cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
South Pole Antarctica observations and modeling results: New insights on HOx radical and sulfur chemistry

Abstract Measurements of OH, H2SO4, and MSA at South Pole (SP) Antarctica were recorded as a part of the 2003 Antarctic Chemistry Investigation (ANTCI 2003). The time period 22 November, 2003–2 January, 2004 provided a unique opportunity to observe atmospheric chemistry at SP under both natural conditions as well as those uniquely defined by a solar eclipse event. Results under natural solar conditions generally confirmed those reported previously in the year 2000. In both years the major chemical driver leading to large scale fluctuations in OH was shifts in the concentration levels of NO. Like in 2000, however, the 2003 observational data were systematically lower than model predictions. This can be interpreted as indicating that the model mechanism is still missing a significant HOx sink reaction(s); or, alternatively, that the OH calibration source may have problems. Still a final possibility could involve the integrity of the OH sampling scheme which involved a fixed building site. As expected, during the peak in the solar eclipse both NO and OH showed large decreases in their respective concentrations. Interestingly, the observational OH profile could only be approximated by the model mechanism upon adding an additional HOx radical source in the form of snow emissions of CH2O and/or H2O2. This would lead one to think that either CH2O and/or H2O2 snow emissions represent a significant HOx radical source under summertime conditions at SP. Observations of H2SO4 and MSA revealed both species to be present at very low concentrations (e.g., 5 × 105 and 1 × 105 molec cm−3, respectively), but similar to those reported in 2000. The first measurements of SO2 at SP demonstrated a close coupling with the oxidation product H2SO4. The observed low concentrations of MSA appear to be counter to the most recent thinking by glacio-chemists who have suggested that the plateau's lower atmosphere should have elevated levels of MSA. We speculate here that the absence of MSA may reflect efficient atmospheric removal mechanisms for this species involving either dynamical and/or chemical processes.
A Versatile and Conformationally Adaptable Fluorene-Based Receptor for Efficient Binding of Silver Cation

We have designed and synthesized a versatile fluorene-based receptor (1) in a one-pot reaction from readily available precursors, which adapts a deltaphane- or π-prismand-like conformer via a simple C−C bond rotation. Such a conformational adaptability of 1 allows it to bind a single silver cation with remarkable efficiency (K ∼ 15 000 M-1) as monitored by 1H NMR or UV−vis spectroscopy and further confirmed by competition experiments with tris[2.2.2]paracyclophane (or π-prismand 2) as well as a model compound 3 containing only one fluoranyl ring.
Highly specific detection of interleukin-6 (IL-6) protein using combination tapered fiber-optic biosensor dip-probe

We are reporting highly specific and sensitive detection of human interleukin-6 (IL-6) protein using combination tapered fiber-optic biosensor (CTFOB) dip-probe. With these probes we could successfully detect IL-6, down to a concentration of 5 pM (0.12 ng/ml) in the presence of much higher concentration of a non specific protein. Sandwich immunoassay was used to generate specific fluorescence signal. A novel strategy is developed to eliminate the false signal from non specific binding. In this new strategy it is not required to pre-treat probe surface with any kind of blocking buffer. The specificity of the sensor was established by incubating negative control probes in high concentration (1 nM) of another cytokine IL-8.
Nutrition and Pregnancy

The importance of nutrition during pregnancy with regard to pregnancy outcome has long been acknowledged. This importance has only been further emphasized by the recent changes in food quality and availability, lifestyle changes, and a new understanding of fetal programming on adult outcomes. The impact of the recent obesity epidemic has had a profound effect on the field of medicine, and nowhere may that impact be more critical than the field of obstetrics. We are only beginning to understand how maternal obesity may impact not only immediate pregnancy outcomes, but also life and health course of the offspring. The financial and societal costs will likely be enormous. Much research is needed to understand how these problems can be ameliorated.
Aqueous Conversion Kinetics and Mechanisms of Ancitabine, a Prodrug of the Antileukemic Agent Cytarabine

