formalin, the surface of the diet darkened and the neonates tended to burrow into the diet to feed, reducing the amount of virus consumed and hence mortality. After feeding on diets containing resistant silks for 4 or 8 days, earlier and higher mortality was associated with lower weight of larvae that were exposed to Elcar. Elcar caused 49% (diet with formalin) and 87% (diet without formalin) mortality of the 8-day-old larvae that had fed on the resistant silk diets as opposed to 0 and 3% mortality for larvae that had fed on diets without the resistant silks prior to treatment with the virus. Our results demonstrate that resistant corn silks and Elcar are compatible approaches for controlling corn earworm larvae.
"…as Soon as She Stepped off the Plane": understanding and managing migration, Chronic illness, and Poverty in albuquerque, new mexico

This paper addresses immigration and diabetes treatment management through exploration of the experience of a Cuban immigrant household's negotiations with providers and clinics around a grandmother's type 2 diabetes treatment. (Mis)understandings and (mis)communications around blood draws, dietary modifications, and medicines illustrate the differences between provider and family perceptions of "compliance." Specifically, this ethnographic study of family centered chronic disease management illustrates that, in the context of resettlement in an unwelcoming environment, language barriers, lack of clinical coordination, and differential meanings combine to decrease effective management and to increase stress levels within the family about management. In addition, this study illustrates the embedded nature of illness and its management in the broader circumstances of individual's lives, with factors such as work schedules, children's needs, responsibilities to family left in the home country, and neighborho...
SU‐D‐108‐02: Applications of Electromagnetic Tracking Technology to High Dose Rate (HDR) Interstitial Brachytherapy

Purpose: HDR interstitial brachytherapy (IB) is a technique used for the treatment of gynecologic and prostate tumors that places multiple 6F catheters in the target region. Determining catheter location without transferring the patient to a scanner would enhance planning and treatment quality assurance (QA). We investigate the use of electromagnetic tracking technology (EM) for the localization of catheters used in IB. Methods: A phantom implanted with 12 plastic catheters inserted through a template with 5 registration points was fabricated and CT scanned to establish reference geometry. A non‐ionizing EM tracking system with a 1.3‐mm diameter sensor that could be inserted through the length of the interstitial catheters was used to measure the configuration of catheters. EM and CT coordinates were rigidly fused based on 5 template points and 1 catheter tip. Implant shape is described by a self‐distance matrix, with the distance between any two catheters as elements. The absolute difference between the EM and CT self‐distance matrix is the shape tracking error. The positional tracking error is the mean distance between dwell positions in two corresponding catheters in EM and CT, averaged over the 12 possible tips used for registration. Results: The maximum shape tracking error was 2.8 mm. The mean shape tracking error was 1.2±0.7 mm. The maximum positional tracking error was 3.9 mm. The mean positional tracking error was 2.2±0.7 mm. Conclusion: EM can be used to localize dwell positions with an average error <2.5 mm, which is comparable to the error associated with the manual digitization of catheters on CT. EM tracking provides a non‐ionizing method to measure catheter configuration without the need to transfer the patient to a scanner and offers a means to QA catheter digitization and checking for catheter shift before each fraction.
Novel Embryonic and Adult Homeotic Phenotypes Are Produced by pleiohomeotic Mutations in Drosophila

We have investigated the effects of mutations of the pleiohomeotic (pho) locus (formerly called l (4) 29) on embryonic and adult development of Drosophila melanogaster. The normal function of pho is vital for pattern formation during embryonic and adult development. The hypomorphic, adult-viable phocv allele produces maternal-effect embryonic lethality, and the lethal embryos show homeotic transformations of head, thoracic, and abdominal segments and abnormal development of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Hypomorphic and amorphic pho alleles are recessive lethals with the lethal individuals showing partial homeotic transformations of antennae, legs, abdominal segments, and internal structures. In addition, pho mutations produce pattern abnormalities in the legs and a novel sixth tarsal segment phenotype. The pho adult phenotypic effects are restricted to discrete spatial regions of the imaginal discs. In leg discs these effects are localized in the upper medial quarter of the discs and show a striking correlation with the organization of positional information as proposed by the polar coordinate model.
Multimuon production in deep-inelastic muon scattering

