cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of amphiphilic secondary structures in neuropeptide Y through the design, synthesis, and study of model peptides.

Abstract Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has the potential to form two amphiphilic secondary structures: a polyproline II-like helix in residues 1-8, and an alpha-helix in residues 13-32. NPY dimerizes in aqueous solution and forms stable monolayers at the air-water interface, suggesting that these amphiphilic conformations are stabilized at interfaces. Furthermore, the negative molar ellipticity of monomeric NPY at 222 nm (-8500 degree cm2/dmol), suggests that hydrophobic interactions with the NH2-terminal amphiphilic structure may stabilize the alpha-helix in residues 13-32 before it binds to cell surfaces, even at physiological concentrations. In order to investigate the role of these amphiphilic structures, five NPY models with multiple substitutions in positions 13-32 have been synthesized and studied. Our data demonstrate that the surfactant properties of NPY result from its potential to form amphiphilic secondary and tertiary structures and not from specific amino acid sequences in this region. However, specific residues on the hydrophilic face of the amphiphilic alpha-helix that have been substituted in the models appear to be required to reproduce the full potency of NPY in our pharmacological assays. A possible role for the amphiphilic structures in NPY in presenting such specific determinants to cell surface receptors in the correct conformation is suggested.
Current voltage characteristics of Partially Depleted Silicon on Ferroelectric Insulator Field Effect Transistor (PD-SOFFET)

This paper presents the current-voltage (I–V) characteristics of the recently proposed Silicon-on-Ferroelectric Insulator Field Effect Transistor (SOFFET). In this work we have concentrated on Partially Depleted (PD) structure. PD-SOFFET is based on the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) device technology and utilizes a negative capacitance that can be achieved by inserting a layer of ferroelectric insulator inside the bulk silicon substrate of the device. The negative capacitance (NC) effect can provide an internal signal boosting that leads to steeper subthreshold slope, which is the prime requirement for ultra-low-power circuit operation. Here we have analyzed the impacts of channel doping profile on the behavior of the proposed PD-SOFFET. The major focus of this paper is the investigation of the current-voltage (I–V) characteristics of the proposed device in both the subthreshold and the saturation regions.
The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo Method: Going Beyond Continuum Hydrodynamics

The Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method is a stochastic, particle-based algorithm for solving kinetic theory’s Boltzmann equation.
SURVEILLANCE AS CULTURAL PRACTICE

This special section of The Sociological Quarterly explores research on “surveillance as cultural practice,” which indicates an orientation to surveillance that views it as embedded within, brought about by, and generative of social practices in specific cultural contexts. Such an approach is more likely to include elements of popular culture, media, art, and narrative; it is also more likely to try to comprehend people's engagement with surveillance on their own terms, stressing the production of emic over etic forms of knowledge. This introduction sketches some key developments in this area and discusses their implications for the field of “surveillance studies” as a whole.
Exploration of the transition state for tertiary structure formation between an RNA helix and a large structured RNA.

Docking of the P1 duplex into the pre-folded core of the Tetrahymena group I ribozyme exemplifies the formation of tertiary interactions in the context of a complex, structured RNA. We have applied F-analysis to P1 docking, which compares the effects of modifications on the rate constant for docking ðkdockÞ with the effects on the docking equilibrium ðKdockÞ: To accomplish this we used a single molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay that allows direct determination of the rate constants for formation of thermodynamically favorable, as well as unfavorable, states. Modification of the eight groups of the P1 duplex that make tertiary interactions with the core and changes in solution conditions decrease Kdock up to 500-fold, whereas kdock changes by # 2-fold. The absence of effects on kdock; both from atomic modifications and global perturbations, strongly suggests that the transition state for docking is early and does not closely resemble the docked state. These results, the slow rate of docking of 3s 21 , and the observation that a modification that is expected to increase the degrees of freedom between the P1 duplex and the ribozyme core accelerates docking, suggest a model in which a kinetic trap(s) slows docking substantially. Nonetheless, urea does not increase kdock; suggesting that there is little change in the exposed surface area between the trapped, undocked state and the transition state. The findings highlight that urea and temperature dependencies can be inadequate to diagnose the presence of kinetic traps in a folding process. The results described here, combined with previous work, provide an in-depth view of an RNA tertiary structure formation event and suggest that large, highly structured RNAs may have local regions that are misordered. q 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Synthesis and in vitro screening of novel N-benzyl aplysinopsin analogs as potential anticancer agents

