cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Human platelet osteonectin: release, surface expression, and partial characterization

Our laboratory has previously shown that osteonectin, an abundant noncollagenous bone protein, is contained in and secreted from human platelets. In this study, the distribution of osteonectin both in the supernatant and on the platelet surface after activation was measured by fluid-phase and solid-phase radioimmunoassay, respectively. Total cellular osteonectin was determined by RIA of guanidinium chloride extracted platelets and ranged from 0.65 to 2.2 micrograms/10(8) platelets or 135,000 to 457,000 molecules/platelet. Platelets treated with varying concentrations of collagen and thrombin released osteonectin in a dose-dependent fashion. Approximately 61% of the total platelet osteonectin was secreted at saturating concentrations of collagen and thrombin. A small fraction of platelet osteonectin is expressed on the surface of platelets in an activation-specific manner as evidenced by the specific and saturable binding of [125I]-anti- osteonectin monoclonal antibody, IIIA3A8, to thrombin-activated platelets. Based on a non-linear least squares regression analysis of the antibody binding, 2,200 IIIA3A8 molecules, or 0.8% of the total platelet osteonectin, is expressed on the platelet surface on activation. Platelet osteonectin was purified from the supernatant of thrombin-activated platelets by immunoaffinity chromatography. Western blotting of proteins secreted by washed, thrombin-stimulated platelets with IIIA3A8 indicated that the osteonectin molecule released from the platelet is a single chain polypeptide. Comparison of immunopurified platelet osteonectin with isolated bovine bone osteonectin and isolated human bone osteonectin by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that platelet osteonectin has a greater apparent molecular weight than bone osteonectin. The NH2-terminal sequence of immunopurified platelet osteonectin was obtained by automated Edman degradation and is identical to the sequence of human bone osteonectin derived from the cDNA of SaOS-2 cells. Collectively, these data suggest that platelet osteonectin is structurally distinct from bone osteonectin in a region of the molecule at a distance from the NH2-terminus.
Fractals and distributions on the $N$-torus

This paper establishes non-Cartesian product sets, called fractal carpets and fractal foam, as sets of uniqueness for a class of trigonometric series.
Strategic Allocation of Marketing Resources: Methods and Managerial Insights

This article discusses how firms strategically allocate their resources between marketing and non-marketing variables, across products, markets, channels, customers and over the product life cycle. It presents resource allocation processes, models and insights with examples drawn from different companies and industries. It highlights emerging methods and research directions in strategic resource allocation and planning for both executives and researchers.
The Separation of Legislative and Executive Powers

The Constitution of 1787 establishes a strict system of separated and divided powers. Congress is divided into two, separately elected chambers, and members of the legislative branch may not hold offices in either the executive or judicial branches of the federal government. Despite the prominence of the U.S. presidential model, it has not proven as influential in the wider world as have other U.S. innovations in constitutional design (for example, entrenched human rights safeguarded through independent courts vested with the power of judicial review). In fact, most liberal democracies, including the many new governments established in the aftermath of World War II and after the fall of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s and early 1990s, have rejected the presidential model in favor a parliamentary system that features a balance, rather than a separation, of powers between the three branches of government. In particular, parliamentary systems do not observe any separation of legislative and executive power; the same persons hold and exercise both legislative and executive powers. In part, this choice reflects the lessons of history: most presidential systems have failed when divided government gave rise to a constitutional crisis. Thus, although a matter of pressing concern and central importance to the Framers of the U.S. Constitution, separating and dividing legislative and executive power tends to lack salience in most modern constitutional democracies. This essay considers some of the root causes of this U.S. fixation with separating and dividing legislative and executive power, and posits a pervasive distrust of government, its institutions, and its incumbent officers as a primary reason for the U.S. embrace of presidentialism (despite its obvious and significant downside with respect to the efficiency of government). In the United States, we embrace inefficiency as the guardian of liberty. From a global perspective, however, efficient government is not necessarily the enemy of liberty–and inefficiency constitutes, not a virtue, but a vice in constitutional design.
A direct field oriented induction machine drive with robust flux estimator for position sensorless control

The rotor flux is estimated for a direct field oriented induction machine drive using a voltage-current mode algorithm, or physical based algorithm. The estimated rotor flux is used to synthesize the components of the rotation matrix, sin(/spl theta//sub e/) and cos(/spl theta//sub e/). These angles are critical in transforming the command currents to the stationary frame such that field orientation is maintained. The principles of rotor flux estimation are presented, followed by examination of low speed effects, parameter sensitivity, and criteria for selection of the filter time constant, T/sub c/. Computer simulation and extensive experimental results are included.
The Rise of the Roommate Family

We are all increasingly living like roommate consumers, with each family member developing his or her own brand and product preferences.
Interfacial trapping of single-walled carbon nanotube bundles.

