cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy transfer from rare gases to surfaces: Collisions with gold and platinum in the range 1–4000 eV

We have measured the energy transferred to a gold surface by impinging ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}$, ${\mathrm{Ar}}^{+}$, and ${\mathrm{Xe}}^{+}$ ions with kinetic energies in the range 5\char21{}4000 eV. This same quantity has been determined for He, Ar, and Xe atoms colliding with a Pt(111) surface. The ion studies employed a novel highly sensitive pyroelectric calorimeter together with a carefully designed compact ion gun. Pulses of nearly monoenergetic ions from the gun were directed at a gold film evaporated directly onto a pyroelectric material that develops a voltage proportional to the energy deposited. The atomic studies were made with supersonic beam techniques, whereby energy transfer is inferred from time-of-flight distributions of the incident and scattered species. The results from these very different experiments are in good agreement and give a fairly complete picture of energy transfer from incident rare-gas atoms and ions to these heavy-metal surfaces. For energies above about 10 eV, the ions transfer at least 60% of their energy, with Xe transferring the most and He the least. For lower incident energies, the energy transfer decreases, approaching zero-energy intercepts of \ensuremath{\sim}60%, 20%, and 5% for Xe, Ar, and He, respectively. The implications of these experimental results for the effective-mass concept, the binary-collision model, low-energy stopping powers, lattice penetration, and the theory of physical sputtering are considered, and we address the relevance of these findings to the technologically important processes of plasma etching and deposition of sputtered thin films and to particle-spacecraft interactions and controlled thermonuclear fusion.
Imidazole and 1-methyl imidazole in phosphoric acid doped polybenzimidazole, electrolyte for fuel cells

Abstract Imidazole and 1-methyl imidazole (Me-Im) were used as additives in polybenzimidazole (PBI) equilibrated with phosphoric acid (PA), a system shown to be a high-temperature proton-conducting polymer electrolyte. The influence of different concentrations of this additive on the conductivity of these membranes was measured by a four-probe conductivity measurement, at temperatures in the range of 80–200 °C, under various humidity conditions. Correlation was found between the conductivity of liquid solutions of concentrated phosphoric acid and that of H 3 PO 4 in the PBI membranes.
Propene metathesis over CoMo/Al2O3: poisoning by NO to determine active site concentration

Abstract The metathesis of propene over a reduced (with CO) CoO · MoO 3 Al 2 O 3 catalyst has been studied in a batch recirculation reactor. Ethene plus cis- and trans-2-butene (in thermodynamic equilibrium) were the only products observed, and the reaction occurred at a moderate rate at 0 °C. The kinetics could be described by adsorption on adjacent sites in a Langmuir-Hinshelwood rate model that had been corrected for the reversible nature of the reaction. Nitric oxide completely poisoned the reaction, and doses of various sizes were used to titrate the activity. The amount of NO required to eliminate totally the activity (the “lethal dose”) decreased as the reaction temperature increased from 0 to 27 °C. If the smallest value observed (2.5 × 1013/cm2) is taken as an upper limit of the active site density, this corresponds to at most 14% of the total Mo atoms in the catalyst being active. The turnover frequency at 0 °C and 1.33 × 104 N/m2 propene pressure is 0.05 sec−1. Infrared analysis of the adsorbed NO indicated three strong bands each with a unique thermal stability. The least thermally stable band (1875 cm−1) is probably due to NO adsorbed on Co. The other two bands, 1796 and 1710 cm−1, probably are due to NO adsorbed on Mo by coordinative covalent and covalent bonds, respectively.
Effective Load Carrying Capability of Interties

In this paper, we examine the effects of interconnecting two power systems with correlated loads by an intertie of probabilistic transfer capacity. A closed form solution for calculating the loss- of-load probability (LOLP) for two intertied systems is proposed. The method could be extended to three or more intertied systems. The use of the method is illustrated by numerical examples, with results presented in terms of LOLP, effective load carrying capability (ELCC) and equivalent additional capacity for the tied systems.
Pricing ecosystem resilience in frequent-fire ponderosa pine forests

Abstract Dry forests across the United States have become subject to declining resilience and, consequently, increased vulnerability to catastrophic wildfires. These disturbances cause severe environmental and social damages and may dislodge the forest into a different ecological regime. Forests provide many valuable services, such as the provisioning of timber and the sequestering of carbon that would otherwise contribute to climate change. The high-severity conflagrations that have become regular occurrences in many dry forests impinge the delivery of such benefits, particularly in the event of a regime shift. Sustainable forest management should take these risks into account. This article analyzes the economics of resilience in dry forests with respect to catastrophic fires and ecological thresholds. We illustrate how to price ecosystem resilience for the fire-prone ponderosa pine forests of the western United States. This analysis demonstrates that pricing forest resilience also establishes the economic value of ecological restoration with respect to ecosystem services, thereby operationalizing forest management as an investment in natural capital.
The tipping bucket equations as a model for macropore flow

