cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PERFORMANCE AND NEW MONEY CASH FLOWS IN REAL ESTATE MUTUAL FUNDS

Empirical evidence on the performance of real estate mutual funds is mixed. Moreover, despite the growth of new money cash flows into the funds, research on investor rationales for the same is limited. Recent research in diversified mutual funds suggests that conventional statistics give misleading results and wrongly attribute fund performance to “skill” rather than to “luck.” Using cross-sectional bootstrap methodology for 1990–2009, our estimates show evidence of underperformance. Moreover, it appears that ordinary least squares regressions understate the number of underperforming funds. Our analysis of new money cash flows shows evidence of momentum in fund flows and returns-chasing behavior.
In Search of “Saner Minds”: Bishop James Morrison and the Origins of the Antigonish Movement

The 1925 United Mine Workers strike in Cape Breton was a crucial turning point in the thinking of James Morrison, the bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Antigonish from 1913 to 1950. Before the strike, Morrison had consistently opposed the education reforms promoted by his subordinate, Father J.J. Tompkins. The strike encouraged Morrison to fear radical labor unions, which encouraged him accept the creation of the Extension Department at St. Francis Xavier University. This article, drawing largely on Morrison’s correspondence, traces the evolution of Morrison’s thought within the context of eastern Nova Scotia’s labor history. Resume La greve des United Mine Workers du Cap-Breton en 1925 marqua un point tournant crucial dans la pensee de James Morrison, eveque du diocese catholique d’Antigonish de 1913 a 1950. Avant la greve, Morrison s’etait toujours oppose aux reformes de l’education preconisees par son subordonne, le pere J.J. Tompkins. La greve incita Morrison a craindre les syndicats ouvriers radicaux, ce qui l’encouragea a accepter la creation de l’Extension Department a la St. Francis Xavier University. Puisant abondamment dans la correspondance de Morrison, cet article retrace l’evolution de la pensee de Morrison dans le contexte de l’histoire ouvriere de l’est de la Nouvelle-Ecosse.
Raytheon assessment of PRISM/spl reg/ as a field failure prediction tool

For any company interested in predicting field reliability performance, finding a prediction technique that provides a high degree of fidelity to observed field data is essential. With the discontinuance of military handbook Mil-Hdbk-217, reliability prediction of electronic equipment, and the limited environmental applications of Telcordia SR-332, reliability prediction for electronic equipment, this paper evaluates the reliability analysis center's (RAC) PRISM/spl reg/ software tool as a potential improved methodology in predicting the field reliability of military systems. This evaluation compares the PRISM/spl reg/ predicted failure rate to the actual observed field failure rate for three military electronics units. While initial results showed the predicted failure rate to be approximately one-half of the observed field failure rate, the ratio of predicted failure rate to observed field failure rate was consistent across three independent systems. Furthermore, the PRISM/spl reg/ methodology has features such as process grade factors and field failure data incorporation through Bayesian analysis which show promise in allowing a more accurate field reliability prediction to be generated. As a point of comparison, the initial failure rate prediction by Raytheon is opposite to an earlier assessment performed by TRW automotive where field data was not factored in through the use of PRISM's/spl reg/ Bayesian analysis option (M.G. Priore, et al., 2002). TRW automotive found a predicted failure rate that was twice the observed field failure rate. This paper discusses Raytheon's assessment of the PRISM/spl reg/ software tool including the reason for choosing PRISM/spl reg/, application of the PRISM/spl reg/ prediction methodology to three military electronic units, and analysis of the prediction results. This paper also discusses future plans for refinements in the use of PRISM's/spl reg/ features to produce a more accurate reliability prediction of field performance.
Secondary Trauma and Military Veteran Caregivers

The article focuses on the secondary trauma stressors experienced by those who care for members of the military with special attention to the caregivers of war fighters seeking help from combat stress. Consistent with the theme of the special issue of understanding and preparing for the challenges of combat stress, the authors suggest that military caregiver stress and resilience require attention. The article calls for more attention to this area by researchers, practitioners, and policy makers given the growing combat stress injuries due, in large part, to recent multiple and lengthy deployments. The first section of the article describes secondary traumatic stress (STS) conceptually by identifying and defining STS and related constructs and the relevant theories and the prevalence estimates. The middle section of the article discusses the risk and protective factors for STS. The latter section provides an overview of very underdeveloped literature on military veteran caregivers by first describing this...
Staurosporine-induced neuronal death: multiple mechanisms and methodological implications.

To examine whether multiple pathways of cell death exist in sympathetic neurons, we studied the cell death pathway induced by staurosporine (STS) in sympathetic neurons and compared it with the well-characterized NGF deprivation-induced death pathway. Increasing concentrations of STS were found to induce sympathetic neuronal death with different biochemical and morphological characteristics. One hundred nM STS induced metabolic changes, loss of cytochrome c, and caspase-dependent morphological degeneration which closely resembled the apoptotic death induced by NGF deprivation. In contrast, sympathetic neurons treated with 1 μM STS showed no loss of cytochrome c but exhibited extensive, caspase-independent, chromatin changes that were not TUNEL positive. One μM STS-treated sympathetic neurons had greatly reduced metabolic activities and became committed to die rapidly, yet maintained soma structure and appeared viable by other criteria even up to 48 h after STS treatment, illustrating the need to assess cell death by multiple criteria. Lastly, in contrast to the cell death-inducing activities of 100 nM STS or 1 μM STS, very low concentrations of STS (1 nM STS) inhibited sympathetic neuronal death by acting either at or prior to c-jun phosphorylation in the NGF deprivation-induced PCD pathway.
Rapid and accurate random urinary porphyrin quantitation.