A new technique to remove single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) bundles from individual SWNTs in an aqueous suspension is introduced. Fluorescence and absorbance data suggest that liquid−liquid systems preferentially trap nanotube bundles at the interface. The resulting aqueous SWNT suspensions display strong fluorescence indicative of a large population of individually suspended SWNTs. The interfacial trapping process offers a simple route to the large-scale preparation of aqueous SWNT suspensions.
High dynamic range processing for magnetic resonance imaging.

Author(s): Hung, Andy H; Liang, Taiyang; Sukerkar, Preeti A; Meade, Thomas J | Abstract: PurposeTo minimize feature loss in T1- and T2-weighted MRI by merging multiple MR images acquired at different TR and TE to generate an image with increased dynamic range.Materials and methodsHigh Dynamic Range (HDR) processing techniques from the field of photography were applied to a series of acquired MR images. Specifically, a method to parameterize the algorithm for MRI data was developed and tested. T1- and T2-weighted images of a number of contrast agent phantoms and a live mouse were acquired with varying TR and TE parameters. The images were computationally merged to produce HDR-MR images. All acquisitions were performed on a 7.05 T Bruker PharmaScan with a multi-echo spin echo pulse sequence.ResultsHDR-MRI delineated bright and dark features that were either saturated or indistinguishable from background in standard T1- and T2-weighted MRI. The increased dynamic range preserved intensity gradation over a larger range of T1 and T2 in phantoms and revealed more anatomical features in vivo.ConclusionsWe have developed and tested a method to apply HDR processing to MR images. The increased dynamic range of HDR-MR images as compared to standard T1- and T2-weighted images minimizes feature loss caused by magnetization recovery or low SNR.
Augmented EDHF signaling in rat uteroplacental vasculature during late pregnancy

A successful pregnancy outcome relies on extensive maternal cardiovascular adaptation, including enhanced uteroplacental vasodilator mechanisms. The objective of the present study was to determine ...
Rapid and bi‐directional regulation of AMPA receptor phosphorylation and trafficking by JNK

Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) are implicated in various neuropathological conditions. However, physiological roles for JNKs in neurons remain largely unknown, despite the high expression level of JNKs in brain. Here, using bioinformatic and biochemical approaches, we identify the AMPA receptor GluR2L and GluR4 subunits as novel physiological JNK substrates in vitro, in heterologous cells and in neurons. Consistent with this finding, GluR2L and GluR4 associate with specific JNK signaling components in the brain. Moreover, the modulation of the novel JNK sites in GluR2L and GluR4 is dynamic and bi-directional, such that phosphorylation and de-phosphorylation are triggered within minutes following decreases and increases in neuronal activity, respectively. Using live-imaging techniques to address the functional consequence of these activity-dependent changes we demonstrate that the novel JNK site in GluR2L controls reinsertion of internalized GluR2L back to the cell surface following NMDA treatment, without affecting basal GluR2L trafficking. Taken together, our results demonstrate that JNK directly regulates AMPA-R trafficking following changes in neuronal activity in a rapid and bi-directional manner.
Analysis of surface contaminants on beryllium and aluminum windows

Abstract An effort has been made to document the types of contamination which form on beryllium window surfaces due to interaction with a synchrotron radiation beam. Beryllium windows contaminated in a variety of ways (exposure to water and air) exhibited surface powders, gels, crystals and liquid droplets. These contaminants were analyzed by electron diffraction, electron energy loss spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and wet chemical methods. Materials found on window surfaces include beryllium oxide, amorphous carbon, cuprous oxide, metallic copper and nitric acid. Aluminum window surface contaminants were also examined.
THE ULTRASTRUCTURE OF SAHNIA POLLEN (PENTOXYLALES)

The micromorphology and fine structure of in situ pentoxylalean pollen are described from the holotype of Sahnia laxiphora Drinnan and Chambers 1985 collected from the Lower Cretaceous (Valanginian-Aptian) of Victoria, southeastern Australia. Pollen grains are ovoid, monosulcate, and relatively small, averaging 26 ,um in length. Exine ornamentation is psilate. The sporoderm is two-parted with the sexine staining lightly throughout and approximately six times the thickness of the more darkly staining nexine. The exine over the sulcus is typically strongly invaginated, and may or may not include an extremely thin sexine layer. The outer part of the sexine is homogeneous, while the inner part is composed of relatively large granules separated by irregular lacunae of various sizes; lacunae are most pronounced at the sexinenexine interface. Faint lamellae characterize the nexine in both apertural and nonapertural regions. Granular orbicules are often associated with the exine surfaces and also occur appressed to pollen sac walls along with lamellated tapetal membranes. Sporoderm ultrastructure is compared to that of nonsaccate pollen of other groups, and particularly to pollen of Bennettitales, Gnetales, angiosperms, and similar plants, to which the Pentoxylales have been thought to be closely related. Although Sahnia laxiphora pollen is not identical to that of any of these taxa, the strongest similarity is with pollen of Bennettitales.
Deep two-photon microscopic imaging through brain tissue using the second singlet state from fluorescent agent chlorophyll α in spinach leaf