The tipping bucket model, a computationally efficient scheme for simulating soil water transport which requires few input parameters, implicitly assumes that all water flow occurs through macropores. The model is limited in its elimination of both micropore flow and macropore flow with unsaturated micropores and its reliance on a fixed time step, normally taken to be daily. The reformulation of the tipping bucket model as a set of differential equations for macropore water and solute transport removes the above limitations. Previous work on simulation of water transport through oxisols using the Richards equation showed that an accurate fit to measured water contents could be obtained only by making the probably false assumption that the saturated water content is only 70% of the total porosity. Combining the tipping bucket equation for macropore water transport with the Richards equation for micropore water transport produces an equally good fit to measured water contents under the more reasonable assumption that saturated water content is equal to total porosity. A critical assumption in the production of a good fit is that the saturated water content is scale-invariant, i.e. the macropore and micropore domains have the same saturated water content. The tipping bucket equations introduce two parameters that are difficult to estimate, the macropore drainage parameter and the mass transfer coefficient for drainage from macropores into micropores. However, for the particular data set studied in this paper, the above parameters are largely irrelevant as long as macropore water does not drain downwards through macropores faster than it drains into micropores, i.e. as long as the macropore and micropore domains are not decoupled.
Fully automated trace level determination of parent and alkylated PAHs in environmental waters by online SPE-LC-APPI-MS/MS

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous compounds that enter the environment from natural and anthropogenic sources, often used as markers to determine the extent, fate, and potential effects on natural resources after a crude oil accidental release. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) after liquid–liquid extraction (LLE+GC-MS) has been extensively used to isolate and quantify both parent and alkylated PAHs. However, it requires labor-intensive extraction and cleanup steps and generates large amounts of toxic solvent waste. Therefore, there is a clear need for greener, faster techniques with enough reproducibility and sensitivity to quantify many PAHs in large numbers of water samples in a short period of time. This study combines online solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography (LC) separation with dopant-assisted atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) and tandem MS detection, to provide a one-step protocol that detects PAHs at low nanograms per liter with almost no sample preparation and with a significantly lower consumption of toxic halogenated solvents. Water samples were amended with methanol, fortified with isotopically labeled PAHs, and loaded onto an online SPE column, using a large-volume sample loop with an auxiliary LC pump for sample preconcentration and salt removal. The loaded SPE column was connected to an UPLC pump and analytes were backflushed to a Thermo Hypersil Green PAH analytical column where a 20-min gradient separation was performed at a variable flow rate. Detection was performed by a triple-quadrupole MS equipped with a gas-phase dopant delivery system, using 1.50 mL of chlorobenzene dopant per run. In contrast, LLE+GC-MS typically use 150 mL of organic solvents per sample, and methylene chloride is preferred because of its low boiling point. However, this solvent has a higher environmental persistence than chlorobenzene and is considered a carcinogen. The automated system is capable of performing injection, online SPE, inorganic species removal, LC separation, and MS/MS detection in 28 min. Selective reaction monitoring was used to detect 28 parent PAHs and 15 families of alkylated PAHs. The methodology is comparable to traditional GC-MS and was tested with surface seawater, rainwater runoff, and a wastewater treatment plant effluent. Positive detections above reporting limits are described. The virtual absence of sample preparation could be particularly advantageous for real-time monitoring of discharge events that introduce PAHs into environmental compartments, such as accidental releases of petroleum derivates and other human-related events. This work covers optimization of APPI detection and SPE extraction efficiency, a comparison with LLE+GC-MS in terms of sensitivity and chromatographic resolution, and examples of environmental applications.
1/k phase stamping for continuous shared data (extended abstract)

Interactive distributed applications are a relatively new class of applications that are enabled by sharing continuously evolving data across distributed sites (and users). The characteristics of application data include very fine-grained updates that can atomically access a subset of the shared data, masking of update effects, and irregular locality and contention for access. Existing programming approaches are not appropriate for programming such continuous shared data in a wide-area environment.We define an object-set abstraction, where a set is replicated at sites interested in the objects, and is modified using add, delete and update operations. The key features of this abstraction are issue-time access information for update operations, and the potential for replicating the computation associated with updates. Ordering of operations is an important problem, and we present a fast, scalable ordering algorithm, 1/k phase stamping, that uses distributed tokens that correspond to objects in the set. This algorithm provides substantially better performance than alternative algorithms, is deadlock and abort free, and requires no queuing at the tokens. Therefore, tokens can be located inside a programmable 'active' network. The precise stamps generated with 1/k phase stamping enable a dynamic communication optimization technique, effect and stamp merging, which can reduce communication and allow utilization of best-effort message delivery. These algorithms have been implemented in the RAGA system which can tolerate crash failures.
An optical alternative to the hall test