Abstract Urinary metabolite profiling, using randomly voided samples, has become accepted practice for such compounds as organic acids. To date, however, published methods for examining urinary porphyrin excretion have been based upon examination of 24-h urine collections. The inherent difficulties of obtaining an accurate collection, coupled with the intrinsic labilities of porphyrins suggest that a method based upon random void analysis would be of great use. Thus, we have examined the porphyrin pattern of randomly excreted urine samples from normal adults of both genders, comparing our results with those obtained from analysis of 24-h collections. We have also evaluated the use of different alkalinizing agents. Finally, we have investigated the possibility that an underlying diurnal pattern of porphyrin excretion might influence the results obtained from random urine voids. The results indicate that NaOH retards spontaneous conversion of porphyrins within the first 24 h, thus optimizing recovery of uroporphyrin. Data from random voids mirror those obtained from 24-h collections and diurnal variations were not found to influence these results. Normal values are provided for random samples obtained from males and females. Thus, we conclude that random urine profiling is a rapid and accurate means of initial evaluation.
An Investigation on the Effectiveness of Design Ideation Using TRIZ

Design ideation continues to be one of the mysterious and yet a very important part of the design process. In the past, there have been studies related to how people generate ideas, why some are more productive in idea generation than others, etc. However, the mystery remains because not being able to directly reach designer’s mind limits our comprehension of the process. Despite this fact however, by studying the use of various idea generation methods, we can better support the idea generation process. As such, this paper presents a study on the effectiveness of TRIZ, a systematic ideation technique, in comparison to most widely used brainstorming. Results indicate that design teams that apply TRIZ during the idea generation are more productive.© 2006 ASME
Distribution of AMPA receptor subunits in the nucleus basalis of Meynert in aged humans: implications for selective neuronal degeneration.

Immunocytochemical techniques using polyclonal antibodies directed against GluR1 and GluR2/3 subunits of the AMPA-selective receptor complex were used to examine the distribution of these receptor subunits within the nucleus basalis of Meynert (NBM) of non-demented elderly humans. Both somata and processes of magnocellular neurons within the NBM were intensely immunoreactive to GluR1 antibodies. In contrast, within the same region GluR2/3 immunolabeling was largely absent, although GluR2/3-positive neurons were abundantly distributed within adjacent brain regions (i.e., amygdala, entorhinal cortex and hippocampus). These data suggest that NBM neurons may be unique compared to those of other brain regions, in their response to glutamatergic excitation as mediated via non-NMDA receptors and be particularly vulnerable to glutamate excitotoxicity via a mechanism involving the destabilization of intracellular calcium.
Multiple protein differences distinguish clam leukemia cells from normal hemocytes: evidence for the involvement of p53 homologues

In coastal locations, marine invertebrates, primarily molluscs, develop fatal leukemias in their blood or hemolymph. In the clam Mya arenaria, non-adhesive, mitotic, spherical leukemia cells replace adhesive, motile, normal hemocytes as leukemia progresses. End-stage leukemia cells express a unique antigen, IE10, while normal cells express the 2A4 marker. The goals of this work were to further differentiate the normal and leukemia specific antigens relative to protein structure, determine if other protein distinctions exist, and examine p53 gene family expression in both cell types. Recognized by the monoclonal antibody 2A4, normal cells express a 185-kDa glycoprotein that may have multiple forms. Detected by the monoclonal antibody 1E10, leukemic cells express a very hydrophobic 252-kDa glycoprotein that is likely to be a transmembrane protein with spectrin/dystrophin-like characteristics. After normalization to the major cytoskeletal protein actin, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveals major distinguishing protein and glycoprotein differences between the two cell types. Most obvious is the near-absence of tubulin in the non-mitotic normal hemocytes. We have also characterized the expression of p53 gene family members in normal and end-stage leukemia cells, finding shifts in expression of the p53 gene homologues p73 and p97 coincident with leukemia-specific protein synthesis.
Crystal and molecular structure and spectral properties of diisothiocyanato-(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(II)

Abstract Adding solid NH4SCN to a light blue solution which contains a pale green precipitate of Cu(phen)Cl2 produces a green solid that can be recrystallized to produce single crystals. The IR spectrum indicates that both ends of the thiocyanate ion bond to the copper. An X-ray structure determination verifies this conclusion. The structure of this complex has a four-coordinated distorted square-planar arrangement of nitrogen atoms with one nitrogen-bonded thiocyanate twisted above the plane described by copper and phen, and another thiocyanate twisted below the plane. The sulphur ends of the two thiocyanates form longer fifth and sixth bonds to copper atoms in adjacent molecules, forming a linear infinite chain of SCN− bridged copper atoms. The copper is thus six-coordinated with distorted tetragonal symmetry.
Metabolic Flux Correlations, Genetic Interactions, and Disease

