cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct numerical simulation of stratified Ekman layers over a periodic rough surface

Ekman layers over a rough surface are studied using direct numerical simulation. The roughness takes the form of periodic two-dimensional bumps whose non-dimensional amplitude is fixed at a small value ( ) and whose mean slope is gentle. The neutral Ekman layer is subjected to a stabilizing cooling flux for approximately one inertial period ( ) to impose the stratification. The Ekman boundary layer is in a transitionally rough regime and, without stratification, the effect of roughness is found to be mild in contrast to the stratified case. Roughness, whose effect increases with the slope of the bumps, changes the boundary layer qualitatively from the very stable (Mahrt, Theor. Comput. Fluid Dyn., vol. 11, issue 3–4, 1998, pp. 263–279) regime, which has a strong thermal inversion and a pronounced low-level jet, in the flat case to the stable regime, which has a weaker thermal inversion and stronger surface-layer turbulence, in the rough cases. The flat case exhibits initial collapse of turbulence which eventually recovers, albeit with inertial oscillations in turbulent kinetic energy. The roughness elements interrupt the initial collapse of turbulence. In the quasi-steady state, the thickness of the turbulent stress profiles and of the near-surface region with subcritical gradient Richardson number increase in the rough cases. Analysis of the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) budget shows that, in the surface layer, roughness counteracts the stability-induced reduction of TKE production. The flow component, coherent with the surface undulations, is extracted by a triple decomposition, and leads to a dispersive component of near-surface turbulent fluxes. The significance of the dispersive component increases in the stratified cases.
Online Grasp Plan Refinement for Reducing Defects During Robotic Layup of Composite Prepreg Sheets

High-performance composites are increasingly being used in the industry. Sheet layup is a process of manufacturing composite components using deformable sheets. We have developed a robotic cell to automate the layup process and overcome the limitations of the manual layup. Generating offline trajectories for robots and executing them without online refinement can introduce defects in the process due to uncertainties in the model of the sheet and environmental factors. Our system computes layup and grasping trajectories for the robots and refines them during the layup process based on the sensor data. We use an approach that augments physical experiments with simulations to train a Gaussian process regression model offline. The use of GPR enables us to quickly refine grasp plans and perform a defect-free layup without slowing down the layup process. We present experimental results on two components.
Detection and Localization of Damaged Photovoltaic Cells and Modules Using Spread Spectrum Time Domain Reflectometry

The operating efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) plants can be improved if damaged or degraded modules can be detected and identified. Currently, string-level power electronics can detect problems with modules or cabling but not locate them, which would facilitate addressing these issues. Here, we investigate the ability of spread spectrum time domain reflectometry (SSTDR) to both detect and locate/identify damaged cells and modules within a series-connected PV string. We tested the ability of SSTDR to detect and locate single-cell mini-modules and full-sized PV modules, which were intentionally damaged by impacts with a hammer (breaking the glass and damaging the silicon below) or by cutting through some or all busbars. Damage to the glass and silicon of cells was detected and located within a small string of minimodules. Busbar damage was detectable only if an open was created by cutting through all intercell busbars. Physical impact damage to the glass and silicon of a full-sized PV module could be detected, but further development of signal processing is needed to achieve localization of such damaged modules within a string.
Kindness Is Society

Social justice is a moral position, a philosophical stance, and a social/political movement with multiple dimensions based on the core values that support the highest quality in human life conditions and experiences for all people; where people live together in harmony, with opportunities for full participation in the society; where all contributions are encouraged and appreciated, with freedom from oppression and systematic subordination of members of one group to another; and with access to the collective benefits and resources of the society that enrich and make life meaningful for everyone.
On the interaction of SIP and admission control: an inter-domain call authorization model for internet multimedia applications

In networks that support service differentiation, each in their own way, it is very important to manage how interactive multimedia applications use the networks’ enhanced services. Therefore, ways to ensure that these services are properly authorized and accounted for are needed. This paper addresses the role of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) proxies to authorize QoS-enabled multimedia sessions, based on the session’s policy information and the network resources’ availability. Our inter-domain call authorization model provides call authorization status and adds more granularity to the authorization process. This model is implemented in a SIP testbed, and simulation results showed that the model is scalable at end domains.
Insights into dark energy: interplay between theory and observation