The characteristics of a model calculation of multimuon production in deep-inelastic muon scattering is presented. In the model the muons are assumed to originate from the production and subsequent weak decay of a pair of hadrons that carry new quantum numbers and have a mass of approx.1.8 GeV. The results of the calculation are to be compared with the forthcoming experimental data, and could shed light on the properties of the new hadrons. (AIP)
Stress‐induced birefringence of solids transparent to 1‐ to 12‐μm light

The application of a variation of intensity method using static uniaxial compressive stress and polarized light to measure stress‐induced birefringence in the infrared wavelength region (?1 to 12 μm) is described. The measurements were made at 296 °K for the following materials: KCl, KBr, KI, NaCl, LiF, ZnS, ZnSe, SrF2, CaF2, MgF2, and a chalcogenide glass TI‐1173; for the alkali halides the values of the stress optic coefficients obtained are in the range ∼1–4 Brewsters, while for the nonoxide glasses values of 9–14 Brewsters were measured. Comparisons of measurements from experiments with a theoretical model which predicts the wavelength dispersion of stress birefringence cannot be fitted better than a factor of ∼2.
A Control System Hypothesis of the N-methyl-D-aspartate Glutamate Receptor's Role in Alcoholism and Alcohol Withdrawal

Abstract Alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal, complicated physiological conditions with significant consequences for physical and emotional health, have been the focus of extensive studies in various scientific disciplines for centuries. In America alone, alcoholism is known to affect 14 million people; it accounts for an estimated annual cost of $100 billion in healthcare and related productivity losses, and according to the Centers for Disease Control, there were 34,833 chronic alcohol-related deaths in 2001. Various experimental studies have strongly suggested that many of the physiological consequences of alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal may be associated with alcohol-induced inhibition of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors, but the mechanisms are not completely known. (Glutamate is an important excitatory neurotransmitter and its NMDA receptors are expressed widely throughout the brain.) In this paper, we postulate the following hypothesis: that the level of unblocked NMDA receptors is controlled in alcoholism to maintain at a constant level, the amount of glutamate release and extent of glutamatergic excitation; that ethanol blocks these receptors, and additional receptors are generated to compensate for the loss; we then develop and analyze a control system model predicated on this hypothesis. Our model shows, among other things, that upon cessation of alcohol consumption, no additional generation of NMDA receptors occurs, but the number of unblocked NMDA receptors increases dramatically, leading to the excitotoxicity observed clinically. This first attempt at a control system representation of the NMDA receptor's role is thus able to capture the essence of some key organism-wide responses observed in alcoholism and alcohol withdrawal. Future work will involve incorporating additional molecular details to obtain a more accurate model which can then be potentially useful in postulating treatment regimens for alcohol withdrawal.
A nested case-control study of bladder cancer incidence in a steel manufacturing plant.

Background A surveillance study of bladder cancer incidence in northwestern Illinois detected a number of cases who had worked in a large steel manufacturing plant. To investigate these cancers further, a nested case-control study of bladder cancer was conducted at this plant. Methods Cases from the surveillance study were matched to company personnel files. Four controls per case were selected from company files and frequency matched on age (cases and controls were all white males). Employment histories were abstracted from company records and odds ratios calculated according to job titles and departments worked. Cases and controls who held only white collar jobs were excluded from the analysis. Results Results for 16 cases and 75 controls showed elevated odds ratios for heaters (OR = 21.1, 95%cCI = 2.2–205.8) based on three cases. Heaters monitored electric reheat furnaces and may have been exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Previous studies have shown moderate risks for bladder cancer among furnace operators, but most of these studies were also based on a small number of cases. Conclusions Additional studies of furnace operators' exposures and cancer risks are needed to investigate these results further. Am. J. Ind. Med. 34:393–398, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Developmental toxicity of cysteamine in the rat: Effects on embryo–fetal development