Effective mass ratios, m*, of electrons in n-type InSb, GaAs, and near intrinsic and n-type Hg1−xCdxTe for 0.20 < × < 0.30 over the temperature range 77K < T < 296K were measured using Faraday rotation spectroscopy. m* ranged from 0.0186 to 0.0357 for InSb with carrier concentrations, N, in the range 1.76 < N < 110 × 1016 cm−3 at 296K, in good agreement with available values in the literature. Effective masses of HgCdTe were found to be about twice as large at room temperature as band edge effective mass, m*be calculations. These calculations can be corrected for thermal excitation by adding a factor, m**, to the band edge calculation: m* = m** m*be, where m** was found empirically to be m** = 4.52 × 10−3T + 0.78. The electron’s mobility is proportional to the ratio of the electron’s Faraday rotation to its absorption; that is, the absorption due to the intraband transitions of the electron itself, not the sample’s total absorption, which may include holes, interband transitions, and the like. The constant of proportionality, or the “mobility constant”, was measured in n-type GaAs and InSb doped above 18 × 1016 cm−3 using absorption directly. Both HgCdTe and InSb have large intrinsic carrier concentrations, on the order of 1016 cm−3. Hole absorption is the majority component of the sample’s absorption at lower n-type dopant concentrations. In these cases, the mobility constant was determined using an absorption cross section.
MO-E-BRB-07: Relative Biological Effectiveness of Proton — An Empirical Model Prediction

Purpose: To propose a simple Relative Biological Effective (RBE) model for proton that describes the RBE as a function of proton depth, dose, and the linear energy transfer (LET). Methods and Materials: Radiobiological parameters α and β were obtained by fitting the published experimental proton cell survival data where the surviving fraction (SF) as a function of dose (D) is given by SFSF(D) = exp(−αD − βD 2 ). The RBE defined as the ratio of photondose over protondose (D x /D p ) for the same SF, is given in the present model by, RBE = α x 2 − 4β x LnSF − α x α p 2 − 4β p LnSF − α p × β p β x where α p = α 0 + 1 − e −λ 1 * LET 2 λ 2 * LET and β p = β x . A software program gnuplot with the Levenberg‐Marquardt algorithm was used to fit the experimental data with the empirical formula mentioned above by minimizing χ2 with the selection of suitable parameters (λ1, λ2, α0). The dose average LET values were calculated for 250 MeV proton in water using GEANT4 (version 4.9.3) Monte Carlo simulation code. The model was then used to calculate the RBE values as a function of depths that includes the Bragg peak depths of 250 MeV protons, where the increasing RBE with depths causes an extended biological effective dose in the distal falloff range. Results: The best fit parameters obtained were α0=0.1 Gy−1, λ1=0.0013 (keV/μm)−2 and 2=0.045 (keV/μm)−1⋅Gy. The model was found to be able to reproduce the measured RBE values as a function of LET and dose. The biological effective dose (physical dose multiplied by RBE) as a function of depths for 250 MeV incident proton shows that the shift in the depth of distal edge at 90% level of physical dose is 1 mm. Conclusions: The new model is providing an improved understanding of the RBE as a function of depth, dose and LET for proton beam.
Pin1 promotes cell death in NGF-dependent neurons through a mechanism requiring c-Jun activity.

Developing neurons deprived of trophic support undergo apoptosis mediated by activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) and c-Jun, induction of the Bcl-2 homology 3-only protein BimEL, Bax-dependent loss of mitochondrial cytochrome c, and caspase activation. However, the mechanisms that regulate each of these events are only partially understood. Here we show that the prolyl isomerase Pin1 functions as a positive regulator of neuronal death through a c-Jun-dependent mechanism. Ectopic Pin1 promoted caspase-dependent death of NGF-maintained neurons that was associated with an accumulation of Ser63-phosphorylated c-Jun in neuronal nuclei and was partially dependent on Bax. Downregulating Pin1 prior to NGF withdrawal suppressed the accumulation of phosphorylated c-Jun, inhibited the release of cytochrome c, and significantly delayed cell death. Pin1 knockdown inhibited NGF deprivation-induced death to a similar extent in Bim (+/+) and Bim (−/−) neurons. The protective effect of Pin1 knockdown was significantly greater than that caused by loss of Bim and nearly identical to that caused by a dominant negative form of c-Jun. Finally, cell death induced by ectopic Pin1 was largely blocked by expression of dominant negative c-Jun. These results suggest a novel mechanism by which Pin1 promotes cell death involving activation of c-Jun.
Perceptive Field Sizes and a New Version of the Hermann Grid

The Hermann grid has been explained in terms of concentric receptive fields and also used to determine the size of centers and surrounds in perceptive fields in humans. A new figure, which is simply the outlines of the squares of the Hermann grid, shows that receptive fields having a range of excitatory and inhibitory sizes may be responsible for the Hermann illusion.
Thioredoxin-related regulation of NO/NOS activities.