Abstract A series of novel substituted (Z)-5-((1-benzyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methylene)imidazolidin-2,4-diones (3a–f) and (Z)-5-((1-benzyl-1H-indol-3-yl)methylene)-2-iminothiazolidin-4-ones (3g–o) have been synthesized utilizing microwave irradiation. These analogs were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxicity against a panel of 60 human tumor cell lines. Compound 3i exhibits potent growth inhibition against melanoma UACC-257 (GI50 = 13.3 nM) and OVCAR-8 ovarian (GI50 = 19.5 nM) cancer cells while possessing significant cytotoxicity (LC50 = 308 nM and LC50 = 851 nM, respectively) against the same cell lines within this series of compounds. A second analog, 3a, had GI50 values of 307 and 557 nM against SK-MEL-2 melanoma and A498 renal cancer cell lines, and exhibited GI50 values ranging from 0.30 to 6 μM against 98% of all cancer cell lines in the 60-cell panel. Thus, (Z)-5-((5-chloro-1-(4-fluorobenzyl)-1H-indol-3-yl)methylene)-2-iminothiazolidin-4-one (3i) and (Z)-methyl 1-(4-cyanobenzyl)-3-((2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-4-ylidene)methyl)-1H-indole-6-carboxylate (3a) can be regarded as useful lead compounds for further structural optimization as antitumor agents.
Structural and functional abnormalities of the liver in psoriasis before and during methotrexate therapy.

Summary.— The treatment of psoriasis with methotrexate carries a low but definite risk of producing histological abnormalities in the liver. Forty-two patients treated for 3 to 80 months were found to have more histological abnormalities than 25 untreated patients with equally severe psoriasis. Of the treated patients, 3 had cirrhosis, all of whom were heavy drinkers, and 12 had fibrosis. None of the untreated patients had cirrhosis, but 4 had fibrosis. Only the cirrhotic patients showed clinical evidence of hepatic inpairment. The incidence of histological abnormality increased with increasing cumulative dosage of methotrexate, but patients on weekly therapy had less abnormality than those on daily oral therapy. Fourteen of the 25 untreated patients were given the drug subsequently, once weekly for a mean period of 23 months. Very few additional histological abnormalities have developed. In patients with socially and physically crippling psoriasis where methotrexate would be used, the risk of significant hepatic damage is low enough to be acceptable, providing supervision is thorough.
The interaction of thermal radiation with free convection heat transfer

Abstract The dimensionless boundary-layer equations describing free convection of a radiation absorbing-emitting fluid illustrates that the problem may be treated as a singular perturbation problem. Specifically, this treatment applies if the parameter characterizing the relative importance of conduction versus radiation heat transfer within the fluid is small. For several typical gases this is shown to be the case. The singular perturbation problem is formulated for laminar free convection of a gray gas along a vertical, black, isothermal plate. An illustrative solution of the resulting equations is presented for second-order interactions between radiation and free convection.
Synergistic effect of AMP and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate on the protection of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase against inactivation by trypsin.

The rate of inactivation of chicken liver fructose, 1,6-bisphosphatase by trypsin is reduced if the digestive reaction is conducted in the presence of AMP or fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. The effects of these 2 compounds are synergistic. Although fructose 1,6-bisphosphate does not protect the enzyme against tryptic inactivation, it can enhance the effect of AMP. Selective modification of the AMP allosteric site of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase with pyridoxal-P and NaBH4 renders the enzyme more resistant to tryptic inactivation, but the modified enzyme is no longer responsive to the protective effect of AMP.
My Dinner with Stelarc: A Review of Techno-flesh Hybridity in Art

An interdisciplinary introduction to postevolutionary performance artist Stelarc and aspects of some human-technology hybrid tropes in which he works: Obsolete Body Suspensions with hooks in the skin; an expanding, beeping, Stomach Sculpture, which he ingested and filmed; the “Ping Body” event during which his limbs arm, leg were controlled with electric stimulation by an Internet audience, while simultaneously Stelarc controlled a prosthetic robotic “Third Hand” with repurposed muscles in his abdomen and leg; and a tissue-culture installment under the skin of his forearm—his Third Ear—which is meant to contain a microphone and relay audio to an online audience. The article reviews critical contexts such as cyberpunk literature, biological and data networks, embodiment, scientific practices, electric body manipulation, and aesthetic and interpretive concerns. It closes with an account of the author's personal encounter with Stelarc at a dinner party, and the role of emotions, such as fear, in postevolution.
Evaluation of dietary and management risk factors for enterolithiasis among horses in California

Enteroliths are intestinal calculi that result in intestinal obstruction and colic in horses. Equine enterolithiasis occurs worldwide, but the disease is particularly prevalent in some geographic locations, including California. The objectives of this study were to evaluate dietary and environmental risk factors for the disease. This was accomplished through a case-control study by comparing horses with colic from enterolithiasis presenting to the University of California, Davis VMTH, to horses with colic of other causes. Data were collected on 61 horses with enterolithiasis and 75 controls via evaluation of patient records and questionnaires completed by owners at the time of admission. Following multiple logistic regression analysis, the following factors were found to be significantly associated with enterolithiasis: feeding > or = 50% of the diet as alfalfa; feeding <50% of the diet as oat hay; feeding <50% of the diet as grass hay; and lack of daily access to pasture grazing.
Editorial: Contributed Papers For Optical Engineering