The kinetics of conversion of the prodrug ancitabine to the anticancer drug cytarabine have been studied in aqueous solutions in the pH range of 1.5–10.7, temperature range of 19.5–80.0°C, ionic strength range of 10−4 to 1.5, and in the presence of several general-base catalysts. Under all conditions ancitabine was quantitatively converted to cytarabine. The pH-rate profiles were linear with slope = 1 in alkaline pH, becoming pH independent in the region of maximum stability at pH ± 4, where buffer catalysis was found to be insignificant and kobs ± (1.12 × 1011 h−1)-exp {-10121 deg/T. At 30°C, pH ± 4, it is calculated that an aqueous ancitabine solution will maintain 90% of its initial concentration for 12 d. A novel method for measuring general-base catalysis in competition with predominating specific-base catalysis and in the presence of secondary salt effects at constant ionic strength was developed. Three mechanisms of hydrolytic prodrug conversion are proposed: nucleophilic hydroxide addition, general base-assisted nucleophilic water attack, and spontaneous water attack.
Misting of non-Newtonian liquids in forward roll coating

Misting of liquids in forward roll coating is a problem under certain conditions. The relaxation time is known to influence misting but the fundamental mechanisms are not clear. A new mechanism for misting of dilute non-Newtonian liquids was proposed based on visualizations with a high-speed camera. With these liquids, filaments were created which sometimes transformed into beads-on-string structures and the beads were ejected as mist droplets when the structures broke. Misting was quantified by measuring sizes of the generated droplets, their count and mass concentration. The measurements were related to elasticity of the solutions through their relaxation times. Small levels of elasticity reduce the amount of misting, but higher levels lead to an increase.
Conditioning information and cross-sectional anomalies

Recent empirical work suggests that predictability of future returns is related to a time-varying component that expected returns exhibit. In this paper, I use conditional asset pricing models to investigate whether return anomalies exhibit common dynamic patterns in returns. The prediction of a model might hinge on the specific interaction between its underlying state variables and considered portfolios. Using well known anomalies and alternative state variables I study such interaction. I document that different state variables identify similar time-varying behavior for the anomalies in extreme economic conditions, but such anomalies show no commonalities in their overall patterns.
Induction of heat shock proteins by hyperthermia and noise overstimulation in hsf1 -/- mice.

Diverse cellular and environmental stresses can activate the heat shock response, an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to protect proteins from denaturation. Stressors activate heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1), which binds to heat shock elements in the genes for heat shock proteins, leading to rapid induction of these important molecular chaperones. Both heat and noise stress are known to activate the heat shock response in the cochlea and protect it from subsequent noise trauma. However, the contribution of HSF1 to induction of heat shock proteins following noise trauma has not been investigated at the molecular level. We evaluated the role of HSF1 in the cochlea following noise stress by examining induction of heat shock proteins in Hsf1+/− control and Hsf1−/− mice. Heat stress rapidly induced expression of Hsp25, Hsp47, Hsp70.1, Hsp70.3, Hsp84, Hsp86, and Hsp110 in the cochleae of wild-type and Hsf1+/− mice, but not in Hsf1−/− mice, confirming the essential role of HSF1 in mediating the heat shock response. Exposure to broadband noise (2–20 kHz) at 106 dB SPL for 2 h produced partial hearing loss. Maximal induction of heat shock proteins occurred 4 h after the noise. In comparison to heat stress, noise stress resulted in lower induced levels of Hsp25, Hsp70.1, Hsp70.3, Hsp86, and Hsp110 in Hsf1+/− mice. Induction of these heat shock proteins was attenuated, but not completely eliminated, in Hsf1−/− mice. These same noise exposure conditions induced genes for several immediate early transcription factors and maximum induction occurred earlier than for heat shock proteins. Thus, additional signaling pathways and transcriptional regulators that are activated by noise probably contribute to induction of heat shock proteins in the cochlea.
CMOS pixel sensor response to low energy electrons in transmission electron microscopy

Abstract This letter presents the results of a study of the response of a test CMOS sensor with a radiation tolerant pixel cell design to 80 and 100 keV electrons. The point spread function is measured to be ( 13.0 ± 1.7 ) μ m at 100 keV and ( 12.1 ± 1.6 ) μ m at 80 keV, for 20 μ m pixels. Results agree well with values predicted by a Geant-4 and dedicated charge collection simulation.
Bamboo ECC: Strong, safe, and flexible codes for reliable computer memory