Recent observations suggest that the universe is spa- tially flat and undergoing a period of accelerated expan- sion. In the context of the standard cosmological picture based on Einstein's general relativity, this is most read- ily explained by invoking a new component of smoothly- distributed and slowly-varying "Dark Energy" (DE). The evidence for this modification is now very com- pelling indeed, with measurements of a variety of cos- mological observables all consistently indicating its pres- ence. High redshift supernovae observations (1, 2) show that previous hypotheses of dust extinction are now in- consistent with the data. Similarly, proposals for photon number density reduction by photon-axion mixing (3), although a possible contributor, cannot explain the su- pernovae, CMB (4) and large scale structure observations (5) completely. The theoretical origin of the observations, therefore, still remains a highly significant mystery, and an area of considerable research activity. It is the aim of this white paper to highlight the broad spectrum of potential theoretical explanations for the accelerating universe, and the diverse observable signa- tures, from solar system to horizon scale, relevant to dis- tinguishing between them, summarized in Figs. 1 and 2. We divide the discussion into three basic possibili- ties: alternatives to Dark Energy, dynamical Dark En- ergy, and the cosmological constant. In tandem with observations, a clear view of the theoretical landscape is necessary when assessing future observational strategies. The investigations outlined below therefore play a central role in confronting the Dark Energy problem.
Vertebrate nervous system posteriorization: Grading the function of Wnt signaling

The establishment of anteroposterior identity in the vertebrate neural plate has been a subject of investigation for decades, but molecular explanations of posteriorization were only revealed beginning in the late 1980s. A model has emerged from several key studies that identifies Wnt signaling as a key posteriorizing agent, which evidence suggests specifies anteroposterior fates in a concentration-dependent manner. In this review, we consider the historical context of posteriorization studies and evaluate models for Wnt-dependent posteriorization. With new information about the mode of delivery of many signaling ligands, we propose alternative scenarios to reconcile the Wnt gradient model with the complex process of gastrulation and potential non-secretory mechanisms of Wnt delivery.
HIV-positive parents disclosure-related preparation activities in Kenya

The HIV disclosure process is not well understood in Kenya. There are no guidelines to assist parents and healthcare professionals (HCPs) in the preparation and performance of disclosure. Some families have multiple infected persons thereby complicating disclosure delivery further as parents grapple for years with why, when, where, how, and which of their children to prepare for disclosure. Two theoretical models of HIV disclosure were tested during the conduct of this study.
Measuring university faculty attitudes toward disability: Willingness to accommodate and adopt Universal Design principles

Today, more students with disabilities attend four year institutions, but may struggle to succeed within these settings. University faculty attitudes and practices contribute to the success or failure of students in these postsecondary settings. In this study, we developed, administered, and evaluated a measure of faculty attitudes and perceptions toward students with disabilities. Results from 289 faculty members indicated that responses loaded on eight reliable factors pertaining to (a) Fairness in Providing Accommodations, (b) Knowledge of Disability Law, (c) Adjustment of Course Assignments and Requirements, (d) Minimizing Barriers, (e) Campus Resources, (f) Willingness to Invest Time, (g) Accessibility of Course Materials, and (h) Performance Expectations. Group comparisons by faculty gender, rank, college/school, and prior disability-focused training indicated more positive attitudes toward providing accommodations and adopting Universal Design principles among faculty who are female, nontenured, housed within the College of Education, or had prior disability-focused training experiences. These findings suggest that faculty attitudes and perceptions toward disability and their willingness to accommodate and adopt Universal Design principles can be reliably assessed. The potential usefulness of such assessments for practices within postsecondary environments are discussed.
Total-Dose Radiation and Annealing Studies: Implications for Hardness Assurance Testing

A series of experiments covering a wide range of dose rate, bias, and annealing conditions has been performed on CMOS test transistors and 2K SRAMs. These experiments, on both hardened and commercial technologies, were designed to address hardness assurance issues associated with total-dose laboratory testing. It is demonstrated that failure dose can be a complicated function of dose rate, and that a peak in the failure-dose versus dose-rate curve generally results when there is a change in failure mode. If only one failure mode exists, then the failure-dose versus doserate curve is monotonic. Implications of proposed changes in MIL-STD-883C, Method 1019.2 are examined in light of their impact on hardness assurance. Our findings support the proposed changes of (1) keeping the time between irradiation and test less than 1 hour and (2) of a more restricted range of dose rate, i.e., 100 to 300 rad(Si)/ s. In addition, it is recommended that zero volt bias be maintained on CMOS devices between irradiation and test. Finally, techniques are presented for relating total-dose hardness as measured in the laboratory to total-dose hardness in real-world space and weapon environments.
Fermion mass hierarchy, Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix, and weak and strong CP solution with a non-Abelian family symmetry.