Many diseases are caused by failures of metabolic enzymes. These enzymes exist in the context of networks defined by the static topology of enzyme-metabolite interactions and by the reaction fluxes that are feasible at steady state. We use the local topology and the flux correlations to identify how failures in the metabolic network may lead to disease. First, using yeast as a model, we show that flux correlations are a powerful predictor of pairwise mutations that lead to cell death—more powerful, in fact, than computational models that directly estimate the effects of mutations on cell fitness. These flux correlations, which can exist between enzymes far-separated in the metabolic network, add information to the structural correlations evident from shared metabolites. Second, we show that flux correlations in human align with similarities in Mendelian phenotypes ascribed to known genes. These methods will be useful in predicting genetic interactions in model organisms and understanding the combinatorial...
The crystal structure of a 1,2-disilanediol, (t-Bu2-SiOH)2

Abstract The synthesis and structure of the first 1,2-disilanediol, (t-Bu 2 SiOH) 2 ( 2 ) is reported. Crystal data: 2 , triclinic, P 1 (No.2), a 9.486(3), b 16.680(3), c 10.681(4) A, α 76.71(2), β 85.10(2), γ 78.59(2)°, and Z = 2. The unit cell of 2 contains two discrete monomers hydrogen-bonded as a chain. The long distances for SiSi (2.453 A) and SiC (1.88 A) bonds in 2 indicate a high degree of steric strain in this molecule.
Non-periodic trends in the oxidative dissolution of transition metals by manganese(III) acetate

Abstract As part of a study designed to synthesize the proposed high temperature superconductor MoN, molybdenum powder was reacted with manganese(III) acetate and sodium azide in refluxing glacial acetic acid. No MoN was found. Instead, rapid and complete oxidative dissolution of the metal to soluble forms of Mo(VI) were observed. Removal of the azide or replacement of the azide by chloride had no qualitative effect. Other metals were studied and four groups may be discerned: (1) quantitative dissolution in cold, pure acetic acid - Mn, Fe, Co; (2) quantitative dissolution in refluxing Mn(III) solution  Cu, Mo, In, Sn; (3) partial dissolution in refluxing Mn(III) solution  Ni, V; (4) no reaction  Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, Cr, W, Re, Rh, Ru, and Pt. Use of preformed metal nitrides, e.g. MoN 0.6 , and variation of the oxidant, e.g. replacing Mn(III) by Fe(III) or by Co(III), resulted in little qualitative change. Some unsuccessful attempts to explain this include literature periodic trends for transition metal chemistry and Pourbaix's electrochemical ‘thermodynamic and practical nobility scales’ for corrosion by aqueous media.
A contribution to the mathematical biophysics of cell growth and shapes.

A theoretical study of the growing nerve cell filopodium is made using the assumptions of volume constancy, cylindrical shape, and substrate track of an earlier paper, but assuming additionally that a retarding force per unit area proportional to the rate of elongation is also acting. Equations of elongation for two different cases are derived.
Dinitrogen activation by low-coordinate transition metal complexes

In this article, several avenues in the ongoing computational study of first row transition metal β-diketiminate dinitrogen complexes are discussed. Analysis of monometallic N–N bond length changes reveals that upon complexation of free N2, side-bound N2 is 0.018–0.054 A longer than analogous end-bound N2. Although the same isomeric preferences across the 3-D series were calculated for bimetallic β-diketiminate N2 complexes, the N–N bond lengths and hence N2 activation was found to be greater compared to the monometallic species. This present research demonstrates that a useful starting point for activated dinitrogen complexes is the choice of bimetallic supporting ligands, which unlike monometallic ligands allow both metals to activate N2 in a concerted fashion.
Effect of gametic disequilibrium on selection in an autotetraploid population

The effects of a gametic disequilibrium (DSE) in an autotetraploid population on response to selection as measured by the covariance of selection were investigated. The theoretical responses were calculated for mass selection [Mass (1)] and half-sib progeny test selection (HSPT) in a two-allele (B and b), single locus, autotetraploid population. The complexity of calculations precluded analytical expressions for the covariances so numerical analysis was used assuming the following genetic models: monoplex dominance, partial monoplex dominance, duplex dominance, partial duplex dominance, and additive gene action. The results indicated the DSE could greatly affect the covariance of selection. For a constant allele frequency the DSE might double the covariance expected with selection in a population at random mating equilibrium (RME) of gametes, but in other instances approach zero. For all genetic models and the two breeding methods investigated the covariance of selection was always increased when the frequency of BB gamete exceeded p2 (where p is frequency of allele B) and decreased when the frequency of BB gamete was less than p2. The possible incorporation of this information into a long term breeding program and some other ramifications were briefly discussed. With the DSE the covariances of selection with HSPT and Mass (1) had a proportionality of 1:2, respectively, with the additive genetic model, but this relationship rarely occurred for other genetic models. The deviations from this ratio were not large in comparison to differences between selection in populations in DSE and RME.
Species Diversity: Patterns in Modern and Miocene Foraminifera of the Eastern Margin of North America