: The role of regulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in mitigating oxidative stress in neonatal lungs and contributing to pulmonary vasodilation at birth is still unclear. Furthermore, it is known that, depending on interactions between the individual components of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades, many biological consequences, including apoptosis, are initiated. Although the importance of nitric oxide (NO) in apoptosis is controversial and likely depends on NO concentrations and cell types, this highly reactive free radical can activate the p38 MAPK signal cascade. Recent studies have suggested that thioredoxin may play an important role as an effector for some of these functions. Thioredoxin is a major redox protein for many enzymes/transcription factors and is involved in cellular functions, such as viability, activation, and proliferation. In addition to its redox regulation, thioredoxin binds directly to the apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), thus inhibiting the activation of stress-induced MAPK signaling cascades that lead to apoptosis. Furthermore, NO produced from newly induced neuronal NOS was reported to induce expression of thioredoxin and several other genes for preconditioning-induced neuroprotection. Moreover, although exposure of endothelial cells to NO decreases NOS activity, this inhibition was shown to be reversed by thioredoxin. Finally, the correlation of expression of thioredoxin with endothelial NOS activity seems to suggest an important role played by this protein in perinatal changes of pulmonary artery functions. Therefore, thioredoxin may participate in the regulation of NOS activity and be involved in NO functions via multiple mechanisms.
A Shift in the Requirement for CD4+T Cells in the Generation of AKR/Gross MuLV-Specific CTL in AKR.H-2b:Fv-1bMice Occurs Prior to the Onset of Age-Dependent CTL Nonresponsiveness

Abstract In the current study, the elimination of CD4+T cells from B6 mice, by treatment with anti-CD4 monoclonal antibody, had little effect on their ability to mount an AKR/Gross (MuLV)-specific CTL response. In contrast, for AKR.H-2b:Fv-1bmice, there was a shift as the mice aged from 5 to 7 weeks to a requirement for CD4+T cells for AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL generation. When CD4+T-cell-depleted AKR.H-2b:Fv-1bresponder mice were immunized at 5 weeks of age they were able to elicit a strong anti-AKR/Gross MuLV CTL response. However, if the CD4+T-cell depletion was done at 6 weeks and then the mice were primedin vivo,their antiviral CTL responsiveness was markedly decreased. Following CD4+T-cell depletion at 7 weeks the mice were totally incapable of generating anti-AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL. AKR/Gross MuLV-specific CTL isolated from AKR.H-2b:Fv-1bmice recognized the class I-restricted immunodominant epitope (KSPWFTTL) and three subdominant epitopes, previously identified as CTL epitopes for B6 mice. Analysis of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-10 lymphokine profiles in supernates harvested from MLTC wells, and the results of supernate transfer experiments, suggested that the age-dependent shift to CD4+T-cell dependence in AKR.H-2b:Fv-1bmice does not correlate with an obvious change in thein vitrolymphokine profiles. Experiments in which exogenous IL-2 was used to supplementin vitrocultures containing CD4+T-cell-depleted 7-week responder mice suggested that the CD4+T-cell requirement was at thein vivopriming stage of antiviral CTL generation. These data suggested a fundamental change in virus-specific CTL which correlates with slight aging in the AKR.H-2b:Fv-1bmouse strain. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a shift in the requirement for CD4+T lymphocytes for the generation of virus-specific CTL over such a short period of time. Moreover, it is of interest that this shift in CD4+T-cell-dependence by antiviral CTL occurs just prior to the onset of CTL nonresponsiveness in the AKR.H-2b:Fv-1bmouse strain.
Developing epidemic of melanoma in the Hispanic population of California.

BACKGROUND Hispanics comprise almost one-third of the population of California, are the most rapidly increasing racial/ethnic group in the state, and represent almost one-third of all Hispanics in the U.S. California has among the highest rates of melanoma in the world, yet little is known about trends in melanoma in its Hispanic population. METHODS Trends in invasive and in situ melanoma incidence data and melanoma mortality data, between 1988 and 2001, from the California Cancer Registry were analyzed. Trends in the Hispanic population were compared with those in the non-Hispanic white population. Time trends in tumors of differing thicknesses and histology were assessed. RESULTS There was a statistically significant 1.8% per year increase in incidence of invasive melanomas among Hispanic males and a similar but nonstatistically significant increase in invasive melanoma among Hispanic females between 1988 and 2001. Among Hispanic males and females tumors thicker than 1.5 mm at presentation increased at 11.6% per year (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.1, 15.2) and 8.9% per year (95% CI, 4.7, 13.3), respectively. CONCLUSION Rates of invasive melanoma have increased markedly among Hispanics in California since 1988. In contrast to trends in the non-Hispanic white population, increases in melanoma in Hispanics have been confined to thicker tumors, whose prognosis is poor. We recommend that efforts be undertaken immediately to target both primary and secondary melanoma prevention messages to Hispanic communities. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Beneficial Insect Attraction to Light Traps with Different Wavelengths

Abstract The efficiency of blacklight, blacklight blue, cool white light, and plant/aquarium light sources in attracting selected beneficial insects under different moon phases was tested in field experiments in central Missouri between 1 May and 31 October, 1996. Lady beetles (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) favored the blacklight source, whereas Ophion sp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) were significantly more abundant in blacklight blue source. Chrysopa spp. (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) were equally attracted by cool white, blacklight, and plant/aquarium light lamps. However, damsel bugs (Hemiptera: Nabidae) and Hemerobius spp. (Neuroptera: Hemerobiidae) did not prefer a specific light. Catches of other species (moths and large beetles that mutilate light trap collections) were substantially reduced in traps with cool white and plant/aquarium lamps; thus, identification of Chrysopa spp., damsel bugs, and Hemerobius spp. was more reliable for these light sources. Therefore, the use of cool white light or plant/aquarium light to monitor these taxa is encouraged. Moon phases did not significantly affect light trap catches of the beneficial insects studied. Consequently, moon light should not be considered as an important environmental factor when monitoring these taxa.
Transition from traveling to standing waves in the 4:1 resonant Belousov-Zhabotinsky reaction.