The reproductive and developmental safety of cysteamine has become an important issue to children with cystinosis because renal transplants and treatment with cysteamine reduce the complications associated with cystinosis and increase the lifespan of the affected children. In addition, there is the potential to decrease the severity or the incidence of renal Fanconi syndrome with administration of cysteamine to pregnant women carrying fetuses with cystinosis, and to ease significantly the burden of this disease throughout their lives. If cysteamine increases significantly the risk of fetal death, growth retardation or birth defects at doses used to treat women with cystinosis, treatment of the affected female should cease during pregnancy and would not be considered for fetal treatment. The goal of this study was to assess the developmental safety of exposure in utero to cysteamine in the rat. Pregnant rats were given cysteamine (as phosphocysteamine) from day 6.5 through day 18.5 postconception and fetuses were assessed for survival, growth, and structural abnormalities on day 20.5. Cysteamine was administered orally in doses of 0, 37.5, 75, 100, or 150 mg/kg/day. Cysteamine produced dose-dependent developmental toxicity with an apparent no adverse effect observed level of 75 mg/kg/day. Specific malformations were associated with this effect (cleft palate, kyphosis), as well as intrauterine growth retardation and fetal death at 100-150 mg/kg/day, without signs of maternal toxicity. Investigations continue into the mechanism for the developmental toxicity of cysteamine.
Truth as One and Many

Lynch, Michael P., Truth as One and Many, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 2009, pp. x + 205, US$49.95 (hardback). Lynch's theory of truth has two main components: first, truth, i.e. the property being tru...
Construction of a Surface Model and Layered Manufacturing Data From 3D Homogenization Output

A homogenization method has been recently developed to optimize the topology of a structure. This method will suggest a structural topology, but the results will be in finite element form. Most engineering applications, however, require smooth structures, whether the faces of the structures be planar or curved. Given the topology of a three-dimensional structure as suggested by the homogenization method, an algorithm is developed to interpret the structure and generate a smooth, manufacturable surface representation of the structure. Structures designed by the homogenization method can be quite complex and traditional manufacturing techniques may not be well suited for constructing them. Layered manufacturing is adopted for producing such structures and it is shown how to generate the necessary data for this novel manufacturing technique from the surface model of the structure. Some steps of the algorithm require designer inputs. Examples are given which demonstrates this algorithm.
High Dietary Fat Selectively Increases Catalase Expression within Cardiac Mitochondria

Obesity is a predictor of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. One consequence of obesity is dyslipidemia characterized by high blood triglycerides. It has been proposed that oxidative stress, driven by utilization of lipids for energy, contributes to these diseases. The effects of oxidative stress are mitigated by an endogenous antioxidant enzyme network, but little is known about its response to high fat utilization. Our experiments used a multiplexed quantitative proteomics method to measure antioxidant enzyme expression in heart tissue in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. This experiment showed a rapid and specific up-regulation of catalase protein, with subsequent assays showing increases in activity and mRNA. Catalase, traditionally considered a peroxisomal protein, was found to be present in cardiac mitochondria and significantly increased in content and activity during high fat feeding. These data, coupled with the fact that fatty acid oxidation enhances mitochondrial H2O2 production, suggest that a localized catalase increase is needed to consume excessive mitochondrial H2O2 produced by increased fat metabolism. To determine whether the catalase-specific response is a common feature of physiological conditions that increase blood triglycerides and fatty acid oxidation, we measured changes in antioxidant expression in fasted versus fed mice. Indeed, a similar specific catalase increase was observed in mice fasted for 24 h. Our findings suggest a fundamental metabolic process in which catalase expression is regulated to prevent damage while preserving an H2O2-mediated sensing of diet composition that appropriately adjusts insulin sensitivity in the short term as needed to prioritize lipid metabolism for complete utilization. Background: High dietary fat is linked to cardiac oxidative stress, however, little is known about the endogenous antioxidant response. Results: High fat feeding and fasting rapidly up-regulate catalase. Conclusion: Up-regulation of catalase is designed to protect mitochondria from oxidative damage while not perturbing H2O2-mediated signaling. Significance: Coupling fatty acid oxidation to H2O2 production creates a mechanism for sensing and communicating diet composition.
Increased SIRT1 following repetitive hypoxic preconditioning: A mechanism for mediating long-term tolerance (LTT) to focal stroke in adult mouse brain