Patterns of foraminiferal species diversity were examined along the eastern margin of North America by utilizing the number of species, S, the information function, H(S), and species equitability, E. The 350 modern samples we studied extended from the Arctic to the Gulf of Mexico at depths ranging from a few meters to more than 5,000 m. In addition, 29 samples from Miocene strata of the Atlantic Coastal Plain and continental shelf were studied. Modern species diversity as measured by S and H(S) generally increases as depth increases and latitude decreases. Some notable exceptions occur, however, which are difficult to explain. For example, species diversity in the Arctic depth interval of 0 to 100 m is as high or higher than that found immediately south of Nova Scotia, in the Gulf of Maine, on Browns and Georges Banks, and even off the Gulf of Mexico deltas. At the moderate depth interval of 100 to 1,000 m, however, the entire margin north of Browns and Georges Banks has lower diversities than that to the south. The highest diversity by far in this depth interval occurs in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. At the depth interval greater than 1,000 m, the more southern areas studied generally have a higher species diversity than the more northern Cape Cod to Maryland area. An exception to this is the northwestern Gulf of Mexico; this area is also an exception in that species diversity is significantly lower in the deeper waters than in the shallower waters in the same area. The measure of species equitability, E, showed no clear pattern with depth or latitude. This may be so because no simple pattern of species proportions exists or because the sampling was inadequate to measure it. Samples from the Miocene strata show a striking resemblance in species diversity to modern samples at similar depths and latitudes. Our observations indicate that species diversity and equitability have not increased during the last 15 × 106 yrs. The fossil and modern data indicate that each environment has its own carrying capacity and that this capacity is reached rather quickly. Although time and environmental stability are undoubtedly important in determining species diversity, as presently defined they are inadequate to explain all observed patterns. Long-term observations in various environments will be required to determine the relative importance of variables that affect species diversity.
An Exploratory Study of Undergraduates’ Attitudes Toward Affirmative Action Policies for Asian Americans in College

This exploratory study examined white undergraduate students’ (a) racial attitudes towards Asian Americans, (b) principled policy attitudes toward affirmative action, and (c) self-interest in relation to their support for college-based affirmative action policies for Asian Americans at a Midwestern university. A sample (n = 264, 28% male, 72% female) of white undergraduate students from a mid-sized public university in the Midwest was surveyed. The findings indicate that white undergraduate women have significantly more favorable principled policy attitudes toward affirmative action in general and for an affirmative action college policy for Asians, in particular, than do undergraduate males. Implications for issues of equity and social justice are shared.
Germanium isotopic compositions in Canyon Diablo spheroids

Abstract By using ICP-MS, we have measured the concentrations and isotopic abundances of Ge in the following samples: (1) the iron meteorites Camp Verde, Toluca, Picacho, and Canyon Diablo; (2) Canyon Diablo spheroids; and (3) oxide rims and metallic cores obtained by grinding Canyon Diablo spheroids. Whole Canyon Diablo spheroids contain appreciably more Ge than does the bulk meteorite. Germanium is enriched in the metallic cores of the spheroids where concentrations may exceed 500 ppm. It is depleted in the oxide rims compared to the metallic cores and to the bulk meteorite. The major isotope ratios, 72 Ge 70 Ge , 73 Ge 70 Ge , and 74 Ge 70 Ge ea Ge, were determined with an uncertainty of ∼0.3% (1σ,). The isotopic abundances of Ge in the bulk iron meteorites and the metallic cores of spheroids match terrestrial values. However, the oxide rims of spheroids contain mass-fractionated Ge (4 ±‰/AMU), providing the first direct evidence for evaporative loss from these objects. Assuming Rayleigh distillation and GeO as the evaporating species, we estimate that about 50% of the Ge in the precursor of the oxide rims remains there.
Predicting contrast in sentences with and without focus marking.

How do we know when a contrast is coming? This study explores the prediction of parallel contrastive phrases, especially NPs, in sentences with and without overt focus marking. A written sentence-completion questionnaire with clauses followed by the conjunction “but” compared unmarked initial clauses to ones with the focus marker “only” on the subject or object. Both conditions with “only” elicited more contrasts overall than the condition without focus marking, and many of the contrasts were with the focus-marked NP. While the baseline (no-only) condition had full clauses for half of the completions, subject focus increased clausal completions and object focus increased negative ellipsis completions (“not” + NP structures), both changes in syntax which make a contrast with the marked NP easy. The production of negative ellipsis sentences primarily in the object-focus condition suggests that the object bias of these sentences in comprehension could relate to their being used more frequently with this meaning. Finally, the overall pattern of results shows that overt marking of contrastive focus increases continuations with contrasts, and the conjunction “but” does not reliably predict explicitly-stated contrasts within a sentence without overt focus marking.
Normal distribution and denervation changes of neurotransmitter related enzymes in cholinergic neurones