Two-photon (2P) excitation of the second singlet (S2) state was studied to achieve deep optical microscopic imaging in brain tissue when both the excitation (800 nm) and emission (685 nm) wavelengths lie in the “tissue optical window” (650 to 950 nm). S2 state technique was used to investigate chlorophyll α (Chl α) fluorescence inside a spinach leaf under a thick layer of freshly sliced rat brain tissue in combination with 2P microscopic imaging. Strong emission at the peak wavelength of 685 nm under the 2P S2 state of Chl α enabled the imaging depth up to 450 μm through rat brain tissue.
Microscopic analysis of irradiated AGR-1 coated particle fuel compacts

Abstract The AGR-1 experiment involved irradiation of 72 TRISO-coated particle fuel compacts to a peak compact-average burnup of 19.5% FIMA with no in-pile failures observed out of 3 × 10 5 total particles. Irradiated AGR-1 fuel compacts have been cross-sectioned and analyzed with optical microscopy to characterize kernel, buffer, and coating behavior. Six compacts have been examined, spanning a range of irradiation conditions (burnup, fast fluence, and irradiation temperature) and including all four TRISO coating variations irradiated in the AGR-1 experiment. The cylindrical specimens were sectioned both transversely and longitudinally, then polished to expose from 36 to 79 individual particles near midplane on each mount. The analysis focused primarily on kernel swelling and porosity, buffer densification and fracturing, buffer–IPyC debonding, and fractures in the IPyC and SiC layers. Characteristic morphologies have been identified, 981 particles have been classified, and spatial distributions of particle types have been mapped. No significant spatial patterns were discovered in these cross sections. However, some trends were found between morphological types and certain behavioral aspects. Buffer fractures were found in 23% of the particles, and these fractures often resulted in unconstrained kernel protrusion into the open cavities. Fractured buffers and buffers that stayed bonded to IPyC layers appear related to larger pore size in kernels. Buffer–IPyC interface integrity evidently factored into initiation of rare IPyC fractures. Fractures through part of the SiC layer were found in only four classified particles, all in conjunction with IPyC–SiC debonding. Compiled results suggest that the deliberate coating fabrication variations influenced the frequencies of IPyC fractures and IPyC–SiC debonds.
ADAP Regulates Cell Cycle Progression of T Cells via Control of Cyclin E and Cdk2 Expression through Two Distinct CARMA1-Dependent Signaling Pathways

Adhesion and degranulation-promoting adapter protein (ADAP) is a multifunctional scaffold that regulates T cell receptor-mediated activation of integrins via association with the SKAP55 adapter and the NF-κB pathway through interactions with both the CARMA1 adapter and serine/threonine kinase transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1 (TAK1). ADAP-deficient T cells exhibit impaired proliferation following T cell receptor stimulation, but the contribution of these distinct functions of ADAP to this defect is not known. We demonstrate that loss of ADAP results in a G1-S transition block in cell cycle progression following T cell activation due to impaired accumulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) and cyclin E. The CARMA1-binding site in ADAP is critical for mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase kinase 7 (MKK7) phosphorylation and recruitment to the protein kinase C θ (PKCθ) signalosome and subsequent c-Jun kinase (JNK)-mediated Cdk2 induction. Cyclin E expression following T cell receptor stimulation of ADAP-deficient T cells is transient and associated with enhanced cyclin E ubiquitination. Both the CARMA1- and TAK1-binding sites in ADAP are critical for restraining cyclin E ubiquitination and turnover independently of ADAP-dependent JNK activation. T cell receptor-mediated proliferation was most dramatically impaired by the loss of ADAP interactions with CARMA1 or TAK1 rather than SKAP55. Thus, ADAP coordinates distinct CARMA1-dependent control of key cell cycle proteins in T cells.
Identification of Phospholipase C-γ1 as a Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Substrate

The discovery of sequence motifs that mediate protein-protein interactions, coupled with the availability of protein amino acid sequence data, allows for the identification of putative protein binding pairs. The present studies were based on our identification of an amino acid sequence in phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1) that fits the consensus sequence for a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) binding site, termed the D-domain. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 2 (ERK2), an MAPK, and phospho-ERK2 were bound by an immobilized peptide sequence containing the identified PLC-γ1 D-domain. Furthermore, a peptide containing the PLC-γ1 D-domain was able to competitively inhibit the in vitro phosphorylation of recombinant PLC-γ1 by recombinant phospho-ERK2, whereas a control peptide derived from a distant region of PLC-γ1 was ineffective. Similarly, the peptide containing the PLC-γ1 D-domain, but not the control peptide, competitively inhibited the in vitro phosphorylation of Elk-1 and c-Jun catalyzed by recombinant phospho-ERK2 and phospho-c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (phospho-JNK3), another type of MAPK, respectively. Incubation of anti-PLC-γ1 immunocomplexes isolated from rat brain with recombinant phospho-ERK2 opposed the increase in PLC-γ1-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-P2 (PtdIns(4,5)P2), which was produced by a tyrosine kinase associated with the immunocomplexes, whereas in vitro phosphorylation of recombinant PLC-γ1 by recombinant phospho-ERK2 did not alter PLC-γ1-catalyzed PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis. These studies have uncovered a previously unidentified mechanism for the integration of PLC-γ1- and ERK2-dependent signaling.
Hormones and hedonics cholecystokinin and taste: A possible behavioral mechanism of action