We present a prototype model in which the observed family structure is entirely due to the family symmetry and its breaking patterns present at the axion scale. The model is based upon an SU(3) global family group and an Abelian group, in which U(1)/sub PQ/ is a subgroup. The model successfully explains the observed fermion mass hierarchy, the Kobayashi-Maskawa (KM) matrix, and the weak and strong-CP problem on the same footing. The observed fermion mass hierarchy is naturally obtained from the smallest dimensionless parameter of order of the Cabibbo angle (thetaapprox. =(1/5)) while the weak-CP phase of ..pi../2 is generated by spontaneous symmetry breaking at the axion scale. The entire KM angles are correctly produced in terms of the observed quark mass ratios from the Fritzsch ''texture'' of quark mass matrices. Three generations of superheavy Dirac fermions are predicted to exist at the axion scale. These fermions are in one-to-one correspondence with the three generations of ordinary quarks and leptons, and can be regarded as their ''mirror image''. The best way of testing the scenario presented in the model would be to detect some of the familons predicted by the model.
High-Speed Laser Transmitters Using Cascaded Optical Injection Locking

We demonstrate high-speed laser transmitters with relatively low-frequency devices using cascaded optical injection locking. Tailorable frequency response with a bandwidth of 52 GHz is obtained by adjusting locking parameters of the two slave lasers independently.
Mercury export from the Yukon River Basin and potential response to a changing climate

We measured mercury (Hg) concentrations and calculated export and yield from the Yukon River Basin (YRB) to quantify Hg flux from a large, permafrost-dominated, high-latitude watershed. Exports of Hg averaged 4400 kg Hg yr(-1). The average annual yield for the YRB during the study period was 5.17 μg m(-2) yr(-1), which is 3-32 times more than Hg yields reported for 8 other major northern hemisphere river basins. The vast majority (90%) of Hg export is associated with particulates. Half of the annual export of Hg occurred during the spring with about 80% of 34 samples exceeding the U.S. EPA Hg standard for adverse chronic effects to biota. Dissolved and particulate organic carbon exports explained 81% and 50%, respectively, of the variance in Hg exports, and both were significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with water discharge. Recent measurements indicate that permafrost contains a substantial reservoir of Hg. Consequently, climate warming will likely accelerate the mobilization of Hg from thawing permafrost increasing the export of organic carbon associated Hg and thus potentially exacerbating the production of bioavailable methylmercury from permafrost-dominated northern river basins.
Comet Shoemaker‐Levy 9 at Jupiter

From the 16th to the 22nd of July, 1994, the world was privileged to witness an event that probably recurs less often than once a century. Collision of the brightest nuclei of Periodic Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 produced enormous dark clouds that were the most dramatic and easily observed features on Jupiter recorded by human visual observation. They were seen by tens of thousands of people through hundreds or thousands of telescopes ranging in aperture from 5 to more than 100 cm. Tens of millions of people participated vicariously in the impact event through viewing on television the magnificent images from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and from numerous ground-based telescopes.
Social Media’s Role in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery: Informing Clinicians, Empowering Patients

With the increasing availability of the Internet in the United States, patients are more frequently seeking medical information online. Oftentimes, the medical information that patients find on traditional websites is unreliable. It is a physician’s duty to ensure that patients are being educated properly. Providing sound medical information through social media websites is one way in which physicians may accomplish this goal, while also improving clinic reputation, patient volume, and doctor-patient communication.
Yucca: A medicinally significant genus with manifold therapeutic attributes

The genus Yucca comprising of several species is dominant across the chaparrals, canyons and deserts of American South West and Mexico. This genus has long been a source of sustenance and drugs for the Native Americans. In the wake of revived interest in drug discovery from plant sources, this genus has been investigated and startling nutritive and therapeutic capacities have come forth. Apart from the functional food potential, antioxidant, antiinflammation, antiarthritic, anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and hypocholesterolaemic properties have also been revealed. Steroidal saponins, resveratrol and yuccaols have been identified to be the active principles with myriad biological actions. To stimulate further research on this genus of multiple food and pharmaceutical uses, this updated review has been prepared with references extracted from MEDLINE database.
The Thermal Nonequilibrium of Prominences

We present numerical simulations and analytic theory for the thermal nonequilibrium of solar coronal flux tubes that have a stretched-out, dipped geometry, appropriate for a prominence/filament. Our simulations indicate that if the heating in such a flux tube is localized near the chromosphere, then condensations appear which undergo a continuous cycle of formation, motion, and destruction, even though the heating and all other imposed conditions on the loop are purely time independent. We show how this nonsteady evolution can be understood in terms of simple scaling-law theory. The implications of thermal nonequilibrium for observations of the solar corona are discussed. We argue that the model can explain both the formation of prominence condensations and recent observations of their dynamics.
Yolk–Shell Structure of Polyaniline-Coated Sulfur for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries

Lithium–sulfur batteries have attracted much attention in recent years due to their high theoretical capacity of 1672 mAh g–1 and low cost. However, a rapid capacity fade is normally observed, attributed mainly to polysulfide dissolution and volume expansion. Although many strategies have been reported to prolong the cyclability, the high cost and complex preparation processes still hinder their practical application. Here, we report the synthesis of a polyaniline–sulfur yolk–shell nanocomposite through a heating vulcanization of a polyaniline–sulfur core–shell structure. We observed that this heating treatment was much more effective than chemical leaching to prepare uniform yolk–shell structures. Compared with its sulfur–polyaniline core–shell counterparts, the yolk–shell nanostructures delivered much improved cyclability owing to the presence of internal void space inside the polymer shell to accommodate the volume expansion of sulfur during lithiation. The yolk–shell material exhibited a stable capaci...
Automatic software architecture recovery: A machine learning approach