About a year ago I wrote an editorial* in which I expressed my opinion that too many SPIE Proceedings papers were being submitted for publication in Optical Engineering. In that editorial I revealed my bias that papers previously published in the Proceedings should not, in general, be reprinted in Optical Engineering--at least not without substantive revision. I am pleased to say that we are now receiving far fewer such papers than we were at the time I wrote that editorial.
The effect of music therapy sessions on compassion fatigue and team building of professional hospice caregivers

Abstract The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of music therapy on compassion fatigue and team building of professional hospice workers. Participants were nurses, social workers, and chaplains and were employed for at least one year in hospice care. Seventeen participants engaged in one of two experimental music therapy groups. Experimental group 1 utilized an ecological music therapy approach with an open, free form without structure and encouraged participation in the live music experiences of instrumental improvisation as well as toning and chanting. Experimental group 2 utilized a didactic music therapy approach with a structured format wherein interventions were planned and facilitated by the music therapist a priori. Such interventions included guided meditation with live music, lyric analyses, and music and movement. To measure compassion fatigue, the Compassion Fatigue Scale (CFS) was used as a pre- and post-test measure in each group. To measure team building, the Team Building Questionnaire (TBQ) was used as a pre-and post-test measure in each group. Statistical analyses indicated a significant improvement in team building in both groups but no significant differences with regard to compassion fatigue. Further research studying the effects of music therapy on compassion fatigue and team building of professional hospice caregivers is recommended.
Sport, Philosophy, and Good Lives

There are a vast number of works devoted to the question of the meaning and importance of life and a substantial number questioning the meaning and importance of sports, but the two do not generall...
Relationships among development, ecology, and morphology in the evolution of Echinoderm larvae and life cycles

The evolution of life cycles involves transitions between discrete states in one or more of the characters that comprise a developmental pattern. In this paper, we examine three of the major life cycle characters and the states for these characters. Using examples from echinoderms, we discuss the evolutionary transitions that have occurred in the type of morphogenesis, developmental habitat, and mode of nutrition during development. We evaluate the functional requirements associated with these transitions to infer the likelihood (frequency or rapidity) of change in a given character and of biases in the polarity of character state transitions. Using comparisons of closely related species, we evaluate the change between states in one character for dependence on the state of, or correlated changes in, other characters. Based on our analysis of congeneric species that differ in developmental habitat, we conclude that the transition between pelagic and benthic development is an ecological change that is independent of changes in morphogenesis and should be reversible. In contrast, the transition from feeding to nonfeeding development has been considered to be irreversible because it involves marked changes in larval morphology. We re-examine the transition between different modes of larval nutrition in light of recent studies that show that there exists a continuum of nutritional strategies between planktotrophy and lecithotrophy. This continuum is largely determined by variation in maternal investment and does not involve alterations in larval morphology. We suggest that the boundary between planktotrophy and lecithotrophy is frequently crossed and that this transition is reversible. Ecological changes represent the crossing of a functional threshold. Only after crossing the threshold, do larvae experience qualitatively different selective pressures that can lead to subsequent changes in morphology and development. Two different changes have occurred in the type of morphogenesis: the simplification of larval morphology that is associated with obligate (nonfeeding) lecithotrophy and the loss of the larval body plan in the evolution from indirect to direct development. It is the modification of morphology independent of the ecological changes that requires alterations in developmental processes, constrains evolutionary options, imposes irreversibility, and establishes the discrete nature of larval patterns in marine invertebrates.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid and Nutrient Deficits in Adverse Neurodevelopment and Childhood Behaviors

Nutritional insufficiencies of omega-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) may have adverse effects on brain development and neurodevelopmental outcomes. A recent meta-analysis reported a small to modest effect size for the efficacy of omega-3 in youth. Several controlled trials of omega-3 HUFAs combined with micronutrients show sizable reductions in aggressive, antisocial, and violent behavior in youth and young adult prisoners. Studies of HUFAs in youth, however, remain lacking. As the evidence base for omega-3 HUFAs as potential psychiatric treatment develops, dietary adjustments to increase omega-3 and reduce omega-6 HUFA consumption are sensible recommendations based on general health considerations.
The pathophysiology of acute syphilitic funisitis