We report a transition from traveling to standing domain walls in a parametrically forced two-dimensional oscillatory Belousov-Zhabotinsky chemical reaction in 4:1 resonance. Our experimental results demonstrate spatiotemporal solutions not predicted by previous analytic results of the complex Ginzburg-Landau amplitude equation and numerical results from reaction-diffusion models. In addition to the stationary $\ensuremath{\pi}$ fronts at high forcing amplitudes, the 4:1 resonant patterns we observe include stationary $\ensuremath{\pi}∕2$ fronts.
Evaluation of a new cytotoxicity assay for Clostridium perfringens type D epsilon toxin

A new cytotoxicity assay for determining the activity of epsilon toxin produced by Clostridium perfringens type D has been developed. Viability of cultured cells was determined by the ability of only live cells to convert 5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl)-3-(4-sulfophenyl)tetrazolium to the coloured product formazan in the presence of phenazine methosulfate. Of the 12 cell lines tested, only the MDCK cell line was susceptible to epsilon toxin. Specificity was confirmed by the ability of only specific monoclonal antibodies to inhibit cytotoxicity. Good correlation was obtained with the mouse lethality assay (r = 0.991) and over a wide range of viability (15–75%) as determined by ethidium bromide/acridine orange staining (r = 0.995).
Label-free optical detection of bacteria on a 1-D photonic crystal of porous silicon

The construction of a specific, label-free, bacteria biosensor using porous silicon 1-D photonic crystals will be described. Bacteria resident on the surface of porous silicon act as scattering centers for light resonant with the photonic crystal; the diffusely scattered light possesses the optical spectrum of the underlying photonic crystal. Using a spectrometer fitted to a light microscope, the bacteria are imaged without using exogenous dyes or labels and are quantified by measuring the intensity of scattered light. In order to selectively bind and identify bacteria using porous Si, we use surface modifications to reduce nonspecific binding to the surface and to engineer bacteria specificity onto the surface. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) was adsorbed to the porous Si surface to reduce nonspecific binding of bacteria. The coatings were then chemically activated to immobilize polyclonal antibodies specific to Escherichia coli . Two E. coli strains were used in our study, E. coli DH5α and non-pathogenic enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strain. The nonpathogenic Vibrio cholerae O1 strain was used to test for antibody specificity. Successful attachment of antibodies was measured using fluorescence microscopy and the scattering method was used to test for bacteria binding specificity.
Reinterpretation of flat SVIB profiles

Abstract Clients with flat profiles on the Strong Vocational Interest Blank (SVIB) represent a difficult counseling problem. For such clients, a method is proposed to rescore parts of the SVIB in the framework of Holland's theory of vocational choice. The occupations and fields of study on the SVIB were classified into one of Holland's six personality-environmental types. For each type the number of occupations and fields checked “dislike” by each of 69 subjects were subtracted from the number checked “like” and multiplied by a weight to yield a score for each subject on each type. The rescoring provided a clearer picture of most subjects' occupational interests and speculative descriptions of clients having flat SVIB profiles.
Software Performance Modeling and Management

This paper addresses methods to assess the impact of software on weapon system performance parameters such as reliability and operability/suitability. The latter is emphasized in major weapon-system go-ahead decisions. This paper discusses a system reliability model primarily intended to provide management insight and guidelines for identifying out-of-tolerance situations and needed corrective actions. Guidelines are discussed for judging if ``independent verification and test'' and ``weapon-system proof-of-compliance testing'' are successful. Guidelines are provided for comparing software and hardware in terms of total valid problems reported, resolution rates, and comparable difficulty of implementing and verifying the resolutions. This is done with respect to severity levels in MIL-STD-1679. The management of the operability/suitability issue is discussed and recommendations are made to both the procuring agency and the prime contractor. Software is an attractive medium in comparison to hardware in implementing complex functions because: a) there are more controllable means to reduce severe software defects, and b) it is easier to effect change. Properly managed software will have minimal difficulties with system reliability and operability/suitability. Proper software management includes: a) the application, during development, of proper design tools such as top-down design, structural programming, and programming teams; b) aggressive, independent testing and problem tracking activities; and c) application of the management elements presented in this paper. Such application requires contractor familiarity with user needs and capabilities as well as with the mission and operations of the system, so as to optimize the man/machine interface.
NMR studies of the superconducting pairing state of YBa2Cu3O7

Abstract The authors review evidence, from NMR of 63 Cu and 17 O atoms in the CuO planes, concerning the spin and orbital pairing of the superconductor YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 . It shows that the NMR data in the superconducting state require a spin-singlet pairing state. It is consistent with orbital d-wave pairing, but not with a conventional orbital s-wave pairing. Whether or not other types of orbital pairing states (e.g. anisotropic s-state) can explain the data can only be judged when those theories are used to calculate the NMR properties.
Disparate atomic displacements in skutterudite-type LaFe3CoSb12, a model for thermoelectric behavior.