Automatically recovering functional architecture of the software can facilitate the developer's understanding of how the system works. In legacy systems, original source code is often the only available source of information about the system and it is very time consuming to understand source code. Current architecture recovery techniques either require heavy human intervention or fail to recover quality components. To alleviate these shortcomings, we propose use of machine learning techniques which use structural, runtime behavioral, domain, textual and contextual (e.g. code authorship, line co-change) features. These techniques will allow us to experiment with a large number of features of the software artifacts without having to establish a priori our own insights about what is important and what is not important. We believe this is a promising approach that may finally start to produce usable solutions to this elusive problem.
Oxidation of lysozyme by iodine: identification of oxindolealanine 108.

Abstract Examination of the tryptic peptides of the product of iodine oxidation of lysozyme demonstrated that tryptophan 108 was the residue modified. At some stage of the analysis subsequent to reduction and carboxymethylation, there was non-oxidative cleavage of the peptide bond of the α-carboxyl of oxindolealanine 108. Four oxinodolealanine peptides were observed by analysis of tryptic digests. Three of these peptides were purified and were shown to have the same amino acid composition after acid hydrolysis.
Predictors of children's interest in violent television programs

Children's attraction to violent television was explored by comparing the relative contributions of seemingly important predictors. A random sample of 285 parents of children in kindergarten, second, fourth, and sixth grades was interviewed about their children's television viewing habits. Analyses revealed that interest in classic cartoons, which typically display violence for violence's sake, was predicted by grade, whereas attraction to typically justice‐restoring violent fare was predicted by grade, gender, aggression, and fright reactions to television.
Ketogenic and adipokinetic activities of pituitary hormones.

IT HAS been known for many years that alkaline extracts of pituitary glands are capable of stimulating both ketosis and the development of fatty liver in various species. With the purification of pituitary hormones the evidence became increasingly suggestive that growth hormone was the factor which was responsible for the observed effects of pituitary extracts on fat metabolism. (For review of literature see references 1, 2, 3). From time to time irregular ketogenic responses to ACTH were reported and these were presumed to be due to the influence of adrenal cortical steroids (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). However, doubt was cast on the latter interpretation by the demonstration that cortisone and cortisol inhibited fasting and other types of ketosis (10, 11, 12, 13). Moreover, when ACTH was administered to man by a slow intravenous drip which would be expected to cause maximal stimulation of adrenal cortical steroid secretion, fasting ketosis was suppressed (10).
Setting the target for the federal funds rate: the determinants of Fed behaviour

This article analyses the factors the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) considers in setting the target for the federal funds rate. The sample consists of 262 FOMC meetings between 1983 and 2005. Statistical results indicate that the Fed's target is inversely related to the unemployment rate and directly related to several measures of expected inflation. Technical factors such as the number of days since the last target change, the size and direction of the previous target change and the gap between the actual federal funds rate and its targeted value were also statistically significant explanatory variables. Estimations were performed using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), censored regression and two types of ordered probit; but the results proved to be robust regardless of the statistical technique used.
Thermal Enhancement of Stacked Dies Using Thermal Vias

Following Moore's law, the number of transistors on a die continues to rise and has recently exceeded a billion on high end processors. In light of the convergence of technology, power requirements is becoming a serious concern even on low density interconnect systems such as cellular phones and personal digital assistants. Also, in order to minimize foot prints, the recent trend in packaging is stacking. The stacking, however, creates challenges in cooling and especially if one is to include logic in the stack. The primary heat flow path for stacking is through the substrate and as the number of stacks increase, the cooling problem is amplified. Thermal vias are emerging as a viable technology for transferring heat and in effect creating a thermal short circuit from individual die to the substrate. Some of the authors of this paper earlier reported on the reliability of stacked memory dies. In a subsequent paper the thermal reliability that included geometrical stacking architecture (rotating, spacer, ..) and the inclusion of both logic and memory dies was addressed. In this present paper, the heat transfer enhancement using silicon vias on various stacking schemes is discussed. The CAD models required for this study were developed in Pro/Engineer® Wildfire™ 2.0 and for the result simulation ANSYS® Workbench™ 10.0 have been used. Packaging architectures that have been taken in to consideration are die, solder ball, substrate, mold cap and thermal vias.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Matrix Isolation and ab Initio Study of 1:1 Hydrogen-Bonded Complexes of H2O2 with HF, HCl, and HBr

Matrix isolation infrared spectroscopy has been combined with MP2/aug‘-cc-pVDZ calculations to characterize the 1:1 hydrogen-bonded complexes between H2O2 and the hydrogen halides HF, HCl, and HBr....
Risk factors, time course and treatment effect for restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty of chronic total occlusion.