There is an increase in the number of cases of syphilis in pregnancy in the United States. Fetal death may occur in syphilis from acute or chronic infections. A case is presented in which an acute fetal infection occurred. The patient presented at 31 weeks' gestation, with a decrease in fetal movements and non-reactive cardiotocography. Ultrasound and Doppler analysis of the fetal heart, cerebral and umbilical arteries, aorta and umbilical vein led to the suspicion of acute cardiac failure. An amniocentesis yielded a white cell count of 1122 white blood cells, with 91% polymorphs, but the Gram stain was negative. The fetus developed a persistent bradycardia and was delivered. The diagnosis of acute severe syphilitic funisitis was suspected from histological sections of the cord. Diagnosis was established from maternal and fetal blood. Modern ultrasound techniques, including imaging, Doppler and cardiotocography, can lead to the analysis of the pathophysiology of disease states. An acute syphilitic infection should be suspected when this constellation of findings is found. Copyright © 1991 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Effects of Particle Size on Cellulosic Biomass Pellets: A Literature Review

Cellulosic biofuels are becoming an attractive alternative to conventional liquid transportation fuels. Cellulosic biomass is the feedstock for cellulosic biofuel manufacturing. However, high transportation and storage cost of cellulosic biomass due to its low density hinders large-scale and cost-effective manufacturing of cellulosic biofuels. Pelleting processes are used to produce biomass pellets which have higher density and are easier to handle in transportation and storage. Before going through pelleting processes, original cellulosic biomass materials are milled into particles. The particle size is an important input parameter in pelleting processes. Many investigations have been conducted on effects of biomass particle size on pellet quality (in terms of density, durability, stability, and strength). This paper reviews the literature about effects of particle size on pellet quality. Investigated biomass materials, selected range of particle size, utilized milling and pelleting processes are summarized. The approaches to evaluating pellet quality are also reviewed.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Preventing Relapse Beyond 5 Years: The MA.17 Extended Adjuvant Trial

For patients with hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer, the risk of relapse remains significant even after successfully completing 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen. The use of tamoxifen beyond 5 years is not recommended, but the need to protect against relapse following tamoxifen is clear. The third-generation aromatase inhibitors offer a new approach to treating postmenopausal women with receptor-positive early stage breast cancer through the potent and specific systemic inhibition of estrogen synthesis. MA.17, a large, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III study, investigated whether extended adjuvant therapy with letrozole following completion of around 5 years of standard tamoxifen therapy could prolong disease-free survival in postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive or receptor-unknown early stage breast cancer. The updated analyses of the trial results (median follow-up, 2.5 years) confirm that letrozole significantly reduced the risk of recurrent breast cancer (42%) regardless of the patient's nodal status or receipt of prior chemotherapy, and significantly reduced the risk of distant metastasis (40%). Importantly, letrozole as extended adjuvant therapy achieved a significant improvement in overall survival in women with node-positive disease. Mortality was reduced by 39% among the approximately 2,500 women with node-positive disease randomized in the study. Letrozole showed minimal side effects compared with placebo; adverse effects on bone metabolism of uncertain clinical significance were the most noteworthy side effect. Thus, the updated results from the MA.17 trial support the previous findings and show extended adjuvant therapy with letrozole to be a well-tolerated protection against the continuing risk of breast cancer recurrence for thousands of women currently receiving standard adjuvant tamoxifen. The re-randomization of MA.17 patients to an additional 5 years of letrozole or to no treatment will provide further insights into the benefits and side effects of long-term treatment.
Catalytic subunit of DNA-dependent protein kinase: Impact on lymphocyte development and tumorigenesis

The DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) consists of a heterodimer DNA-binding complex, Ku70 and Ku80, and a large catalytic subunit, DNA-PKcs. To examine the role of DNA-PKcs in lymphocyte development, radiation sensitivity, and tumorigenesis, we disrupted the mouse DNA-PKcs by homologous recombination. DNA-PKcs-null mice exhibit neither growth retardation nor a high frequency of T cell lymphoma development, but show severe immunodeficiency and radiation hypersensitivity. In contrast to the Ku70-/- and Ku80-/- phenotype, DNA-PKcs-null mice are blocked for V(D)J coding but not for signal-end joint formation. Furthermore, inactivation of DNA-PKcs leads to hyperplasia and dysplasia of the intestinal mucosa and production of aberrant crypt foci, suggesting a novel role of DNA-PKcs in tumor suppression.
Concentration dependence of the initial decay rate of the polymer dynamical scattering factor

Abstract The initial decay rate for the dynamical scattering function is calculated for arbitrary concentration and solvent quality with the aid of the ϵ-expansion method.
Astroparticle physics: Cosmic-ray acceleration at the limit

Synchrotron X-rays from relativistic electrons confirm an important assumption of diffusive shock acceleration in the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A, but do not provide proof of the acceleration of ions to relativistic energies in supernova remnants.
Release of adenosine by C1300 neuroblastoma cells in tissue culture