Abstract Both water deprived and non-deprived rats were used to study the mechanism of cholecystokinin's (CCK) suppressive effect on food intake. Evidence is presented indicating that CCK may produce its effect on food intake by modulating the behavior-controlling characteristics of taste. Specifically, it was found that in ad lib rats the synthetic octapeptide of cholecystokinin (CCK-8) suppressed sucrose intake during the first few (1–3) min of a drinking test without influencing the drinking latency. Because in these conditions the ingestive behavior is maintained primarily by the sucrose taste, these findings are taken to indicate that the CCK-8 induced suppression of intake is due to a reduction in the behavior-maintaining characteristics of that taste. It was also found that the presence of a sucrose taste was a necessary and sufficient condition to allow CCK-8 to suppress intake of water by water-deprived rats. The enabling effect of sucrose is not related to its metabolic impact because the CCK-8 induced suppression occurs before sucrose can be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast to earlier work, it was found that while food and water deprivation are not necessary preconditions for a CCK-8 induced suppression of intake, these conditions do modulate the magnitude of the CCK-8 effect. To the extent that these findings can be related to the taste characteristics of the drinking solutions and not to some correlated variable (e.g. osmolality), these results have relevance for the alliesthesia literature where physiological manipulations are reported to alter the “hedonics” associated with food.
Ice Sheet Change Detection by Satellite Image Differencing

Differencing of digital satellite image pairs highlights subtle changes in near-identical scenes of Earth surfaces. Using the mathematical relationships relevant to photoclinometry, we examine the effectiveness of this method for the study of localized ice sheet surface topography changes using numerical experiments. We then test these results by differencing images of several regions in West Antarctica, including some where changes have previously been identified in altimeter profiles. The technique works well with coregistered images having low noise, high radiometric sensitivity, and near-identical solar illumination geometry. Clouds and frosts detract from resolving surface features. The ETM(plus) sensor on Landsat-7, ALI sensor on EO-1, and MODIS sensor on the Aqua and Terra satellite platforms all have potential for detecting localized topographic changes such as shifting dunes, surface inflation and deflation features associated with sub-glacial lake fill-drain events, or grounding line changes. Availability and frequency of MODIS images favor this sensor for wide application, and using it, we demonstrate both qualitative identification of changes in topography and quantitative mapping of slope and elevation changes.
Diffraction and coupling kinetics of photorefractive hologram

The coupling kinetics of a reflection-type photorefractive (PR) hologram are studied in this paper, in which we have found that the coupling between the adjacent channels increases as the reading time prolongs. As long as the wavelength difference between the writing and reading beams is sufficiently large, there is only a small amount of increase in coupling. However, as wavelength difference between them is adequately small (but larger than the minimum wavelength separation calculated by Kogelnik's formula), the coupling between two channels increases to a significant value and then decreases. Our study shows that the reading beam is modulated by the grating in another channel for which it produces a weak back scattered light. As the backward scattered light interacts with reading beam, a new grating is formed. It in turn amplifies the back scattered light. Therefore, the coupling increases very rapidly as compared with the normal fanning process. In this paper, we have used the Kukhtarev's charge transport model to evaluate the time-evolution of coupling. We have found that the calculated results are consistent with the experimental observation.
Intermolecular potentials with flexible monomers.

Most available intermolecular potentials assume rigid monomers. Such an assumption is a reflection of a trivial observation that if monomer degrees of freedom are considered, the dimensionality of an intermolecular potential increases dramatically even for few-atom monomers. This puts strict limits on the sizes of clusters with flexible monomers that can be treated by ab initio methods since the number of grid points needed to fit a potential surface quickly becomes enormous. Most of the literature flexible-monomer potentials were obtained from the so-called site–site rigid-monomer potentials by simply allowing the sites to move with atomic nuclei as the monomers are deformed. This simple atom-following approach has been investigated in the present work, using water dimer and Ar–HF as test systems, and shown to be not adequate. A method has been proposed which uses properties of isolated flexible monomers to improve upon the atom-following approach without performing any dimer calculations outside the rigid-monomer grid. The method is shown to give for Ar–HF a 3D representation of the dispersion energy that should be adequate for HF motion in the ground and first excited vibrational states.
Cortical and trabecular bone mineral loss from the spine and hip in long-duration spaceflight.