1. The activities of choline acetyltransferase (CAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were assayed in adult pigeon ciliary ganglia, in the post-synaptic ciliary and choroid nerves, and in ciliary nerve iris terminals isolated from control birds and from animals from which the oculomotor nerve was previously transected. Enzyme activity levels were also measured in the iris terminals after surgical section of the ciliary nerves. From differences in enzyme activity between control and 3-day denervated tissues, the localization of CAT and AChE in pre- and post-synaptic elements of the ganglia and at the iris neuromuscular junctions was estimated. The fate of the preganglionic nerve terminals after denervation was investigated by electron microscopic examination of ganglia after surgical section of the oculomotor nerve. 2. The CAT activity in the ganglion was distributed as follows: 60% in presynaptic elements, 31% in cell somas, and 9% in intraganglionic post-synaptic axons; in the iris junctions, 98% of the activity was present in the ciliary nerve terminals. For AChE: 20% was present in the preganglionic terminals, 69% in ganglion cell somas and the remaining 11% in post-ganglionic axons; at the neuromuscular iris junctions, 20% was found in the ciliary nerve terminals and 80% in the iris striated muscle. 3. The first changes in the fine structure of the nerve terminals were observed 14 hr after surgery, and by 24 hr marked alteration of the synaptic structure were clearly recognized. No preganglionic endings were found in 3 day-old denervated ganglia. 4. There was a positive correlation between CAT activity in the control iris nerve terminals and in ganglia. After denervation, when the activity of the enzyme decreased in ganglion cell somas, there was a corresponding decrease in the post-synaptic nerves. These two findings suggest that CAT slow axoplasmic transport is related to its perikarial concentration. 5. There was a 60% reduction of CAT activity in the post-synaptic elements, assayed in the 10-day denervated ganglia, which was accompanied by a 30% decrease in activity in the iris nerve terminals. Similarly, post-synaptic AChE decreased approximately 30% in the ganglion and approximately 30% in the iris 10 days after section of the oculomotor nerve. At the same time, CAT activity also decreased in the nerve trunks, 70% at the ciliary nerve and 40% at the choroid; for AChE there were smaller changes. 6. In contrast to CAT and AChE, there were no differences in ganglionic protein content, or lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), co-enzyme A (CoA) and monoamine oxidase (MAO) levels between short-term (3 days) and long-term (10 days) denervated ganglia. 7. The later decrease of CAT and AChE activity in the cell somas, axons and nerve terminals after long-term preganglionic transection suggests that the activity of these enzymes is regulated across the synapses. It is postulated that the AChE regulation is part of a general `trophic interaction' between neurones, but that the trans-synaptic modulation of CAT is specific for cholinergic cells.
Chloride transport across the integumentary epithelium of Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae).

Moulting fluid ofManduca sexta contains high concentrations of potassium and bicarbonate (100 mM) and low concentrations of chloride (5 mM). This fluid begins to disappear from the exuvial space approximately 9–10 h before the actual shedding of the integument. During this time, the integument can be isolated in an Ussing cell and electrical properties measured in vitro. In a normal 32 mM KHCO3 saline, potential difference (PD) is around 10 mV, exuvial side positive, and short-circuit current (SCC) is 15–20 μA cm−2. Substitution of chloride slightly reduces both PD and SCC, although resistance does not change significantly. Measurement of chloride transport in the absence of K+ indicates that 100% of the SCC can be accounted for by the net chloride flux (∼2 μA cm−2). TheKm andJmax for transepithelial chloride transport are 14 mM and 0.1 μEq cm−2 h−1. Bilateral potassium addition stimulates chloride transport, doubling net chloride flux as potassium concentration increases from 2 to 5 mM. Chloride net flux is not inhibited by the presence of furosemide (1 mM), nor in HCO 3 − -free saline by thiocyanate (1 or 10 mM) or acetazolamide (0.1 mM), but is inhibited by 100% N2. The pattern of chloride transport inM. sexta is similar to that previously reported for the rectum of locusts. As chloride is normally at low concentrations in the moulting fluid, it is suggested that this transport system acts to maintain low intracellular concentrations which may be necessary for enzymatic functions in the epidermal cells and has little importance in fluid transport.
Monte Carlo Neutron Transport on GPUs

GPUs have gradually increased in computational power from the small, job-specific boards of the early 90s to the programmable powerhouses of today. Compared to CPUs, they have a higher aggregate memory bandwidth, much higher floating-point operations per second (FLOPS), and lower energy consumption per FLOP. Because one of the main obstacles in exascale computing is power consumption, many new supercomputing platforms are gaining much of their computational capacity by incorporating GPUs into their compute nodes. Since CPU optimized parallel algorithms are not directly portable to GPU architectures (or at least without losing substantial performance gain), transport codes need to be rewritten in order to execute efficiently on GPUs. Unless this is done, we cannot take full advantage of these new supercomputers for reactor simulations. In this work, we attempt to efficiently map the Monte Carlo transport algorithm on the GPU while preserving its benefits, namely, very few physical and geometrical simplifications. Regularizing memory access and introducing parallel-efficient search and sorting algorithms are the main factors in completing the task.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Chemical Reactions and Stability of Riboflavin in Foods