Previous work in our laboratory led us to postulate that N2a cells release adenosine into growth medium, where it acts at the extracellular adenosine receptors to modulate the sensitivity of the cells to the cyclic AMP-elevating effect of adenosine [Green, RD, J Pharmacol Exp Ther 201:610, 1977]. We have now devised a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure capable of quantitating the concentrations of adenosine in cells and tissue culture media. Growth media of N2a cells and a variant of N2a cells deficient in hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT-) contain 10-20 nM adenosine, while that of a variant deficient in adenosine kinase (AK-) is elevated severalfold. It appears that the concentration of adenosine in growth media is determined by both the rate at which it is released by cells into the medium and the rate at which it is metabolized by adenosine deaminase present in the serum in the growth medium. Both N2a and AK- cells release considerable amounts of adenosine into serum-free medium (SFM) over a short period. Adenosine release is greater from AK- cells and is accelerated by erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)-adenine (EHNA), a potent adenosine deaminase inhibitor. This accelerated release is retarded by dipyridamole and homocysteine. Surprisingly, dipyridamole and 4-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-2-imidazolidinone (Ro 20 1724), a potent phosphodiesterase inhibitor, stimulate basal adenosine release from N2a but not from AK- cells. It remains to be determined if this is due to an effect of these compounds on adenosine kinase. These results give further support for the hypothesis that adenosine in growth medium modulates the sensitivity of the cells to the cyclic AMP-elevating affect of adenosine, and furthermore they suggest that adenosine in growth media may tonically stimulate adenylate cyclase and affect processes controlled by the cyclic AMP:cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase system.
Dissertations on Hungarian History completed since 1920

This compilation was conceived as a means of encouraging research in Hungarian history. It is limited to dissertations completed for academic degrees in Austria, Canada, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Unless otherwise noted, all entries refer to Ph. D. dissertations. In preparing the European entries, no attempt was made to distinguish between the degrees of Doctorat de Specialite, Doctorat d'Etat, and Doctorat de l'Universite, on the one hand, or Dissertationen and Habilitationsschriften, on the other. The chronological limits of the compilation extend from 1920 to 1972.
Impact of Pairing on Various Software Development Phases

This paper presents a study which synthesizes the various phases of software development and analyze the impact of pairing on each phases of the software development. The main aim of this paper is to find out whether pairing up of developers is required in all the phases of software development, or if there an alternate way to minimize the pair-up times between these developers, in order to maximize the resource utilization and reduce the development cost. The findings reported in this paper are part of a larger study conducted at the Auburn University during spring 2009 and the Alabama State University during summer 2012 and fall 2013 using computer science and software engineering seniors and graduate students. The empirical evidences show that pairing on the design phase and testing phase is beneficial and pairing on the coding phase is not beneficial. The results of this study point that equal quality programs can be produced by pairing up programmers only in the design and testing phases of the software development.
A randomized controlled trial of single versus multiple health behavior change: promoting physical activity and nutrition among adolescents.

Targeting multiple behaviors for change may provide significant health benefits. This study compared interventions targeting physical activity and nutrition (PAN) concurrently versus physical activity (PA) alone. Adolescents (N = 138) were randomized to the PAN or PA intervention or control condition (n = 46 per group). Primary outcomes were change in PA accelerometer and 3-day dietary recording from baseline to 3-month follow-up. The PAN and PA interventions were efficacious in supporting boys' (p < .001) but not girls' (p =.663) PA relative to the control condition. Dietary change was minimal. Although the findings do not reveal a decrement to PA promotion when a nutrition intervention was added, neither do they reveal any additional benefit. More studies comparing single versus multibehavioral interventions are needed.
Beta-synuclein gene variants and Parkinson's disease: A preliminary case-control study

Aggregation and fibrillization of the alpha-synuclein protein, which is the main component of Lewy bodies, may represent important processes in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Several in vivo and in vitro studies suggest that beta-synuclein may be a natural negative regulator of alpha-synuclein aggregation and fibrillization. The goal of the present study was to investigate the association of two polymorphisms (rs35035889 and rs1352303) in the beta-synuclein (SNCB) gene with PD. Our case-control study included a total of 370 case-unaffected sibling pairs and 168 case-unrelated control pairs (538 pairs total). The subjects were recruited from an ongoing study of the molecular epidemiology of PD in the Upper Midwest (USA). We employed a liberalization of the sibling transmission disequilibrium test to study the main effects of the gene variants for subjects overall and for strata defined by age at study, gender, ethnicity, clinical diagnostic certainty, dementia, and family history of PD (adjusted for age at study and gender as appropriate). The analyses were conducted for each SNCB variant separately, and also for two-locus haplotypes using score tests. Neither of the SNCB SNPs examined were associated with PD overall or in strata, and haplotype analyses were negative as well. However, one of the two SNPs (rs1352303) was associated with a delayed age at onset of PD in women. The results of this preliminary study suggest that the SNCB locus, though not a susceptibility gene for PD, might modify the age at onset of PD.
Structural and Biochemical Characterization of Flavoredoxin from the Archaeon Methanosarcina acetivorans