We measured cortical and trabecular bone loss using QCT of the spine and hip in 14 crewmembers making 4- to 6-month flights on the International Space Station. There was no compartment-specific loss of bone in the spine. Cortical bone mineral loss in the hip occurred primarily by endocortical thinning. Introduction: In an earlier study, areal BMD (aBMD) measurements by DXA showed that cosmonauts making flights of 4- to 12-month duration on the Soviet/Russian MIR spacecraft lost bone at an average rate of 1%/month from the spine and 1.5%/month from the hip. However, because DXA measurements represent the sum of the cortical and trabecular compartments, there is no direct information on how these bone envelopes are affected by spaceflight. Materials and Methods: To address this, we performed a study of crewmembers (13 males and 1 female; age range, 40-55 years) on long-duration missions (4-6 months) on the International Space Station (ISS). We used DXA to obtain aBMD of the hip and spine and volumetric QCT (vQCT) to assess integral, cortical, and trabecular volumetric BMD (vBMD) in the hip and spine. In the heel, DXA was used to measure aBMD, and quantitative ultrasound (QUS) was used to measure speed of sound (SOS) and broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA). Results and Conclusions: aBMD was lost at rates of 0.9%/month at the spine (p < 0.001) and 1.4-1.5%/month at the hip (p < 0.001). Spinal integral vBMD was lost at a rate of 0.9%/month (p < 0.001), and trabecular vBMD was lost at 0.7%/month (p < 0.05). In contrast to earlier reports, these changes were generalized across the vertebrae and not focused in the posterior elements. In the hip, integral, cortical, and trabecular vBMD was lost at rates of 1.2-1.5%/month (p < 0.0001), 0.4-0.5%/month (p < 0.01), and 2.2-2.7%/month (p < 0.001), respectively. The cortical bone loss in the hip occurred primarily by cortical thinning. Calcaneal aBMD measurements by DXA showed smaller mean losses (0.4%/month) than hip or spine measurements, with SOS and BUA showing no change. In summary, our results show that ISS crewmembers, on average, experience substantial loss of both trabecular and cortical bone in the hip and somewhat smaller losses in the spine. These results do not support the use of calcaneal aBMD or QUS measurements as surrogate measures to estimate changes in the central skeleton.
Easing Postpartum School Transitions Through Parent Mentoring Programs

Summary Alternative schools offer pregnant and parenting high school students smaller classes, a less stigmatizing environment, and specialized health and social services. Most alternative schools require that students return to their regular public high schools soon after they have delivered. Although students making this postpartum transition face extraordinary challenges, few supportive services are available. As a result, the academic performance of many postpartum students suffers and may eventually lead to high school drop out. Mentoring programs, which are initiated while students are still pregnant, may provide an important bridge between the alternative and regular school settings. Mentoring relationships can ease the stress associated with postpartum school transition and, ultimately, forestall or prevent the academic and social problems typically associated with adolescent pregnancy and parenthood.
Brazilian Musical Values of the 1960s and 1970s: Popular Urban Music from Bossa Nova to Tropicalia

Brazilian rhythms have enjoyed wide popularity in this country for many years, but Americans who delight in the samba and other sounds are generally unfamiliar with the development and special characteristics of this national music. In his paper, Gerard Behague studies the main trends of Brazilian popular music associated with the bossa nova. In particular, he examines the music's socio-cultural meaning for producers and consumers, its relationship to or influence from foreign models, and the various cultural values that it expresses. He traces the original bossa nova phenomenon of the late 1950s, emphasizing that its cultivators, who were from upper-middle-class families, developed a somewhat elitist urban popular musical trend. Contrary to many critics' opinions, bossa nova did not result from jazz or imitations of other imported styles. Thematically, early bossa nova differed little from the samba, a trulypopular music. However, bossa nova's poFtic substance and treatment did reveal significant innovations. Behague asserts that after 1964, a new social awareness developed among bossa nova musicians. He discusses the musical compositions of the musician-poet Chico Buarque who, more than earlier bossa nova musicans, established a clear link with the traditional samba of the 1930s and 1940s, thus giving bossa nova an euen more popular character. The author also reviews the work of the group of musician-poet-performers of the mid-1960s known as the Tropicdia. Their music adhered to the basic concepts of modernismo, a Brazilian literary movement of the 1920s.
Probabilistic partitioning algorithms for the rectilinear steiner problem

Based on the probabilistic approach introduced by Karp [14], we present two partitioning algorithms for the approximate solution of large instances of the rectilinear Steiner problem in the plane. The algorithms subdivide a set of given points into small groups, construct a minimum rectilinear Steiner tree for each small group, and then patch the subtrees together to form a near-optimum rectilinear Steiner tree for the given points. Suppose there are n given points, uniformly distributed over the unit square [0,1] × [0,1] and spanned by a minimum rectilinear Steiner tree To. Then for any given integer t > 0, the first algorithm runs in O(f(t)n + n log n) time and produces a rectilinear Steiner tree T1 such that with probability approaching 1 as n ∞, while the second algorithm has an expected running time of O(g(t)n) and it also produces a rectilinear Steiner tree T2 such that with probability approaching 1 as n ∞.
Optimal resource allocation on grid systems for maximizing service reliability using a genetic algorithm