Abstract Advances in technology and operator experience, and increased use of angiography early after myocardial infarction have led to greater use of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for chronic, total coronary artery occlusions. To better assess long-term outcome, 257 consecutive patients with successful PTCA of a total occlusion with late angiographic follow-up from 484 patients (53%) with PTCA success were reviewed. The mean ± standard deviation patient age was 54 ± 10 years, 79% were men, the duration of total occlusion was 11 ± 15 weeks and the post-PTCA diameter stenosis was 24 ± 12%. Eighty-two, 27 and 63% of patients received long-term aspirin, dipyridamole and warfarin therapy, respectively. Angiography at 8 ± 8 months demonstrated restenosis (≥50% diameter stenosis) in 41% of patients restudied within 6 months and in 66% of patients restudied within 12 months by life table analysis. In multivariate regression analysis of 19 variables, 2 were independently correlated with the occurrence of restenosis: post-PTCA diameter stenosis > 30% (p = 0.02) and coronary artery dilated (left anterior descending and right coronary arteries greater than the left circumflex coronary artery) (p = 0.05). In log rank analysis that also considered the timing of angiographic detection of restenosis, dilatation of a proximal left anterior descending stenosis was also a significant predictor of restenosis (p = 0.01), and dilatation within 4 weeks of the presumed time of occlusion was only weakly predictive (p = 0.11). Thirty-five patients (27% of those with restenosis) had reocclusion at the site of PTCA, but only 3 patients (2%) had an associated myocardial infarction. There was no relative beneficial effect of any treatment on the risk of restenosis. Thus, (1) restenosis after PTCA of chronic total occlusion is very common; (2) restenosis is predicted by the angioplasty results and angioplasty site; (3) the clinical detection of restenosis does not appear to plateau at 6 months; (4) reocclusion is not uncommon, but seldom results in myocardial infarction; and (5) there was no apparent relative treatment effect of aspirin, dipyridamole or warfarin.
Haphazard reporting of deaths in clinical trials: a review of cases of ClinicalTrials.gov records and matched publications–a cross-sectional study

Context A participant death is a serious event in a clinical trial and needs to be unambiguously and publicly reported. Objective To examine (1) how often and how numbers of deaths are reported in ClinicalTrials.gov records; (2) how often total deaths can be determined per arm within a ClinicalTrials.gov results record and its corresponding publication and (3) whether counts may be discordant. Design Registry-based study of clinical trial results reporting. Setting ClinicalTrials.gov results database searched in July 2011 and matched PubMed publications. Selection criteria A random sample of ClinicalTrials.gov results records. Detailed review of records with a single corresponding publication. Main outcome measure ClinicalTrials.gov records reporting number of deaths under participant flow, primary or secondary outcome or serious adverse events. Consistency in reporting of number of deaths between ClinicalTrials.gov records and corresponding publications. Results In 500 randomly selected ClinicalTrials.gov records, only 123 records (25%) reported a number for deaths. Reporting of deaths across data modules for participant flow, primary or secondary outcomes and serious adverse events was variable. In a sample of 27 pairs of ClinicalTrials.gov records with number of deaths and corresponding publications, total deaths per arm could only be determined in 56% (15/27 pairs) but were discordant in 19% (5/27). In 27 pairs of ClinicalTrials.gov records without any information on number of deaths, 48% (13/27) were discordant since the publications reported absence of deaths in 33% (9/27) and positive death numbers in 15% (4/27). Conclusions Deaths are variably reported in ClinicalTrials.gov records. A reliable total number of deaths per arm cannot always be determined with certainty or can be discordant with number reported in corresponding trial publications. This highlights a need for unambiguous and complete reporting of the number of deaths in trial registries and publications.
Mechanism of Mutual Incorporation of l-Isoleucine and Isomorphic Amino Acids in Batch Crystallization

We explored the mutual incorporation tendency of l-isoleucine and isomorphic amino acids in cooling crystallization conducted in water. In most cases, a guest amino acid (an impurity amino acid) with side chain longer than that of l-isoleucine was easily incorporated in l-isoleucine. In this case, a solid solution was formed and the c-axis of l-isoleucine structure was stretched. Furthermore, the crystal growth was inhibited. Using these results, a mechanism for mutual incorporation of these amino acids was proposed.
An empirical investigation of the two-moment approximation for production lines

Abstract Since Muth (1973) it has generally been accepted that the throughput of production lines with variable processing times depends primarily on the first two moments of the processing time distribution. However, several recent studies have suggested that differences in higher moments may lead to significant differences in throughput. In order to shed light on this question, we examine the applicability of the two-moment approximation over a variety of types of lines (both serial and assembly) and a variety of processing time distributions. We find significant differences in throughput (on the order of 5%) even among commonly used probability distributions, and large differences (as large as 28%) among highly skewed and kurtotic distributions. We also find that the differences among distributions generally increase with the number of stations in the line and with the coefficient of variation of processing times.
Apatite: a new interface for exploring APIs