Flavoredoxin is a FMN-containing electron transfer protein that functions in the energy-yielding metabolism of Desulfovibrio gigas of the Bacteria domain. Although characterization of this flavoredoxin is the only one reported, a database search revealed homologues widely distributed in both the Bacteria and Archaea domains that define a novel family. To improve our understanding of this family, a flavoredoxin from Methanosarcina acetivorans of the Archaea domain was produced in Escherichia coli and biochemically characterized, and a high-resolution crystal structure was determined. The protein was shown to be a homodimer with a subunit molecular mass of 21 kDa containing one noncovalently bound FMN per monomer. Redox titration showed an E(m) of -271 mV with two electrons, consistent with no semiquinone observed in the potential range studied, a result suggesting the flavoredoxin functions as a two-electron carrier. However, neither of the obligate two-electron carriers, NAD(P)H and coenzyme F420H2, was a competent electron donor, whereas 2[4Fe-4S] ferredoxin reduced the flavoredoxin. The X-ray crystal structure determined at 2.05 A resolution revealed a homodimer containing one FMN per monomer, consistent with the biochemical characterization. The isoalloxazine ring of FMN was shown buried within a narrow groove approximately 10 A from the positively charged protein surface that possibly facilitates interaction with the negatively charged ferredoxin. The structure provides a basis for predicting the mechanism by which electrons are transferred between ferredoxin and FMN. The FMN is bound with hydrogen bonds to the isoalloxazine ring and electrostatic interactions with the phosphate moiety that, together with sequence analyses of homologues, indicate a novel FMN binding motif for the flavoredoxin family.
Defective in vitro gamma interferon production and elevated serum immunoreactive thymosin β4 levels in patients with inflammatory bowel disease

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) was measured in 21 patients with Crohn's disease, in 15 patients with ulcerative colitis, in 12 patients with non-IBD gastrointestinal disease (disease control), and in 28 healthy controls. T-cell subset proportions and serum levels of thymosin alpha 1 and thymosin beta 4, two hormonelike thymic peptides, were also determined. No differences were seen in T-cell subset proportions in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis when compared to healthy controls or to the disease-control group. In vitro IFN-gamma production was markedly decreased in Crohn's disease and in untreated, but not treated, patients with ulcerative colitis. Preincubation of PBM prior to the addition of inducer mitogen resulted in enhanced IFN-gamma production in patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis which significantly exceeded that seen either in healthy controls or in the disease-control group. Serum thymosin alpha 1 levels were comparable in all study groups; however, serum thymosin beta 4 concentrations were significantly higher in all patient groups than in the healthy controls. These results confirm a defective in vitro IFN-gamma production in patients with IBD which is apparently independent of endocrine thymus regulation.
Effects of cooling on laryngeal reflexes in the dog.

Abstract We investigated the reflex effects of laryngeal cooling on posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle activity, breathing pattern, arterial blood pressure and heart rate. We performed experiments on 9 anesthetized, spontaneously breathing dogs. Laryngeal temperature was decreased by passing cold air through the functionally isolated larynx while the dog was breathing through a tracheostomy. Inspiratory and expiratory duration, esophageal pressure, peak PCA activity, heart rate and blood pressure did not change significantly during laryngeal cooling. Upon interruption of cold airflow, while the laryngeal temperature was returning to control values, we assessed PCA response to upper airway occlusion. At laryngeal temperatures of 20–25°C the peak PCA activity during upper airway occlusion was approximately 2 3 of that observed at control temperature (≊33°C). This difference was abolished by topically applied anesthetics or by superior laryngeal nerve section. In addition, we recorded from 4 laryngeal mechanoreceptors stimulated by negative pressure; their response to upper airway occlusion was reduced to 1 2 by laryngeal cooling. These results indicate that laryngeal cooling has a marked depressive effect on the PCA response to collapsing pressure in the larynx, thereby compromising the mechanisms subserving upper airway patency.
Structured Adaptive Model Inversion Applied To Tracking Aggressive Aircraft Maneuvers

A model reference adaptive control formulation is presented that uses the dynamical structure of the state space descriptions of a large class of systems. Of particular interest, the formulations enable the imposition of exact kinematic differential equation constraints upon the adaptation process that compensates for model errors and disturbances at the acceleration level. The resulting closed loop error dynamics are shown to be globally asymptotically stable and all signals within the closed loop system are shown to be bounded. The utility of the resulting structured adaptive control formulation is studied by considering the problem of tracking an aggressive aircraft maneuver in the presence of large unknown model errors. The reference maneuver is an aggressive turn in the horizontal plane with the altitude and velocity held constant. Parameter uncertainties are incorporated explicitly in both the aerodynamic stability derivatives and the control influence matrix. A simplified nonlinear model for the equations of motion is considered and the approach is validated against a reference trajectory generated using the same model and a more complex medium-fidelity simulation.
A global router on GPU architecture