Acquisition of cerebral ischemic tolerance following preconditioning results from synergistic, multifactorial processes that promote cellular survival. However, to date, the endogenous neuroprotective window following preconditioning is transient and lasts only several days. We have recently developed new mouse models of induced tolerance, whereby neuroprotection against transient focal stroke, as well as reductions in cerebrovascular inflammation following TNFalpha, are extended to 4 weeks following the last of a series of repetitive hypoxic preconditioning (RHP) stimuli 1, 2. The first objective of this study was to determine if such long-term tolerance (LTT) could also be achieved against permanent focal stroke. Male ND4/Swiss Webster mice were subjected to RHP (9 episodes of systemic hypoxia of varied duration [2 or 4 hours] and severity [11 or 8% O2] over a 15-day period), or to a single period of hypoxic preconditioning (SHP) (4 h @ 8%), previously shown to be protective against permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) injury at 24 h. Two weeks later, all animals were subjected to permanent MCAO by a craniotomy approach. RHP resulted in a statistically significant reduction (38%; p<0.05) in ischemic injury, whereas SHP showed no long-term neuroprotective effects. Thus, as with transient MCAO, LTT can protect against brain injury caused by permanent MCAO. Given that the window of neuroprotection with LTT coincides temporally with a reduced inflammatory response to TNFalpha, the second objective of this study was to identify specific proteins whose expression would be increased for a protracted period of time following RHP, and that had the capacity to modulate diverse neuronal survival and inflammation pathways. SIRT1 is a member of the Sir2 family of class III histone deacetylases, whose activity is associated with enhanced cell survival in models of aging 3, 4. Recent studies suggest that SIRT1 activation prevents axonal degeneration following injury 5, which may be mediated through the regulation of DNA damage responses (inhibition of p53 activity) and/or transcriptional silencing (for example inhibition of the pro-inflammatory transcription factor NF-B) 6, 7. We subjected male ND4/Swiss Webster mice to RHP and immunoblotted for SIRT1 in whole cell lysates generated from cortical samples obtained at various times after RHP. We demonstrated a 2-fold increase in SIRT1 protein expression immediately after the last RHP stimulus, which remained elevated for at least 2 weeks. These studies indicate that RHP results in a sustained upregulation of SIRT1 protein coincident with the period of LTT. The modulation of postischemic inflammatory and apoptotic pathways by SIRT1 may contribute to the unprecedented protection associated with LTT. These novel signaling pathways triggered by RHP may serve as molecular targets for therapeutics designed to reduce brain injury in stroke.
Density cavity observed over a strong lunar crustal magnetic anomaly in the solar wind: A mini-magnetosphere?

Abstract We present observations of what may be the inner region of a lunar mini-magnetosphere. If so, these likely represent the first such observations. Previous studies of solar wind interaction with lunar crustal magnetic fields found increased particle fluxes associated with magnetic amplifications, suggesting a shock/sheath region. The central density cavity expected in the inner mini-magnetosphere (if analogous to other planetary magnetospheres) has proven elusive. We now present Lunar Prospector fly-throughs of a density cavity near a strong crustal magnetic source in the solar wind, and compare these unique observations with typical orbits in the solar wind and wake. We observed the density cavity on two consecutive orbits on July 14, 1999 with optimal viewing geometry, downstream from one of the strongest lunar crustal sources (an anomaly centered at ∼235E, 20S), during very unusual solar wind conditions. We found no other similar features in the solar wind in ∼7 months of low-altitude orbits, suggesting that fully formed lunar mini-magnetospheres are rare and/or difficult to observe from orbit.
Sharing of Electrons in Molecules: Characterization of Hydrogen Bonds