We present Apatite, a new tool that aids users in learning and understanding a complex API by visualizing the common associations between its various components. Current object-oriented API documentation is usually navigated in a fixed tree structure, starting with a package and then filtering by a specific class. For large APIs, this scheme is overly restrictive, because it prevents users from locating a particular action without first knowing which class it belongs to. Apatite's design instead enables users to search across any level of an API's hierarchy. This is made possible by the introduction of a novel interaction technique that presents popular items from multiple categories simultaneously, determining their relevance by approximating the strength of their association using search engine data. The design of Apatite was refined through iterative usability testing, and it has been released publicly as a web application.
Domain organization and sequence relationship of killer cell inhibitory receptors

Natural killer (NK) cells recognize class I HLA molecules via a family of related receptors composed of two or three Ig-like domains. Using neighbor-joining analysis of available sequences, groups of these receptors were identified that are likely to share specificity in HLA binding, which in some cases had been previously determined for individual group members. Subgroups or clades were further identified which did not appear to correlate with ligand binding, but instead reflect differences in the cytoplasmic region of the proteins. The Ig-like domains, which form the extracellular segment responsible for specificity of HLA recognition, were individually shown to be characteristic of specific groups of receptors, and do not appear to have been assorted between groups. Thus it does not appear that recombination of domains played a major role in generating diversity within regions of these proteins important for HLA binding. Finally, the Ig-like domains of KIR proteins are shown to be between 35-45% identical to those of CD89, a receptor for IgA on myeloid cells. This level of homology, combined with their shared localization on chromosome 19q13.4, suggests a common evolutionary origin.
Geometric preferences in iron(II) and zinc(II) model complexes of peptide deformylase.

A combination of experimental and theoretical studies on (N,S(thiolate))MII−formate complexes (M = Fe, Zn) suggests a rationale for the metal ion dependence of peptide deformylase.
Contaminant effects on reproductive success in selected benthic fish

Abstract Field studies on ovarian development in English sole from urban and nonurban sites in Puget Sound, Washington, USA, demonstrated that animals with elevated levels of fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) in bile were less likely to enter vitellogenesis and had lower plasma concentrations of estradiol than female sole with low levels of contaminant exposure. Biliary FACs were positively correlated with hepatic P450 activity, which was also elevated in sole showing inhibited ovarian development. These findings suggest that contaminant exposure may disrupt vitellogenesis in female fish. Results of the field study were supported by laboratory experiments showing that pretreatment of gravid female English sole with extracts of contaminated sediment decreased levels of endogenous estradiol. A similar response was observed in rock sole and flathead sole treated with Prudhoe Bay crude oil. However, exposure of English sole to sediment extracts had little effect on the activity of hepatic-steroid-metabolizing enzymes, indicating that some mechanism other than enhanced steroid metabolism may be responsible for reductions in endogenous circulating-steroid levels. Our recent studies suggest that reductions in endogenous estradiol levels may result from depressed ovarian steroidogenesis, as contaminant-associated reductions in in-vitro ovarian estradiol production were observed in English sole, rock sole, and flathead sole. Preliminary studies on winter flounder and white croaker indicate that they may also experience reproductive impairment as a result of exposure to contaminants, but the phase of the reproductive cycle that is most severely impacted varies from species to species.
A catalytically inactive mutant of the deubiquitylase YOD-1 enhances antigen cross-presentation

Antigen presenting cells (APCs) that express a catalytically inactive version of the deubiquitylase YOD1 (YOD1-C160S) present exogenous antigens more efficiently to CD8+ T cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Compared with controls, immunization of YOD1-C160S mice led to greater expansion of specific CD8+ T cells and showed improved control of infection with a recombinant γ-herpes virus, MHV-68, engineered to express SIINFEKL peptide, the ligand for the ovalbumin-specific TCR transgenic OT-I cells. Enhanced expansion of specific CD8+ T cells was likewise observed on infection of YOD1-C160S mice with a recombinant influenza A virus expressing SIINFEKL. YOD1-C160S APCs retained antigen longer than did control APCs. Enhanced cross-presentation by YOD1-C160S APCs was transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP1)–independent but sensitive to inclusion of inhibitors of acidification and of the proteasome. The activity of deubiquitylating enzymes may thus help control antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell responses during immunization.
Flux pinning by symmetrical grain boundaries in niobium bicrystals

Abstract Flux pinning by grain boundaries has been studied using resistive measurements in a set of niobium bicrystals with defined symmetrical tilt boundaries. The results are consistent with the notion that the pinning force f p arises from a local change in the upper critical field H c2 and the Ginzburg—Landau parameter K at the boundary layer via the electron-scattering interaction. The experimental results are in good agreement with the calculations of DasGupta et al. both in terms of the magnetic field dependence and the magnitude of f p. It is found that the pinning force is dependent upon the orientation of the tilt axis, but is insensitive to the grain-boundary misorientation.
Changes in abundance of an abscisic acid-responsive, early cysteine-labeled metallothionein transcript during pollen embryogenesis in bread wheat ( Triticum aestivum )