Growing computer system sizes and levels of integration have made memory reliability a primary concern, necessitating strong memory error protection. As such, large-scale systems typically employ error checking and correcting codes to trade redundant storage and bandwidth for increased reliability. While stronger memory protection will be needed to meet reliability targets in the future, it is undesirable to further increase the amount of storage and bandwidth spent on redundancy. We propose a novel family of single-tier ECC mechanisms called Bamboo ECC to simultaneously address the conflicting requirements of increasing reliability while maintaining or decreasing error protection overheads. Relative to the state-of-the-art single-tier error protection, Bamboo ECC codes have superior correction capabilities, all but eliminate the risk of silent data corruption, and can also increase redundancy at a fine granularity, enabling more adaptive graceful downgrade schemes. These strength, safety, and flexibility advantages translate to a significantly more reliable memory system. To demonstrate this, we evaluate a family of Bamboo ECC organizations in the context of conventional 72b and 144b DRAM channels and show the significant error coverage and memory lifespan improvements of Bamboo ECC relative to existing SEC-DED, chipkill-correct and double-chipkill-correct schemes.
Mooren-type hepatitis C virus-associated corneal ulceration

Background: Two patients with bilateral Mooren-type ulcers had underlying chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Both patients also had chronic, pruritic dermatitis, which in one patient was diagnosed as hidradentitis suppurativa. Methods: Serum from the first patient and serum, conjunctiva, and liver from the second patient were analyzed for HCV genomic RNA using the reverse transcriptasepolymerase chain reaction. Serum anti-HCV antibodies were monitored with a commercially available second-generation test. Liver and conjunctival biopsies were evaluated histopathologically. Results: Liver biopsy showed severe hepatitis in the first patient, but normal liver tissue in the second. Hepatitis C virus genomic RNA was detected in the serum of both patients. In the first patient, the virus was detected 4 months after completion of interferon alfa-2b treatment for chronic active hepatitis. In the second patient, HCV genomic RNA was detected in serum, but not in conjunctiva or liver tissue. Hepatitis C virus could not be detected in the serum of the second patient after 2 weeks of interferon alfa-2b treatment. Both patients had serum anti-HCV antibodies. In case 1, there was a marked improvement in the corneal disease during and after 6 months of interferon alfa-2b treatment for chronic active hepatitis that paralleled a return of serum liver enzyme levels to the normal range. In the second patient, the corneal disease improved after 6 weeks of interferon alfa-2b treatment, but abruptly worsened when the patient discontinued therapy. The corneal disease improved again after interferon alfa-2b was reinstituted. Conclusions: Chronic HCV virus infection is associated with Mooren-type peripheral ulcerative keratitis. All patients with Mooren-type ulcers should be tested for evidence of HCV infection in consultation with a liver specialist. Even when improvement is obtained with interferon alfa-2b treatment, however, continued follow-up is important because relapse is common and repeat treatment may be effective.
Spin diffusion of lattice fermions in one dimension

We study long-time spin diffusion of harmonically trapped lattice fermions in one dimension. Combining thermodynamic Bethe ansatz approach and local density approximation, we calculate spin current and spin diffusion coefficient driven by the population imbalance. We find spin current is driven by susceptibility effects rather than typical diffusion where magnetization would transport from regions of high magnetization to low. As expected, spin transport is zero through insulating regions and are only present in the metallic regions. In the weak coupling limit, the local spin diffusion coefficient shows maxima at all the insulating regions. Further, we estimate damping rate of diffusion modes in the weak coupling limit within the lower metallic portion of the cloud. The predicted spin current pattern can be probed via currently available experimental techniques.
Desaturation and hydroxylation. Residues 148 and 324 of Arabidopsis FAD2, in addition to substrate chain length, exert a major influence in partitioning of catalytic specificity.

Exchanging the identity of amino acids at four key locations within the Arabidopsis thaliana oleate desaturase (FAD2) and the Lesquerella fendlerihydroxylase/desaturase (LFAH) was shown to influence partitioning between desaturation and hydroxylation (Broun, P., Shanklin, J., Whittle, E., and Somerville, C. (1998) Science 282, 1315–1317). We report that four analogous substitutions in the FAD2 sequence by their equivalents from the castor oleate hydroxylase result in hydroxy fatty acid accumulation in A. thaliana to the same levels as for the wild-type castor hydroxylase. We also describe the relative contribution of these substitutions, both individually and in combination, by analyzing the products resulting from their expression in A. thaliana and/or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast expression showed that M324V, a change reachable by a single point mutation, altered the product distribution ∼49-fold, and that residue 148 is also a predominant determinant of reaction outcome. Comparison of residues at position 148 of FAD2, LFAH, and the Ricinus oleate hydroxylase prompted us to rationally engineer LFAH-N149I, a variant with ∼1.9-fold increase in hydroxylation specificity compared with that of wild-type LFAH. Control experiments showed that the wild-type Arabidopsis thalianaFAD2 desaturase has inherent, low level, hydroxylation activity. Further, fatty acid desaturases from different kingdoms and with different regiospecificities exhibit similar intrinsic hydroxylase activity, underscoring fundamental mechanistic similarities between desaturation and hydroxylation. For LFAH mutants the hydroxylation:desaturation ratio is 5–9-fold higher for 18-carbonversus 16-carbon substrates, supporting our hypothesis that substrate positioning in the active site plays a key role in the partitioning of catalytic specificity.
Acculturation Isn't Everything