The behaviors of the electrons in binary complexes formed from HF, H2O, and NH3 as well as in the complex formed between HF and CH4 are analyzed at the single electron level in order to characterize the nature of intermolecular bonding in dimers that may contain hydrogen bonds. The analysis uses the quantitative measures of the degree to which a single electron is shared between two points ζ and ζ‘, the sharing index I(ζ; ζ‘), and the underlying sharing amplitude 〈ζ; ζ‘〉, as well as the derived quantities, bond indices, self-sharing indices, delocalization indices, and volume−point sharing indices. The bond indices, together with the delocalization indices and the self-sharing indices, give a gross dissection of the sharing of an electron between the volumes associated with atoms and between molecules. These indices give a preliminary indication of the variety of the strengths of sharing in the complexes, but they do not necessarily distinguish between bonding and antibonding sharing. It is the sharing am...
Bizarre symptoms of hypothyroidism

Abstract The diagnosis of hypothyroidism producing abdominal symptoms should be made from the history and a physical examination. This is then confirmed by metabolic and cholesterol determinations. It is essential to bear in mind that all patients complaining of vague abdominal discomfort of a chronic nature in which no other cause can be found should be suspected of having hypothyroidism. If one becomes conscious of the bizarre symptoms of an under-secreting thyroid it is surprising what a high percentage of cases can be diagnosed and the patient symptomatically relieved by the administration of thyroxine and thyroid medication. Of course the diagnosis should always be confirmed by laboratory studies before this treatment is considered.
Cyclicity of graphs

The cyclicity of a graph is the largest integer n for which the graph is contractible to the cycle on n vertices. By analyzing the cycle space of a graph, we establish upper and lower bounds on cyclicity. These bounds facilitate the computation of cyclicity for several classes of graphs, including chordal graphs, complete n-partite graphs, n-cubes, products of trees and cycles, and planar graphs. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 32: 160–170, 1999
Kinetics of the Sequential Microbial Reductive Dechlorination of Hexachlorobenzene

The reductive dechlorination kinetics of hexachlorobenzene and all other chlorinated benzene congeners (CBs) were evaluated using a mixed enrichment culture derived from a contaminated estuarine sediment. The predominant, sequential hexachlorobenzene dechlorination pathway was hexachlorobenzene → pentachlorobenzene → 1,2,3,5-tetrachlorobenzene → 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene → 1,3-dichlorobenzene. Very low levels of 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene, 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene were also detected. Batch dechlorination assays were performed separately for all CBs with an initial biomass concentration of 330 mg/L as volatile suspended solids, initial concentrations of CBs of 180 nM, and electron donor in excess. The maximum dechlorination rate (k‘) and the half-saturation coefficient (KS) as well as the pseudo-first-order rate constant (kobs) for eight dechlorination reactions were estimated by nonlinear regression of CBs progress curves data based on a Michaelis−Menten-type and the pseudo-first-order...
Flow response of a segregating mixture by interacting lattice gas simulation

Abstract Steady-state flow and structural profiles of immiscible components A and B (molecular weights M A and M B , M A M B ) in a non-conservative open system are studied by an interacting lattice gas Monte Carlo simulation. Concentration gradient and hydrostatic bias H drive the constituents ( A , B ) which are continuously released from the bottom with equal probability against gravity. At low bias, the segregation of A and B leading to a partial layering is enhanced toward the bottom. The longitudinal density profile with a high density in the bottom region and low toward the top shows linear, exponential, and power-law decays in different regions of depth or altitude which varies systematically with the pressure bias. The transverse density profiles show segregation with different domain sizes and layering depending on the bias. Response of their steady-state flux density j to the hydrostatic bias H is found to be linear at higher bias. The difference in response of the flux density of the two components becomes more pronounced at low bias and higher miscibility gap.
A 0.6V 32.5mW Highly Integrated Receiver for 2.4GHz ISM-Band Applications

We explore the challenges of designing RF transceivers for an ultra-low-voltage (ULV) supply with performance that is compatible to commercial standards. The ITRS roadmap projects that the aggressive device size scaling will result in supply voltage reductions to well below IV, in particular for low-power technologies. The use of alternative energy sources also requires ULV operation in some applications. Achieving sufficient linearity with low power consumption is very challenging for the ULV mixer and baseband circuits. The on-chip LO generation and distribution is difficult due to the low-voltage device bias. We present optimized mixer and filter topologies, and a polyphase LO buffer, used in a low-power ULV receiver for 2.4GHz applications like Bluetooth or Zigbee. The use of spiral inductors is kept to a minimum to avoid their excessive area. The design techniques demonstrated here can enable the continued integration of RF front-ends onto SoC devices in nano CMOS technologies without requiring dedicated supply voltages or thick oxide devices.
THE ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE AND OTHER BLOOD TESTS IN TERMINAL CANCER