In the modern VLSI design flow, global router is often utilized to provide fast and accurate congestion analysis for upstream processes to improve the design routability. Global routing parallelization is a good candidate to speedup its runtime performance while delivering very competitive solution quality. In this paper, we first study the cause of insufficient exploitable concurrency of the existing net level concurrency model, which has become a major bottleneck for parallelizing the emerging design problems. Then, we mitigate this limitation with a novel fine grain parallel model, with which a GPU based multi-agent global router is designed. Our experimental results indicate that the parallel model can effectively support the GPU based global router, and deliver stable solutions. The runtime comparison with NCTUgr2 has shown that upto 3.9× speedup is achieved by the GPU based router.
Experimentally induced elevation of aminopeptidase activity in hemolymph cells of the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica.

Abstract The levels of aminopeptidase activity in the serum and hemolymph cells of the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, have been determined to be 2.89 ± 2.25 and 0.62 ± 0.39 Sigma units/ml, respectively. Low levels of aminopeptidase activity have been demonstrated cytochemically within cytoplasmic granules, i.e., secondary phagosomes, of circulating hemolymph cells. Exposure of whole hemolymph to heat-killed Bacillus megaterium or to sterile sea water results in a significant increase in cellular aminopeptidase activity, with the level of activity being the highest in cells that had been exposed to bacteria. The level of aminopeptidase activity in serum is unaltered in similarly challenged whole hemolymph. It is concluded that aminopeptidase synthesized in cells during phagocytosis or as a result of stimulation by exposure to sea water is not released into the serum but is retained intracellularly. Our studies suggest that it is the intracellular and not the serum aminopeptidases whith are of primary importance in the degradation of B. megaterium.
A Financial Services Gaming Simulation

The goal of this project was to design a card game simulation of financial trade markets. In a trading environment, a market maker quotes two prices for a specific type of financial instrument, such as a stock option. Traders then buy shares from or sell shares to the market maker. The decision of the market maker to quote prices at certain levels, and the traders' decisions to buy or sell are based primarily on their independent estimation of the fair market value, or the true price of the instrument, once all information has been accounted for. The goal of the market maker is to quote prices which best reflect the fair market value of the financial instrument. The simulation developed for this project was designed to accurately account for these behaviors. This project sought to fulfil the need of the Susquehanna International Group of Companies (SIG) for a recruitment tool that can be distributed in large numbers at employment venues such as career fairs. The recruitment tool is essentially an informational CD-ROM that includes a home page, a game page with the simulation, and a quiz page with probability questions. This tool helps users assess their interest, and ability to perform in a financial market making environment. A University of Virginia (UVA) Systems and Information Engineering Capstone team worked with SIG to define a format and set of rules by which the simulation game would be played. A card game style format was adopted in which cards from a standard fiftytwo card deck represent information that would bear impact on a financial instrument's final price, such as earnings reports and news stories. The human player acts as the market maker and the computer players act as traders. Each player is dealt separate cards to simulate the diversity of information available in financial trade markets. There are three computer players and one human player. The capstone team developed the mathematical logic to be used by computer players in the game, and has created a working prototype of the game to test this logic. A graphical user interface (GUI) has also been developed to make the tool user friendly and aesthetically pleasing. This GUI was tested to validate its usability and aesthetics and was incorporated into the prototype simulation
Estimation of Main Effect When Covariates Have Non-Proportional Hazards

The Cox proportional hazards (PH) regression model has been widely used to analyze survival data in clinical trials and observational studies. In addition to estimating the main treatment or exposure group effect, it is common to adjust for additional covariates using the Cox model. It is well known that violation of the PH assumption can lead to estimates that are biased and difficult to interpret, and model checking has become a routine procedure. However, such checking might focus on the primary group comparisons, and the assumption can still be violated when adjusting for many of the potential covariates. We study the effect of violation of the PH assumption of the covariates on the estimation of the main group effect in the Cox model. The results are summarized in terms of the bias and the coverage properties of the confidence intervals. Overall in randomized clinical trials, the bias caused by misspecifying the PH assumption on the covariates is no more than 15% in absolute value regardless of sampl...
Surface microstructure of bitumen characterized by atomic force microscopy.