A clone for an embryoid-abundant, early cysteine-labeled metallothionein (EcMt) gene has been isolated from a wheat pollen embryoid cDNA library. The transcript of this gene was only expressed in embryogenic microspores, pollen embryoids, and developing zygotic embryos of wheat. Accumulation of the EcMt mRNA showed a direct and positive correlation with an increase of the plant hormone, abscisic acid (ABA) in developing pollen embryoids. Treating cultures with an inhibitor of ABA biosynthesis, fluridone, suppressed not only ABA accumulation but also the appearance of the EcMt gene transcript and the ability of microspores to form embryoids. These results suggest that the EcMt gene may act as a molecular marker for pollen embryogenesis because ABA biosynthesis is accompanied by the increased expression of the EcMt transcript that coincides with the differentiation of pollen embryoids in wheat anther cultures.
Perspective on Department of Energy Geospatial Science: Past, Present, and Future

ABSTRACT For many decades, the Department of Energy (DOE) has been an international leader in basic scientific and engineering research that utilizes geospatial science to advance the state of knowledge in disciplines impacting national security, energy sustainability, environmental stewardship, and associated basic research. However, the realized benefits from cross-cutting geospatial science contributions have fallen short of what they could have been with greater collaboration across the DOE complex, stronger emphasis on core geographic information science (GIScience) research and development to support advanced applications, increased strategic institutional support (e.g., for management of legacy data), and additional education and outreach concerning how geospatial science can benefit DOE programs and operations. We propose a vision for DOE's geospatial science based on expanded collaboration to address major national problems, additional advanced GIScience research and development, and a long-term ...
Uranium(VI) sorption on iron oxides in Hanford Site sediment: Application of a surface complexation model

Abstract Sorption of U(VI) on Hanford fine sand (HFS) with varying Fe-oxide (especially ferrihydrite) contents showed that U(VI) sorption increased with the incremental addition of synthetic ferrihydrite into HFS, consistent with ferrihydrite being one of the most reactive U(VI) sorbents present in natural sediments. Surface complexation model (SCM) calculations for U(VI) sorption, using only U(VI) surface-reaction constants obtained from U(VI) sorption data on freshly synthesized ferrihydrite at different pHs, were similar to the measured U(VI) sorption results on pure synthetic ferrihydrite and on HFS with high contents of ferrihydrite (5 wt%) added. However, the SCM prediction using only U(VI) sorption reactions and constants for synthetic ferrihydrite overestimated U(VI) sorption on the natural HFS or HFS with addition of low amounts of added ferrihydrite (1 wt% added). Over-predicted U(VI) sorption was attributed to reduced reactivity of natural ferrihydrite present in Hanford Site sediments, compared to freshly prepared synthetic ferrihydrite. Even though the SCM general composite (GC) approach is considered to be a semi-quantitative estimation technique for contaminant sorption, which requires systematic experimental data on the sorbent–sorbate system being studied to obtain credible SCM parameters, the general composite SCM model was still found to be a useful technique for describing U(VI) sorption on natural sediments. Based on U(VI) batch sorption results, two simple U(VI) monodentate surface species, SO_UO 2 HCO 3 and SO_UO 2 OH on ferrihydrite and phyllosillicate in HFS, respectively, can be successfully used to describe U(VI) sorption onto Hanford Site sediment contacting varying geochemical solutions.
A proof of Fulkerson's characterization of permutation matrices

Abstract A method is described for obtaining the facets of certain convex polyhedra from the optimal solutions to a related linear programming problem. This approach provides a direct proof, via the duality principle, for a result of D.R. Fulkerson, and leads to a class of readily constructible examples of the so-called “blocking pairs” of polyhedra introduced by Fulkerson in [6].
Story: it's not just for writers... anymore

This course has been designed for technical directors, artists, animators, modelers, programmers, and designers whose work is essential in making "the story" come to life. This information can be particularly useful when communicating with screenwriters, directors, producers, and supervisors. This course answers the question "what is story?" (and you don't even have to take a course in screenwriting). Entertaining with numerous clips to show how this has been used in animation and VFX.The purpose is to take the mystery out of "what is story" for those programmers, artists, and game designers whose work is essential in making Animation, VFX, and Games successful. The attendees will know the basic elements of story, so the next time a producer or director talk about what they want for the story, they will know what specific story benchmarks the producer/director are trying to meet in connecting emotionally with an audience. This course will build from the knowledge that story "is a sequence of events (acts) that builds to a climax...." and then lays out the universal elements of story that make up plot, character development, and narrative structure.This course emphasizes story elements in context (i.e. theme, character, setting, conflict etc.) and their relationship to classic story structure (i.e. setup, inciting incident, rising action, climax, resolution etc.). It analyzes conflict (i.e. internal, external, environmental), turning points, cause & effect, archetype vs stereotypes, inciting incident, and how choice defines character. In all stories there must be questions raised: What is at stake (i.e. survival, safety, love, esteem, etc.)? What is going to motivate (inciting incident) the main character (protagonist)? Will that be enough to move them from the ordinary (where they are comfortable) to go out into a different world (where the action takes place)?, and How will the character "change" (necessary for all dramatic stories)? These are just a few of the storytelling elements necessary to structure a solid story. This course is for all whose work makes the story better but their job isn't creating the story.
Computer-aided site layout planning