400 cases of advanced metastatic disease were reviewed; in 100, the patient had either a normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate (61 cases) or a normal level of lactic acid dehydrogenase (39 cases). In these 100 selected cases the values for serum total protein, alkaline phosphatase, calcium and phosphorus were usually normal. Two-thirds of the patients had anemia. Thus our present screening tests—erythrocyte sedimentation rate and lactic acid dehydrogenase activity—for the presence of occult or advanced metastatic disease are often inadequate.
Synthesis of a ricin toxin B subunit-rotavirus VP7 fusion protein in potato.

A gene encoding the outer capsid glycoprotein (VP7) of simian rotavirus SA11, was genetically linked to the amino terminus of the ricin toxin B subunit (RTB) isolated from castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis) seeds. To assess fusion protein expression in plant cells, the VP7::RTB fussion gene was transferred into potato (Solanum tuberosum) cells by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation methods and transformed plants regenerated. The fusion gene was detected in transformed potato genomic DNA by polymerase chain reaction DNA amplification methods. Immunoblot analysis with anti-SA11 antiserum as the primary antibody verified the presence of VP7::RTB fusion protein in transformed potato tuber tissues. The plant-synthesized fusion protein bound RTB membrane receptors as measured by asialofetuin-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ELISA results indicated that the VP7::RTB fusion protein was biologically active and made up approx 0.03% of total soluble transformed tuber protein. The biosynthesis of receptor binding VP7::RTB fusion protein in potato tissues demonstrates the feasibility of producing monomeric ricin toxin B subunit adjuvant-virus antigen fusion proteins in crop plants for enhanced immunity.
A numerical investigation of the stability of expanding liquid sheets and the influence of boundary conditions

Incompressible flow solutions are found numerically for a radially expanding liquid sheet in order to confirm analytical results for inviscid flow and to investigate viscous and non-linear effects. An hp-finite element method is used to perform the numerical simulations. In our unsteady simulations, we observe that forced sinuous pulses cause two different speed waves to travel downstream for Weber numbers greater than one. We also witness wave deceleration for Weber numbers approaching one, confirming the predictions of inviscid linear stability analysis. Comparisons are also made to theoretical predictions of the radius where the sheet becomes unstable. To determine the critical radius, the inlet Weber number is reduced until the theoretical critical radius is within the simulated domain. Surprisingly, instead of leading to breakup, this causes the sheet to change from a stable symmetric shape to a stable asymmetric shape. The transition between these shapes occurs by both supercritical and subcritical bifurcations when the Weber number based on the sheet thickness approaches one, in agreement with the theoretical work of Taylor. The absence of breakup in our simulations appears to be a direct result of allowing the interface to span the entire domain. To verify this, we examine the dependence of the solutions on domain aspect ratio, shape, and exit boundary conditions. No boundary conditions are found that allows the sheet to break-up.
Energy cost of ambulation with different methods of foot and ankle immobilization.

In order to measure the energy cost of immobilization of the foot and ankle during ambulation, 14 healthy male volunteers exercised while wearing various immobilization devices. Oxygen consumption, oxygen cost, cardiac output, minute ventilation, heart rate, stroke volume, stride length, and stride frequency were determined at a steady state of exercise as the subjects walked on a treadmill at 80 m/min (equivalent to the comfortable walking speed of approximately 3 mi/h). Each subject was tested with three different types of immobilization devices: a short leg walking cast, a prefabricated lower leg orthosis, and a rigid-soled surgical shoe. The results were compared with those for the same men ambulating without an immobilization device. Ambulation with the short leg walking cast and the prefabricated lower leg orthosis required significantly more energy in comparison with control values (all p values <0.006) in terms of oxygen cost, cardiac index, oxygen consumption, and minute ventilation. 15 refs., 1 fig., 2 tabs.
Flavonoid changes in developing lemons grown in vivo and in vitro