Abstract Bitumen, also called asphalt binder, plays important roles in many industrial applications. It is used as the primary binding agent in asphalt concrete, as a key component in damping systems such as rubber, and as an indispensable additive in paint and ink. Consisting of a large number of hydrocarbons of different sizes and polarities, together with heteroatoms and traces of metals, bitumen displays rich surface microstructures that affect its rheological properties. This paper reviews the current understanding of bitumen's surface microstructures characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Microstructures of bitumen develop to different forms depending on crude oil source, thermal history, and sample preparation method. While some bitumens display surface microstructures with fine domains, flake-like domains, and dendrite structuring, ‘bee-structures’ with wavy patterns several micrometers in diameter and tens of nanometers in height are commonly seen in other binders. Controversy exists regarding the chemical origin of the ‘bee-structures’, which has been related to the asphaltene fraction, the metal content, or the crystallizing waxes in bitumen. The rich chemistry of bitumen can result in complicated intermolecular associations such as coprecipitation of wax and metalloporphyrins in asphaltenes. Therefore, it is the molecular interactions among the different chemical components in bitumen, rather than a single chemical fraction, that are responsible for the evolution of bitumen's diverse microstructures, including the ‘bee-structures’. Mechanisms such as curvature elasticity and surface wrinkling that explain the rippled structures observed in polymer crystals might be responsible for the formation of ‘bee-structures’ in bitumen. Despite the progress made on morphological characterization of bitumen using AFM, the fundamental question whether the microstructures observed on bitumen surfaces represent its bulk structure remains to be addressed. In addition, critical technical challenges associated with AFM characterization of bitumen surface structures are discussed, with possible solutions recommended. For future work, combining AFM with other chemical analysis tools that can generate comparable high resolution to AFM would provide an avenue to linking bitumen's chemistry to its microscopic morphological and mechanical properties and consequently benefit the efforts of developing structure-related models for bituminous materials across the different length scales.
Characterization of geothermal reservoir crack patterns using shear-wave splitting

Microearthquakes recorded by a downhole, three-component seismic network deployed around the Coso, California, geothermal reservoir since 1992 display distinctive shear-wave splitting and clear polarization directions. From the polarizations we estimated three predominant subsurface fracture directions, and from the time delays of the split waves we determined tomographically the 3-D fracture density distribution in the reservoir.
The public administrator: Regulating for maritime transport efficiency

One role often fulfilled by public administrators is to regulate private enterprise in the public interest. The academic literature has not developed this area fully because public administration is not always tasked with this function. Nevertheless, when regulation forms a part of the responsibilities of the public administrator, it is among the most important. An essential foundation for effective regulation is a complete understanding of the implications and impact of regulatory action. In the absence of regulation, entrepreneurial awareness is applied in the private sector exclusively to satisfying consumer wants. In a regulated market, the entrepreneur’s focus is shifted toward regulatory imperatives. Regulation offers non-market opportunities for entrepreneurial innovation, as well as imposing new market constraints. This paper examines regulation of the maritime industry by the US federal government as an example.
Infant Preference for Natural Texture Statistics is Modulated by Contrast Polarity

Adult observers are sensitive to statistical regularities present in natural images. Developmentally, research has shown that children do not show sensitivity to these natural regularities until approximately 8–10 years of age. This finding is surprising given that even infants gradually encode a range of high-level statistical regularities of their visual environment in the first year of life, We suggest that infants may in fact exhibit sensitivity to natural image statistics under circumstances where images of complex, natural textures, such as a photograph of rocks, are used as experimental stimuli and natural appearance is substantially manipulated. We tested this hypothesis by examining how infants’ visual preference for real versus computer-generated synthetic textures was modulated by contrast negation, which produces an image similar to a photographic negative. We observed that older infants’ (9-months of age) preferential looking behavior in this task was affected by
Evaluation of Pentafluoroethane and 1,1-Difluoroethane for a Dielectric Etch Application in an Inductively Coupled Plasma Etch Tool

In this work, a combination of two hydrofluorocarbon compounds, pentafluoroethane (FC-125, C2HF5) and 1,1-difluoroethane (FC-152a, CF2H–CH3), was evaluated as a potential replacement for perfluorocompounds in dielectric etch applications. A high aspect ratio oxide via etch was used as the test vehicle for this study, which was conducted in a commercial inductively coupled high density plasma etch tool. Both process and emissions data were collected and compared to those provided by a process utilizing a standard perfluorinated etch chemistry (C2F6). Global warming (CF4, C2F6, CHF3) and hygroscopic gas (HF, SiF4) emissions were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. FC-125/FC-152a was found to produce significant reductions in global warming emissions, on the order of 68 to 76% relative to the reference process. Although etch stopping, caused by a high degree of polymer deposition inside the etched features, was observed, process data otherwise appeared promising for an initial study, with good resist selectivity and etch rates being achieved.
Particle dynamics in centrifugal fields

Abstract The trajectories in centrifugal force fields of particles with diameters from one to 50 microns, were examined both theoretically and experimentally. Equations were developed and solved by analog computer for the non-steady, two-dimensional motion of particles in viscous fluids. An experimental centrifugal classifier was developed that permitted initial conditions and types and strengths of centrifugal fields to be varied widely. Experimental results are shown to be in excellent agreement with theoretical predictions for a wide range of particle diameters when a function generator fit of experimental drag coefficient data is employed.