Mean-square atomic displacements in lanthanum triiron cobalt dodecaantimonide, determined as a function of temperature using single-crystal neutron diffraction, show that the La atom exhibits an anomalously large displacement at room temperature, Ueq = 0.0196 (9) A2, because it is too small to fill the atomic cage formed by the corner-linked octahedral framework of M4Sb12, M = Fe, Co. Site-occupancy refinements show 25% vacancies on the La site and an actual Fe:Co ratio of 2.17:1. Analysis of the temperature dependence of the atomic displacements identifies a significant temperature-independent component for the La atom ascribed to static disorder, which amounts to 19% of the room-temperature value. The large-amplitude rattling of the La atom can be effectively linked to the dramatic decrease of the lattice contribution to the thermal conductivity, which is a key factor for improving the thermoelectric behavior of these materials. This ­structure–property relationship offers a new paradigm for the exploration of thermoelectric materials.
Alpha-decay widths of 20Ne

Abstract Based on harmonic oscillator shell model wave functions, α-widths are calculated for the 20 Ne ground state band and other levels. The SU 3 shell model wave function is rewritten as an α-cluster form and the tail of the relative 16 O and α cluster wave function is improved by introducing a Woods-Saxon type effective potential. The calculated results are in good agreement with experimental data, and detailed features are discussed.
Development of Hybrid Energy-Absorbing Reusable Terminal for Roadside Safety Applications

The hybrid energy-absorbing reusable terminal (HEART) is a newly developed crash cushion or end terminal to be used in highway safety applications to mitigate injuries to occupants of errant vehicles. HEART is composed of corrugated plates of high-molecular weight, high-density polyethylene (HMW-HDPE) supported on steel diaphragms that slide on a fixed rail. Kinetic energy from errant vehicles is converted to other energy forms through folding and deformation of the HMW-HDPE material. Many previous designs utilized plastic or permanent deformation of plastics or steels to accomplish this goal. However, HEART is a combination of plastic and steel that forms a largely self-restoring and largely reusable crash cushion. Consequently, HEART has a major life-cycle cost advantage over conventional crash cushion designs. HEART was developed through extensive use of finite element analysis with LS-DYNA. The simulation approach adopted for the development of HEART, construction details, and a description and result...
Molecular medicine: MicroRNAs and the tell-tale heart

MicroRNAs are natural, single-stranded, small RNA molecules thought to control gene expression. Four studies indicate that specific microRNA sequences can regulate heart function in development and disease.
The effect of cortisone on ribonucleic acid polymerase and ribonuclease during development: coincidental evidence for the identity of ribonucleic acid polymerase with the "operator" gene.

Abstract Three maxima in RNA Pase activity occurred during the 4th instar (days 11–20 after hatching) in the larval salivary gland of Sciara coprophila. They occured at days 12–13, 16 and 20. Minima in cytoplasmic RNAase activity occurred on the same days. Feeding cortisone acetate enhanced the 12–14 day maximum but the development of peaks at days 16 and 20 did not occur. Cortisone administration depressed cytoplasmic RNAse activity. Specific nuclear RNA content paralleled RNA Pase activity. The temporal and quantitative parallels between RNA Pase activity and glucose-6-phosphatase activity suggest that RNA Pase serves as the “operator” (in the terms of the Jacob Monod models) for the enzymes hydrolyzing glucose-6-phosphate. The correspondence of RNA Pase maxima with RNAase minima suggests that the control of RNAase is linked to the activity of RNA Pase. Both enzymes apparently contribute to cellular control of RNA and resulting protein synthesis.
Retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer into umbilical cord blood CD34brCD38-CD33- cells.