ABSTRACT: Riboflavin is relatively stable during thermal and nonthermal food processing and storage but is very sensitive to light. It can accept or donate a pair of hydrogen atoms. It can act as a photosensitizer (through either Type I or Type II mechanism) or a prooxidant for food components under light. Photosensitization of riboflavin causes production of reactive oxygen species such as superoxide anion, singlet oxygen, hydroxy radical, and hydrogen peroxide. Radicals and reactive oxygen species accelerate the decomposition of proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and vitamins, and could cause significant nutrient loss in foods. Carbohydrates are less sensitive to riboflavinphotosensitized oxidation than proteins, lipids, or vitamins. Riboflavin is an excellent photosensitizer for singlet oxygen formation and a superb reactant for singlet oxygen, with the reaction rate of 1.01 ± 1010/M/s.
In vivo mammillary body volume deficits in amnesic and nonamnesic alcoholics.

Background: Neuropathological studies use the presence of mammillary body (MB) pathology as a cardi nal, diagnostic feature of Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) in neuropsychiatric diseases, most notably alcoholism. Although Korsakoff's Syndrome (KS), which is marked behaviorally by dense global amnesia, is a typical sequela of WE, it remains controversial whether these two conditions necessarily co-occur and whether MB pathology is therefore a diagnostic requisite for KS. Methods: We investigated these issues by examining, in vivo, 24 nonamnesic alcoholics (ALC), 5 amnesic alcoholics (KS), and 51 normal controls with three-dimensional MRI and memory testing. MB volume was dctermined from successive, 1 mm thick slices. Results: The ALC group had significantly smaller MB volumes bilaterally (mean = 54.5 ± 22.0 mm3) than controls (mean = 66.3 ± 17.1 mm3), and the KS group had even smaller MB volumes than the ALC group (mean = 20.7 ± 14.8 mm3). Only 2 ALC patients met historical clinical criteria for past WE, and their MB volumes were well within range of the remaining 22 ALC patients. Although all five KS patients met historical clinical criteria for WE, three KS did not have accompanying dementia and had the same degree of MB volume loss as the ALC; the remaining two KS had accompanying dementia and MB volumes half the volume of the ALC group and of KS patients without dementia. Conclusions: These findings provide volumetric in vivo evidence that: (1) MB volume deficits do occur in alcoholics without amnesia, although these deficits are not present in all such alcoholics; (2) greater MB volume deficits are present in alcoholics with clinically detectable amnesia or dementia; (3) MB shrinkage is related to severity of cognitive and memory dysfunction, which suggests a continuum of MB pathology in chronic alcoholism to KS; and (4) the presence of WE in all of the KS patients and in the two ALC patients with the greatest long-term declarative memory deficit supports the possibility of an additional and unique pathology distinguishing nonamnesic and amnesic alcoholism.
γ-Butyrobetaine hydroxylase: A unique protective effect of catalase

Abstract Catalase stimulates the activity of homogeneous γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase by approximately 300-fold. The stimulation of the hydroxylation reaction elicited by catalase is saturable, and although a number of proteins may be substituted for catalase, none is as effective. γ-Butyrobetaine hydroxylase is also irreversibly inactivated in the presence of one of its substrates, oxygen, and its cofactor, ascorbate. This inactivation of the hydroxylase activity may be prevented by (i) the presence of high concentrations (2 mg/ml) of various proteins, (ii) the presence of catalytic concentrations (20 μg/ml) of catalase, or (iii) the presence of 10 m m histidine or dithiothreitol. Oxidized species of ascorbate do not appear to be responsible for the inactivation process. Time-dependent inactivation is also observed when γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase is preincubated with hydrogen peroxide generated by the glucose oxidase-catalyzed oxidation of glucose. At low concentrations, superoxide dismutase was not as effective as an equivalent protein concentration of catalase in protecting against inactivation, and hydroxyl radical scavengers were completely ineffective. In measurements of γ-butyrobetaine hydroxylase activity, the presence of catalase both stimulates the catalytic activity of the hydroxylase and protects the enzyme from inactivation by a product of the interaction of components in the assay mixture, presumably hydrogen peroxide.
Simulating video-assisted thoracoscopic lobectomy: a virtual reality cognitive task simulation.

Objective Current video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery training models rely on animals or mannequins to teach procedural skills. These approaches lack inherent teaching/testing capability and are limited by cost, anatomic variations, and single use. In response, we hypothesized that video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery right upper lobe resection could be simulated in a virtual reality environment with commercial software. Methods An anatomy explorer (Maya [Autodesk Inc, San Rafael, Calif] models of the chest and hilar structures) and simulation engine were adapted. Design goals included freedom of port placement, incorporation of well-known anatomic variants, teaching and testing modes, haptic feedback for the dissection, ability to perform the anatomic divisions, and a portable platform. Results Preexisting commercial models did not provide sufficient surgical detail, and extensive modeling modifications were required. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery right upper lobe resection simulation is initiated with a random vein and artery variation. The trainee proceeds in a teaching or testing mode. A knowledge database currently includes 13 anatomic identifications and 20 high-yield lung cancer learning points. The "patient" is presented in the left lateral decubitus position. After initial camera port placement, the endoscopic view is displayed and the thoracoscope is manipulated via the haptic device. The thoracoscope port can be relocated; additional ports are placed using an external "operating room" view. Unrestricted endoscopic exploration of the thorax is allowed. An endo-dissector tool allows for hilar dissection, and a virtual stapling device divides structures. The trainee's performance is reported. Conclusions A virtual reality cognitive task simulation can overcome the deficiencies of existing training models. Performance scoring is being validated as we assess this simulator for cognitive and technical surgical education.
Predicting failure following shunting of pleural effusions.