Abstract Concentrations and HPLC profiles of the major flavonoids of lemon juice vesicles ( Citrus limon cv. Eureka) were determined for tree-grown fruit 2–55 mm diameter and in 25–30 mm diameter fruit halves cultured in vitro for up to four months. In tree-grown fruit, the total amount of hesperidin per lemon accumulates rapidly from fruit set to its maximum value at the 25–30 mm diameter stage; and thereafter the concentration continually decreases as the fruit increases in diameter. At the 25–30 mm stage, the total amount of eriocitrin begins to increase rapidly and continues until the fruit reaches full size. The amount of diosmin per fruit increases gradually throughout the development of the lemon. Flavonoids of juice vesicles from in vitro cultured fruit halves show a pattern of development similar to fruit grown on the tree. In contrast, flavonoid patterns from callus derived from juice vesicles were quite dissimilar to those of developing fruit.
A Statistical Consequence of the Logical Calculus of Nervous Nets

A formal method is derived for converting logical relations among the actions of neurons in a net into statistical relations among the frequencies of their impulses.
Synthesis of correlation filters: a generalized space-domain approach for improved filter characteristics

Discrete frequency domain design of Minimum Average Correlation Energy filters for optical pattern recognition introduces an implementational limitation of circular correlation. An alternative methodology which uses space domain computations to overcome this problem is presented. The technique is generalized to construct an improved synthetic discriminant function which satisfies the conflicting requirements of reduced noise variance and sharp correlation peaks to facilitate ease of detection. A quantitative evaluation of the performance characteristics of the new filter is conducted and is shown to compare favorably with the well known Minimum Variance Synthetic Discriminant Function and the space domain Minimum Average Correlation Energy filter, which are special cases of the present design.
Gas-containing gallstones: an unusual radiologic clue in the diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. Report of a case.

Stellate gas patterns, in the region of the gallbladder, are highly suggestive of the presence of gas-containing gallstones. Recognition of this unusual roentgenographic sign can expedite clinical recognition of acute calculous cholecystitis. A case of this rare phenomenon is reported.
The differential optomotor response of the four-eyed fish Anableps anableps

The perception of motion is important for the survival and reproduction of many animals, including fish. In the laboratory, support for this idea comes from the observation that many fish show a tendency to follow a series of stripes revolving around a circular aquarium. This response, known as the optomotor response (OMR), is recognized as an innate behavior in many species. The ‘four-eyed’ fishes of the genus Anableps are an unusual fish from Central and South America and actually have only two eyes. Each eye is divided into upper and lower halves internally and externally. This peculiar dual visual system allows Anableps to feed on creatures that swim or land near or on the water surface or to flee from flying predators attacking from above. It was hypothesized that Anableps should also possess the OMR. We used the OMR as a test to investigate potential differential visual processing in Anableps on normal and ‘blinded’ fish (the eyes are actually covered—not physically blinded). It was found that the O...
Development of multi-tentacle micro air vehicle

We introduce a developmental stage of multi-tentacle MAV (micro air vehicle) platform. It is based on a four rotary wing aerial platform such as a quadrotor system and three of 4 DOF (degree of freedom) tentacles attached at the bottom of it. Unlikely mobile manipulating research which focuses more on the stability and control of manipulators and floating platform, a multi-tentacle system presented in this paper is intended to suggest a new paradigm of small scaled aerial robotics research and to show the proof of concept of them by experiment. Newly integrated and developed multi-tentacle aerial vehicle can have extended locomotions compared currently existing flying-only vehicles such as vertically and upside down perching capability, inclined or rough surface landing capability, and object pickup and release. Furthermore, control of a particular motion of tentacles adds propulsive force for taking off as birds or flying animals do.
Space Fed Subarrays Using a Displaced Feed

An antenna system with an objective lens and phase shifters at each output radiating element, combined with a multiple beam feed network, is known to provide a set of overlapped subarrays for broadband beam steering. Such systems require extremely high dynamic range from any T/R module used at the front-face of the feed. Here, it is shown that by displacing the feed array and refocusing the individual subarrays, the dynamic range and power distribution problems can be avoided.