Abstract In this report, we sought to optimize gene transfer into primitive human umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells. Initially, we found that fresh UCB isolated with the CD34 br CD38 − CD33 − phenotype were highly enriched for hematopoietic progenitors detected in extended long-term cultures (8-week LTCs). In addition, following ex vivo gene transfer, this population possessed virtually all the 8-week LTC activity of the cultured cells. A multiparameter FACS assay was developed to efficiently screen the effects of alternative retroviral vector gene transfer procedures on the transduction efficiency and maintenance of CD34 br CD38 − CD33 − cells. Proliferation of the CD34 br CD38 − CD33 − cells was found to be a prerequisite for efficient transduction. However, in all conditions tested, proliferation of the CD34 br CD38 − CD33 − cells was associated with a progressive loss of primitive cell properties including a reduction in CD34 expression, an increase in CD38/CD33 expression, and a decline in the ability to sustain 8-week LTCs. These observations indicate that it will be necessary to define conditions that more effectively support the self-renewal capacity of CD34 br CD38 − CD33 − cells to optimize retroviral vector gene transfer in these cells. Evaluating these conditions and reagents will be facilitated by the multiparameter FACS assay described in this report.
Symptomatic and drug factors contributing to undiagnosed depression in epilepsy

Abstract Depression extends notably into the epileptic population in the U.S. in rates of up to 55%. Despite the relatively high rates of depression found in epileptic patients, the rate of diagnosis is significantly lower. This study evaluates symptomatic trends found in depressed epileptics, as well as pharmacological factors surrounding depression in epilepsy, to ascertain possible reasons for the lack of diagnosis of depression in epileptic patients. Antidepressants, most notably SSRIs, possess significantly fewer side effects and interactions with anti-epileptics than antidepressants from older generations. The features of epileptic depression are more endogenous than neurotic. Depression is often neglected in busy health clinics as epilepsy and other conditions are regarded to be of greater severity and importance than depression. In order to increase the diagnosis of depression in epileptics clinicians need to implement quick, non-DSM-IV-centered screening questionnaires.
A Quasi-Distributed Optical Fiber Sensor Network for Large Strain and High-Temperature Measurements of Structures

Due to earthquake effects, buildings often experience large strains, leading to progressive collapses. Monitoring and assessing the large strain condition of critical buildings is of paramount importance to post-earthquake responses and evacuations in earthquake-prone regions. However, few monitoring system can work under such harsh environments. For their unique attributes such as compactness, immunity to electromagnetic interference and capability integrated within various types of structures and materials, optical fiber sensors are especially attractive for quasi-distributed strain sensing purposes in harsh environments. Nevertheless, the dynamic range of strain measurements of an optical sensor is limited by the elasticity of the optical fiber. In this paper, a quasi-distributed optical fiber sensor network based on extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometer (EFPI) and long-period fiber grating (LPFG) sensors for both large strain and high temperature measurements has been developed. The sensor network combined several inline EFPIs and LPFGs by various couplers. Each EFPI sensor in the sensor network system has the capacity of large strain measurement up to 12% and each LPFG sensor here has a temperature measurement range of up to 700°C. To obtain strain and temperature information for multiple locations more efficiently, a hybrid LPFG/EFPI optical fiber sensor based sensor network system has been studied in this paper. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed quasi-distributed optical fiber sensor network system is capable for both large strain and high temperature measurements. Therefore, the proposed optical fiber sensor network system can be applied to monitor the quasi-distributed strain of civil infrastructure in harsh environments.
Genesis and evolution of low-Al orthopyroxene in spinel peridotite xenoliths, Grand Canyon field, Arizona, USA

Orthopyroxene porphyroblasts zoned to interiors abnormally low in Al and Cr and containing numerous inclusions of olivine occur in some spinel peridotite xenoliths from the Colorado Plateau. Rims of these orthopyroxene grains contain 2.5–3.0 wt% Al2O3, consistent with equilibration in spinel peridotite at temperatures near 850 °C, but interiors contain as little as 0.20 wt% Al2O3 and 0.04 wt% Cr2O3. The Al-poor compositions are inferred to have equilibrated in chlorite peridotite, before porphyroblast growth during heating and consequent reactions that eliminated talc, tremolite, and chlorite. The distinctive orthopyroxene textures are inferred to have formed during reaction of talc and olivine. Rare intergrowths of orthopyroxene plus diopside are attributed to olivine-tremolite reaction. Al and Cr have gradients at grain rims that appear little modified by diffusion, but divalent elements are almost homogeneous throughout the porphyroblasts. Judging from the relative gradients, diffusion of Ca was at least 100 times faster than that of Al and Cr at the temperatures near and below 850 °C. Diffusion of Al and Cr was most effective along subgrain boundaries, and along these boundaries it appears to have been at least ten times faster than within the lattice: diffusion along such boundaries may be a dominant mechanism for re-equilibration of orthopyroxene at low mantle temperatures. Orthopyroxene with similar low Al and Cr occurs in chlorite peridotite xenoliths from the Navajo field, 300 km east of the Grand Canyon localities, and in spinel peridotite xenoliths from the Sierra Nevada, 500 km west across the extended Basin and Range province. Chlorite peridotite may therefore have been a significant minor component in much of the mantle lithosphere of western North America, although evidence for it would be erased at the higher temperatures recorded by xenoliths from the Basin and Range. Chemical changes during hydration may have been important in the evolution of these mantle volumes, and the case for addition of Sr is particularly strong. Dehydration reactions during heating could have influenced patterns of extension and crustal magmatism.
Thermomechanical deformation of 1 mm thick Cu-polyimide line arrays studied by scanning probe microscopy