We placed 43 shunts in 34 patients in five years. Twenty-four had malignant effusions and ten had benign effusions. Thirty-one patients had unilateral shunts, three had bilateral shunts and six required revisions for shunt failure. Two patients died after shunt placement from disease progression. Of the nine patients who experienced poor results, one was noncompliant in operating the shunt and eight had occluded shunts. In the 30 patients who were compliant and had adequate length of follow-up, five had excellent results, 12 had good results, and five had fair results. Two of the patients with occluded shunts had good results after shunt revision; 24 patients had some symptomatic relief with shunting. Evaluation of factors including a history of prior abdominal surgery, performance status, and pleural fluid cell counts, differential, chemistries, and cytology revealed no significant differences between the patients who experienced shunt failure and those who had patent shunts. Shunting of pleural effusions is well tolerated and has good success rates in properly selected patients.
The buckling of elastic spherical caps

The John equations are used to model the buckling of a simply-supported elastic spherical cap that is subjected to a constant uniform external load λ. The Liapunov-Schmidt method is used to solve these equations. We show that solutions possessing circular, pear-shaped, elliptical, triangular, square-shaped, pentagonal and a variety of other symmetries branch from the unbuckled state of the shell. The stability of these solutions is discussed. Some numerics that complement the analytical results are also included.
Correction: Photoelectrochemical reduction of nitrates at the illuminated p-GaInP2 photoelectrode

Correction for ‘Photoelectrochemical reduction of nitrates at the illuminated p-GaInP2 photoelectrode’ by Heli Wang et al., Energy Environ. Sci., 2013, 6, 1802–1805.
SNC1, a yeast homolog of the synaptic vesicle-associated membrane protein/synaptobrevin gene family: genetic interactions with the RAS and CAP genes

SNC1, a gene from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, encodes a homolog of vertebrate synaptic vesicle-associated membrane proteins (VAMPs) or synaptobrevins. SNC1 was isolated by its ability to suppress the loss of CAP function in S. cerevisiae strains possessing an activated allele of RAS2. CAP is a component of the RAS-responsive S. cerevisiae adenylyl cyclase complex. The N-terminal domain of CAP is required for full cellular responsiveness to activated RAS proteins. The C-terminal domain of CAP is required for normal cellular morphology and responsiveness to nutrient extremes. Multicopy plasmids expressing SNC1 suppress only the loss of the C-terminal functions of CAP and only in the presence of activated RAS2.
Towards the marriage of theory and data

Theoretical biology is a subject with a rich history, tracing back certainly to demographers such as Graunt [[1][1]], and also drawing inspiration from perhaps the most important biological theoretician of all, Darwin [[2][2]]. Although Darwin did not deal in mathematics, his use of deductive
Radiation characteristics of current elements near a finite-length cylinder

An analysis using image and geometrical theory of diffraction techniques for calculating the elevation-plane pattern of radial infinitesimal current elements mounted near or on perfectly conducting cylinders of finite length is presented. The radiation problem is resolved into two components, the dipole and the edge contributions. The computed patterns are compared with experimental results since boundary-value solutions are not available. Good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained.
Keynote: Hardware security considerations for low-energy digital circuits and systems

Security of electronic systems has been intensively research, covering systems used in computing, communication, environmental, biomedical, space, and many other applications. While software and network security is reasonably advanced, hardware security research is still in its infancy. This presentation reviews various types of attacks on low-energy digital circuits and systems popular in mobile, medical, and environmental applications. The paper describes selected methods to defend against these attacks both invasive and non-invasive, including authentication and cryptographic procedures. Using a simple model for digital circuit power, design considerations for power reduction are discussed from security perspectives. On-line detection of possible invasive attacks is emphasized.
Estimation of excited-state absorption and photobleaching in Fe 2+ -doped lithium sodium silicate glass under exposure to high-power nanosecond laser pulses

Fe-doped lithium sodium silicate glasses codoped with Sn and C to promote the Fe2+ redox state are investigated under simultaneous excitation at the first and third harmonics of a nanosecond Nd:YAG laser. The aim is to evaluate critical parameters associated with the potential use of this material as an optical filter that transmits the third harmonic but blocks the fundamental frequency. Estimations of the excited-state absorption coefficient and photobleaching (reduction of absorption at the fundamental) are provided. The results provide insight on the design and expected operational parameters of this type of Fe-doped materials.
Theoretical model for the analysis of a ceramic thin film sintering on a non-sintering substrate