Grid computing system is different from conventional distributed computing systems by its focus on large-scale resource sharing and open architecture for services. The global grid technologies and the Globus Toolkit in particular, are evolving toward an open grid service architecture (OGSA) with which a grid system provides an extensible infrastructure so that various organizations can offer their own services and integrate their resources. Hence, this paper aims at solving the problem of optimally allocating services on the grid to maximize the grid service reliability. Since no existing study has analyzed the grid service reliability, this paper develops initial modeling and evaluation algorithms to evaluate the grid service reliability. Based on the grid service reliability evaluation, we present an optimization model for the grid service allocation problem and develop a genetic algorithm (GA) to effectively solve it. A numerical example is given to show the modeling procedures and efficiency of the GAs.
Motor mapping in cerebral palsy

The measurement of motor deficits in individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) has been largely based on clinical criteria. Yet functional imaging and non-invasive stimulation methods provide a means to measure directly abnormalities of the motor system. The size and location of muscles and movement representations can be determined with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetics resonance imaging. Thus the homunculus can be individually mapped in children with CP. Because size of representation within the homunculus relates to quality of motor control, measurement of the distance between body parts provides a metric that may be useful in classifying deficits. Bilateral motor control in one hemisphere, while normal in neonates, persists variably in CP, providing another physiological metric. In this study, we used TMS to measure hand and ankle representations in a convenience sample of children with spastic CP. Overlapping thumb and ankle maps were found in children with both hemiplegia and diplegia, and these maps may be from either side of the body. While more participants are required to make conclusions about disability and compression/bilaterality of the homunculus, it appears as if TMS-derived metrics relate to motor abnormalities. These abnormal motor maps also are a therapeutic target, as stimulation methods are being developed as adjuncts to physical means of rehabilitation.
NASA's geostationary communications platform program

This paper reviews recent trends in communications satellites and explains NASA's current interest in geostationary communications platforms. Large communications platforms capable of supporting multiple payloads with common utilities have been examined in a number of studies since 1974 and appear to offer a number of potential advantages. In 1981, an Industry Briefing and Workshop sponsord by NASA focused on the institutional, operational and technical issues that will influence the implementation of geostationary platforms. The workshop identified numerous issues and problem areas that needed more detailed study. To address the issues/problems identified, a NASA geostationary communications platform program has been developed. This program is described, focusing on the initial studies to be performed.
Coverage gaps in child-restraint and seat-belt laws affecting children☆

Although most U.S. states have enacted mandatory-seat-belt-use laws and all states have child-restraint laws requiring children under specified ages to be properly restrained in vehicles, some children are covered by neither law. Other children are covered only by belt-use laws that do not make any adult responsible for their compliance. This note analyzes the child-restraint and belt-use laws in each state and demonstrates the deficiencies in coverage as they apply to children younger than age 16.
Effects of type of symptom onset on psychological distress and disability in fibromyalgia syndrome patients

The purpose of the study was to investigate the differences between two types of onset (post-traumatic versus idiopathic) in pain, disability, and psychological distress in patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (FS). Forty-six FS patients with post-traumatic onset and 46 FM patients with idiopathic onset, who were matched in age and pain duration, were included in the study. All participants completed self-report inventories assessing their adaptation to the pain conditions, and during the medical examination, an examining physician completed an inventory (Medical Examination and Diagnostic Information Coding System; MEDICS) to indicate the degree of physical abnormality. The analysis revealed that the degrees of physical abnormality of the patients were comparable in the two groups. However, controlling for the involvement with financial compensation issues (e.g. disability, litigation), the post-traumatic FS patients reported significantly higher degrees of pain, disability, life interference, and affective distress as well as lower level of activity than did the idiopathic FS patients. Furthermore, evaluation of the treatment history in these patients revealed that a significantly larger number of the posttraumatic FS patients were receiving opioid medications and had been treated with nerve block, physical therapy, and TENS. The results suggest that (1) post-traumatic onset is associated with high level of difficulties in adaptation to chronic FS symptoms and (2) FS patients are a heterogeneous group of patients.
Energy efficient perceptron pattern recognition using segmented memristor crossbar arrays

This paper presents a segmented memristor crossbar array capable of performing pattern recognition tasks. Partial transistor isolation is used to segment smaller memristor crossbar structures. The synaptic density is less than that of a single large memristor crossbar, although this system is much more energy efficient. This system also reduces the amount of unwanted current paths that are a byproduct of large restive crossbar arrays. The proposed system is validated using SPICE simulations that utilize an accurate memristor model that we previously published. Additionally, wire resistance between memristor devices is accounted for to study how a realistic memristor circuit would perform in terms of energy, area, and ability to classify patterns. In this detailed implementation, the proposed system was shown to classify both 16 and 32 pixel images.
Role of tyrosine in sea snake neurotoxin

Abstract The single tyrosine residue contained in the neurotoxin isolated from the venom of Lapemis hardwickii (Hardwick's sea snake) has been shown to be essential for toxic action through iodination and nitration. Similarities in the structure—function relationships of sea snake and some land snake venoms are, therefore, further indicated. The finding that tyrosine seems to be “masked” or “buried” in the protein structure is also supported by the data.
High-resolution genetic map and YAC contig around the mouse neurological locus reeler.