Due to the lower dielectric constant than the currently used SiO2 dielectric, several polyimides are being considered for use in multi-layer high density interconnects. However, the mismatch in out-of-plane coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) between the Cu conductor and most spin-coated polyimides may cause interfacial failures. A scanning probe microscope was used to estimate the out-of-plane CTE for several 1 μm thick, spin-coated polyimides and to observe thermally induced deformation of Cu-polyimide test structures on Si. The change in relative height of arrays of parallel Cu and polyimide lines of various aspect ratios were imaged in air at room temperature and 97°C. Linear elastic, generalized plane strain finite element models for different out-of-plane CTEs were used to estimate the CTE from the profile changes. It was observed that narrow (≤1 μm) polyimide lines are more constrained from expansion than wider lines.
Growth properties and biochemical characterization of collagens synthesized by adult rat heart fibroblasts in culture

Collagen is the most important component of the extracellular matrix of the myocardium; it supports the myocytes and maintains the architecture of the heart. Collagen also participates in the myocardial response to various forms of pressure overload. Increased tissue collagen content occurs as a result of spontaneous or experimental overload-induced myocardial hypertrophy. In order to determine the mechanisms responsible for the increased collagen deposition in experimental cardiac hypertrophy, we established monolayer cultures of fibroblasts isolated from normal adult rat myocardium and studied their growth and biosynthetic characteristics. These cells have a doubling time of about 20 h and synthesize and secrete several collagenous and non-collagenous proteins. We found that type I collagen was the major collagenous product of these cells representing 80% of total newly synthesized collagen. Most of the newly synthesized collagen was secreted into the culture medium as intact and partially cleaved procollagens. About 20% of the total collagen synthesized was type III collagen which was also secreted into the medium as a procollagen. A small proportion of type V collagen (<5%) was also synthesized by these cultures. Fibronectin which was identified by its mobility in SDS gel electrophoresis was quantified by immunoprecipitation with specific antisera and was the most abundant non-collagenous protein synthesized by these cells. Northern blot hybridization analysis demonstrated that these cells expressed transcripts for α1 chains of types I and III collagen and for fibronectin.
The role of sex hormones in immune protection of the female reproductive tract

Within the human female reproductive tract (FRT), the challenge of protection against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is coupled with the need to enable successful reproduction. Oestradiol and progesterone, which are secreted during the menstrual cycle, affect epithelial cells, fibroblasts and immune cells in the FRT to modify their functions and hence the individual's susceptibility to STIs in ways that are unique to specific sites in the FRT. The innate and adaptive immune systems are under hormonal control, and immune protection in the FRT varies with the phase of the menstrual cycle. Immune protection is dampened during the secretory phase of the cycle to optimize conditions for fertilization and pregnancy, which creates a 'window of vulnerability' during which potential pathogens can enter and infect the FRT.
An algorithm for parallel processing of the state increment dynamic programming problem

An algorithm is proposed for the parallel processing of the dynamic programming problem. The procedure combines the state increment approach with function partitioning and evaluate the partitioned cost function using the successive approximations technique as n one-dimensional problems in a decoupled form.
CST: C state transformers

C State transformers (CST) is an expression oriented dialect of C designed to smoothly integrate functional programming into C based software. C State Transformers is an attempt to do for functional programming what C++ did for object oriented programming. It provides support for functional programming with a C like syntax. In many ways, CST programs are similar to C programs. Data definitions and function declarations have the same syntax and semantics. CST uses C’s type system. CST programs require the same run time system as C programs. A CST compiler can be implemented by the composition of a preprocessor and a C compiler. In contrast with C, the body of a CST function definition is an expression. CST has no statements and its iteration construct produces a value upon termination. CST allows purely functional computations to be specified in a natural, expression oriented manner. CST’s support for functional programming is limited due to the requirement that there be a simple translation of the language into C. As a result, CST programs must explicitly manage heap storage and a function cannot be the result of another function if its body references a local variable in the producing function. The limitations on functional programming allow the seamless integration of CST modules into C programs. As an added bonus, the language is simpler than C.
Pricing by timing: innovating broadband data plans

Wireless Internet usage is doubling every year. Users are using more of high bandwidth data applications, and the heavy usage concentrates on several peak hours in a day, forcing ISPs to overprovision their networks accordingly. In order to remain profitable, ISPs have been using pricing as a congestion management tool. We review many of such pricing schemes in practice today and argue that they do not solve ISPs' problem of growing data traffic. We believe that dynamic, time-dependent usage pricing, which charges users based on when they access the Internet, can incentivize users to spread out their bandwidth consumption more evenly across different times of the day, thus helping ISPs to overcome the problem of peak congestion. Congestion pricing is not a new idea in itself, but the time for its implementation in data networks has finally arrived. Our key contribution lies in developing new analysis and a fully integrated system architecture, called TUBE (Time-dependent Usage-based Broadband price Engineering) that enables ISPs to implement the proposed TDP plan. The theory, simulation, and system implementation of TUBE system is further complemented with consumer surveys conducted in India and the US, along with preparations for a field trial that is currently underway.