Abstract A viscoelastic finite element model is developed to simulate the constant heating rate sintering of a ceramic thin film on a non-sintering substrate. Compared with free sintering, the constrained sintering exhibits much lower densification rates. Away from the film edge, the coating is uniformly stressed and the density and other mechanical properties tend to be homogeneously distributed. The highest density is achieved at the free corner, which also has the highest elastic modulus. In contrast, the constrained corner of the film suffers the highest thermal residual stress and has the lowest density, which indicates that the edge of the coating is most likely to debond from the substrate.
Computational Modeling of Failure for Hypervelocity Impacts into Glass Targets

Abstract Parametric studies were conducted using a recent computational glass model to assess its ability to replicate the rate and extent of damage resulting from ballistic impact of borosilicate glass. Penetration and the position of the failure front were determined as a function of time in experiments using long and short rods at approximately 2100 m/s. Simulations were conducted of the experiments and the results compared to the experiments. Parametric studies examined the effects of very slight changes in the initial impact velocity, time- dependent failure, the inclusion of the third deviatoric stress invariant (J3), mesh resolution, and changes in the strength of intact glass. Results are compared and contrasted, and conclusions drawn on the effect of model parameters in simulating results of the impact experiments.
Photogenerated Base in Polymer Curing and Imaging: Cross-Linking of Base-Sensitive Polymers Containing Enolizable Pendant Groups

The ability of photogenerated amine catalysts to effect the insolubilization of polymers containing acidic methylene units is explored. Cross-linking of films of poly(2-acetoacetoxyethyl methacrylate)-co-(methyl methacrylate) or poly(2-cyanoacetoxyethyl methacrylate)-co-(methyl methacrylate) containing [[(2,6-dinitrobenzyl)oxy]carbonyl] cyclohexylamine as photobase generator and a bifunctional aldehyde molecule can be achieved upon exposure to deep-UV irradiation and subsequent heating. Polymers containing the cyanoacetate functionality displayed high resist sensitivities (ca. 20 mJ/cm2) in simple contact imaging experiments. Monitoring of the resist films using UV−vis spectroscopy suggested that cross-linking of the polymers in the presence of the aldehyde moiety proceeds via a Knoevenagel reaction. Photo-cross-linking and imaging can also be achieved in the absence of the added acceptor molecule and possible mechanisms for this insolubilization are discussed. Incorporation of the reactive cyanoacetate f...
Realistic and fast cloud rendering in computer games

Clouds are an important aspect of many computer games, particularly flight simulators. Our system extends texture splatting on particles to model a dozen cloud types (e.g. stratus, cumulus congestus, cumulonimbus), an improvement over previous systems which modeled only one type of cumulus. We also achieve a 100x speedup for scenes with dense cloud coverage. We created a new shading model which uses artist-driven controls to approximate lighting. We also introduce a way to do cloud formation and dissipation with texture splatted particles.
Cytophilic immunoglobulin G binding on neutrophils from a child with malignant osteopetrosis who developed fatal acute respiratory distress mimicking transfusion-related acute lung injury.

A 16-month-old boy, diagnosed at age 3 months with osteopetrosis, was treated since age 6 months with rhlFN-γ in combination with rhM-CSF. The child developed acute respiratory distress within 1 hr of a paternal platelet transfusion. Both the child and the father were blood group type O, and platelets were collected the previous day from the father. Chest X-ray revealed right pulmonary consolidation and a complete “whiteout” on the left. By 24 hr, the lungs had the appearance of adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Over the course of the next 11 days, the child remained intubated and hypotensive, and died of respiratory insufficiency 11 days later. ARDS was confirmed at autopsy. Pre- and posttransfusion patient's sera, as well as paternal serum, were tested by granulocyte agglutination and flow cytometry against granulocytes (PMN) from the patient, father, mother, and routine cell-panel donors and lymphocytes for the presence of neutrophil-specific and lymphocyte (HLA) antibodies, to rule out classical transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). Both the patient's and the paternal sera were devoid of antibodies, but the patient's neutrophils demonstrated strong binding of cytophilic IgG accompanied by extremely low serum IgG and IgG1 levels. Since rhlFN-γ is known to upregulate Fc gamma receptor type I (FcγRI) with high affinity for IgG1, the binding of cytophilic IgG suggests that the patient's neutrophils may have been activated in vivo. The case report of another child with osteopetrosis has also been described. Although the blood specimen was not available for serological studies, this 4½-year-old child treated with rhlFN-γ and rhM-CSF also died of adult respiratory distress syndrome, with similar clinical presentations. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
ELECTRON-IMPACT INDUCED REARRANGEMENT REACTIONS OF ORGANIC MOLECULES.

Hydrogen migrations accompany many mass spectrometric fragmentation processes and a detailed study of these migrations, largely by means of deuterium labeling, has shed much light on electron-impact induced bond fissions. More recently, it has been found that groups other than hydrogen, such as alkyl, aryl, hydroxyl, etc., also can migrate after electron bombardment and the present article is concerned with a discussion of such molecular rearrangements among organic compounds. These observations are not only of intrinsic mechanistic interest, but a detailed knowledge of the occurrence of such migration reaction is crucial to the proper interpretation of mass spectra and to the avoidance of misinterpretations in “element mapping”.