This paper presents an interactive computer-aided site layout model to support site planning in a computer-aided design (CAD) environment and expands upon a model presented earlier by the writers. The developed model performs its task at two levels: Site representation, and site space analysis and allocation. The site representation is carried out using an open architecture supported by object-based concepts. The model offers three tiers of objects: (1) site objects, (2) construction objects, and (3) constraint objects. This structure facilitates the creation of new objects and reuse of domain knowledge, which allows for the gradual expansion and enrichment of the model's knowledge base. At the space analysis and allocation level, the model introduces a geometric reasoning approach to analyze site space for finding an optimum or near-optimum location for facilities. This feature facilitates easy visualization of the site planning process and encourages user participation. The model is structured in three main modules: Database, Project Module, and Layout Control Module. The functionality of each module, along with their interconnectivity is described. The model is implemented using Visual Basic for Applications in AutoCAD environment and Microsoft Access. A numerical example of an actual site layout is presented to illustrate the functionality of the developed model.
Supereulerian Graphs and the Petersen Graph

Any 3-edge-connected graph with at most 10 edge cuts of size 3 either has a spanning closed trail or it is contractible to the Petersen graph.
Some aerodynamic considerations for advanced aircraft configurations

Recent NASA wind-tunnel investigations of advanced unconventional configurations are surveyed, with an emphasis on those applicable to general-aviation aircraft. Photographs of typical models and graphs of aerodynamic parameters are provided. The designs discussed include aft installation of tractor or pusher-propellor engines; forward-swept wings; canards; combinations of canard, wing, and horizontal tail; and propeller-over-the-wing configurations. Consideration is given to canard-wing flow-field interactions, natural laminar flow, the choice of canard airfoil, directional stability and control, and propulsion-system location.
Preservation of T-lymphocyte activity in autoimmune MRL-lpr mice treated with prostaglandin

MRL-lpr mice display immunoregulatory disturbances which are related to an early massive T-lymphocyte hyperplasia. Features of autoimmunity are rapidly progressive and these animals die from immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis. Previous studies show that 15 methyl prostaglandin E1 (PGE) treatment in MRL-lpr mice prolongs survival by preventing lymphoproliferation and the subsequent renal disease. The present study indicates that a major activity of this therapy stabilizes several T-cell functions. Both the age-related loss of the autologous mixed-lymphocyte reaction (AMLR) (Ly1+ 2,3- dependent) and the concanavalin A-induced suppressor cell activity (Ly1- 2,3+ dependent) remain intact. It is suggested that PGE preserves these T-cell functions by maintaining a more normal balance of T-cell subsets.
Regulation of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) and Galanin Gene Expression in GnRH Neurons during Lactation in the Rat*

Galanin is colocalized with GnRH, and its expression in these neurons is enhanced at proestrus, a time of activation of GnRH neurons. We tested the hypothesis that the expression of both the GnRH and galanin mRNAs in GnRH neurons decrease during lactation in the rat, a reproductive state characterized by reduced gonadotropin secretion. For double label in situ hybridization, GnRH mRNA was detected with an antisense cRNA probe labeled with the hapten digoxigenin, whereas galanin mRNA was detected with a cRNA probe labeled with “S. The number of silver grains deposited over a digoxigeninlabeled cell body provided an index of galanin mRNA levels in GnRH cells. We observed a 60% reduction in signal (grains per cell) for galanin mRNA in GnRH neurons of lactating animals compared with those of diestrus animals (P < 0.004), with no difference in the number of GnRH neurons between
Observations on late stages of fibrinogen polymerization in human plasma

Abstract One method used in this laboratory for monitoring the clotting of plasma has been to measure its change in optical density with a photoelectric device, by passing light through the plasma. As polymerization proceeds, the amount of transmitted light decreases producing a sigmoid curve. It was also found that the electrical resistance of the plasma increases with increasing optical density, also displaying a similar sigmoid curve; thus offering an alternative method of monitoring the polymerization of either plasma or whole blood. In addition the electrical resistance curve undergoes a second distinct increase, several minutes after gelation-indicating continued chemical activity which might be attributed to insoluble fibrin formation.