Mutations at the recessive reeler locus (rl) on mouse Chromosome (Chr) 5 result in abnormal development of multiple central nervous system components, including the cerebral and cerebellar cortices. These abnormalities are characterized by highly disorganized laminar structures thought to have arisen from a post-migration failure of neuronal organization events that are probably mediated through cell-cell interactions. As a result of a mutagenesis scheme designed to generate visible recessive mutations induced by the drug chlorambucil, we had previously recovered a new allele of the reeler locus (rlAlb) that is likely to involve a deletion based on the known mechanisms of chlorambucil action. We have constructed a high-resolution genetic map from two intercrosses segregating this allele. Our first cross, in which the mutation was outcrossed to the 101 strain prior to intercrossing, consisted of 196 meioses and resulted in the positioning of four loci proximal to rl, with D5Mit1 being the closest (2.6±1.1 cM). The second cross consisted of intercrossing rl heterozygotes derived from an outcross to the C57BL/6 strain. A total of 318 mice (636 meioses) gave rise to a panel of 41 recombinants, which were used to map a total of 14 loci within a 6.4-cM interval bounded by D5Mit1 and the En-2 gene. A yeast artificial chromosome contig consisting of clones containing two of these loci, D5Mit72 (located 0.31 cM distal to rl), and D5Mit61 (no recombinants with rl), has been assembled and is being used to locate the rl gene.
The Index of b-Pseudodifferential Operators on Manifolds with Corners

On compact manifolds with corners of arbitrary codimension, we characterize the ‘multi-cylindrical end’ (or b-type) pseudodifferential operators that are Fredholm on weighted Sobolev spaces and we compute their indices. The index formula contains the usual interior term manufactured from the local symbols of the operator and also contains boundary correction terms corresponding to eta-type invariants of the induced operators on the boundary faces.
Importance of correlations and fluctuations on the initial source eccentricity from Glauber simulations

Various ways of defining the initial source eccentricity in nucleus-nucleus collisions are discussed. In particular, we examine the participant eccentricity, which quantifies the eccentricity of the initial source shape by the major axes of the overlap ellipse formed by the interaction points of the participating nucleons. We find that participant spatial correlations in the interaction of two nuclei play an essential role, in particular for the Cu+Cu system. Including these correlations in the calculation of the participant eccentricity results in larger values for the eccentricity.
Larger olive fruit size reduces the efficiency of Psyttalia concolor, as a parasitoid of the olive fruit fly.

The larval parasitoid, Psyttalia concolor (Szepligeti), has been released for biological control of the olive fruit fly, Bactrocera oleae (Rossi), in California. The effect of olive (Olea europaea L.) fruit size on parasitism efficiency was quantified within one cultivar (Sevillano) and across four different sized cultivars (in order of decreasing size: Sevillano, Ascolano, Manzanillo, and Mission). Parasitism was examined under two different host distributions: (a) variable distribution in which host density increased with fruit size; and (b) uniform distribution in which host density was similar across all fruit sizes. Regardless of host distribution and cultivar, parasitism by P. concolor was consistently higher on smaller fruit. Field cage studies also showed that olive fruit fly parasitism by P. concolor was lower within fruit of the largest olive cultivar (Sevillano) compared to fruit of the smallest cultivar (Mission). Results suggest larval B. oleae were protected in large fruit due to the relatively short ovipositor of P. concolor. By rearing P. concolor on the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), adult females had a larger body size and ovipositor length than when female wasps were reared on B. oleae. In turn, P. concolor females with longer ovipositors had higher levels of parasitism in similar sized olive fruit. We discuss the potential implications of these findings for biological control of B. oleae.
Renormalized coupling constant for the three-dimensional ising model.

Monte Carlo calculations of the renormalized coupling constant for the three-dimensional Ising model are reported. Improved estimators both for the second partial of the susceptibility with respect to the magnetic field and for the correlation length are developed. These estimators show greatly improved convergence properties, and allow us to compute for system sizes and temperature rather more relevant to the thermodynamic limit than previously. Our results indicate strongly that hyperscaling holds for this model.
4919 A novel optical biopsy technique using elastic scattering spectroscopy for dysplasia and cancer in barrett's esophagus.

Background:Barrett's esophagus develops through dysplasia into adenocarcinoma. Surveillance for dysplasia using conventional white light endoscopy requires histological examination of multiple random biopsies, and has a poor diagnostic yield. Recently, fluorescence endoscopy has become available to detect abnormal areas for targeting biopsy. Elastic scattering spectroscopy (ESS) is another novel technique for minimally invasive optical diagnosis of tissue pathology, which is being developed by our groups. It takes a point measurement, which is sensitive to the size and structure of cellular and sub-cellular components. It is therefore complementary to fluorescence endoscopy and can potentially be used for realtime in vivo `optical biopsy' measurements. We present our preliminary data using this technology to diagnose dysplasia or cancer within Barrett's esophagus. Patients & Methods:Elastic scattering spectra (optical biopsy) and matched esophageal biopsies were taken from 41 sites in 27 patients with Barrett's metaplasia. A pulse of white light from a xenon arc lamp was passed down a probe the size of normal biopsy forceps that contained two parallel and adjacent fibers, one to deliver the light to the tissue and the other to detect scattered light. The probe tip was placed in gentle contact with the tissue surface for the sites being interrogated. Histologically, biopsies were defined as normal, dysplastic or carcinoma. Optical biopsies took less than 1 second to perform. Data were normalized to the region 650-700 nm and analysis of spectra was carried out between 330 and 650 nm using two mathematical pattern-recognition methods: artificial neural networks and hierarchical cluster analysis. Results:Histological findings were correlated with appropriate spectra. For each analysis some of the data sets (spectra and corresponding histology) were used for training the pattern recognition methods and others were reserved for testing. Preliminary analysis of these data gives a sensitivity for detecting an abnormality (cancer or dysplasia) of 90-95% with a specificity of 85-90% and a correct tissue diagnosis (neoplastic or normal) in about 90% of sites. Conclusions:Preliminary results using ESS show that this technique has potential as a real time diagnostic test for in vivo diagnosis of dysplasia or cancer within Barrett's mucosa. The technique is complementary to fluorescence endoscopy and is more robust than fluorescence spectroscopy as it utilizes white light to generate a strong spectroscopic signal rather than a blue light to generate a weak fluorescent one and can be used during routine white light endoscopy.
Faster dissociation: measured rates and computed effects on barriers in aryl halide radical anions.

Carbon−halogen bond dissociation rates for a series of aryl halide radical anions (ArX-•: X = Cl, Br) in NMP were measured at room temperature by pulse radiolysis with 10-11 s time resolution. To obtain accurate dissociation rates, care was taken to measure and correct for competing decay channels. The observed rates correlated well with activation energies computed in the gas phase by density functional (DFT) calculations. The rates did not correlate well with electron affinities or dissociation energies obtained by the same computational methods, although such correlations are reported in the literature and are expected on the basis of simple models. The calculations also found that the transition state structures had bent carbon−halogen bonds. Bending enables large reductions of the activation energies by an electronic effect involving mixing of π* and σ* states. This bending-induced mixing is computed to increase the dissociation rates by a few orders of magnitude and is thus essential to understandi...
Morphometric discrimination among females of sibling species of Aconophorini (Homoptera: Membracidae)

Abstract. Keys to species of auchenorrhynchous Homoptera are often based on male features, leaving no means for identifying females other than association with males. As a possible solution to this problem, we examined the use of linear discriminant functions derived from morphometric data (ten linear measurements among homologous body landmarks) for distinguishing females in two groups of sibling species in the Neotropical treehopper tribe Aconophorini (Membracidae: Membracinae): (1) Calloconophora caliginosa (Walker) and C.pinguis (Fowler); and (2) Guayaquila minuta (Fowler), G.venezuelensis Dietrich, and Central and South American populations of G.pallescens (Stal). Samples of female specimens identified by association with males were used to derive the discriminant functions. Performance of these discriminant functions as evaluated by jackknifing the data was as follows: 98.11% of the specimens in the first group correctly identified using a combination of three measurements, and 94.94% of the specimens in the second group correctly identified using a combination of ten measurements.
High tone in Moro: effects of prosodic categories and morphological domains

This paper presents a description and analysis of the tonal system of Moro, a Kordofanian language of Sudan, showing that the distribution of H(igh) tone is sensitive to a number of morphological and prosodic factors. First, we demonstrate that the distribution of H on nouns is sensitive to the OCP, both within roots and with affixes. Nouns also exhibit lexical distinctions between forms that exhibit unbounded rightward spreading of H and those that show no spreading. We model this distinction using cophonologies. While the distribution of H on Moro verb stems bears some similarities to nouns, crucial differences emerge. Rightward H tone spreading is binary on verbs, and sensitive to the weight of the syllable in terms of both the presence of an onset and a coda. We model this effect as H tone spreading within a binary foot. Furthermore, unlike nouns, underlying representations play little role in the distribution of H on verb roots. H tone is predictably distributed within a morphological category, the derived stem (D-stem), similar to a constituent recognized in Bantu languages (e.g. Downing 2000). Finally, we analyze competition between H associated with the D-stem and H associated with affixes. This H tone competition is an OCP-driven effect occurring within the macrostem.