I was very pleased to see Professor Berry's ambitious examination of how to approach the adaptational problems encountered by immigrants. Given their magnitude and importance, the problems of uprooting, dislocation, or relocation, which are some of the terms often used instead of immigration and acculturation, have not been given their proper place in the social sciences. Indeed, these problems seem to have grown much worse in modern times.
Formalin-induced pain antagonizes the development of opiate dependence in the rat.

Abstract Clinical studies have suggested that patients who take morphine for pain relief do not show a high degree of dependence. The present study examined the development of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal in rats receiving morphine in the presence or absence of formalin-induced pain. Morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline was administered for 4 consecutive days 10 min after a subcutaneous injection of 50 μl of 2.5% formalin or saline into the hind-paw. On the 5th day, rats were injected with naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.) and observed for signs of precipitated withdrawal (ptosis, teeth chattering and excretion/diarrhea). Naloxone-precipitated withdrawal symptoms were significantly greater in rats that received morphine in the absence of pain than in rats that received morphine in the presence of pain.
Estimation of atmospheric precipitable water over Australia for application to the division of solar radiation into its direct and diffuse components

Monthly-mean atmospheric precipitable water data for twenty six stations in continental Australia and neighboring islands have been analyzed to develop relations for estimating precipitable water at sites where it has not been measured. Monthly-mean precipitable water can be estimated for a site with an rms error of about 14%, using the monthly mean surface temperature and relative humidity. This rms error can be reduced to about 9% by using the systematic deviations of the estimated precipitable water from the measured precipitable water for stations in the region about the site where an estimate is to be made, to adjust the precipitable water estimate. The amount of sunlight scattered by the atmosphere is a function of the amount of precipitable water and other quantities.
Origin of simple staging in graphite intercalation compounds

We present a simple model of staging in graphite intercalation compounds. Unlike previous theoretical studies, finite-$T$ calculations based on our model yield the staged structures which are observed experimentally. Certain choices of model parameters result in more complex structures such as those predicted recently by Safran. The model provides physical guidelines for identifying materials in which the latter structures may be realized. Rich and varied phase diagrams are predicted.
Laboratory wave reflection analysis using co-located gages

Abstract Most coastal and ocean engineering laboratories employ techniques that use two or three spatially separated wave gages to estimate reflection of irregular waves in two-dimensional wave flumes. This paper presents a frequency domain method for separating incident and reflected wave spectra from co-located gages (gages located on the same vertical line). The technique is based on linear wave theory, and it can be applied to time series of sea surface elevation and horizontal water velocity collected in a vertical array, or it can be used with horizontal and vertical water velocity time series collected at the same point in the water column. Application of the method is limited to those frequencies showing good coherence between time series signals. Outside the range of good coherence, gross inaccuracies occur. The utility of the co-located gage method is illustrated using water velocity data collected in a wave flume with a laser Doppler velocimeter, and the method is validated for the case of complete reflection by a vertical wall. Side-by-side comparison to the spatially-separated wave gage method of Goda and Suzuki (1976) exhibited close agreement for a variety of irregular wave trains being weakly reflected by a mild sloping beach. The co-located gage method is useful in situations where there are spatial variations in the wavelength, such as on a mildly sloping bottom, or in the region close to highly reflective structures where errors arising from spatial variations in characteristic wave parameters would corrupt estimates made using the spatially-separated wave gage method.
Urinary excretion of dimethylarginines in premature infants

Urinary excretion of NG,N'G-dimethylarginine (NG,N'G-Me2Arg) and NG,NG-dimethylarginine (NG,NG-Me2Arg) was measured in premature infants. The NG,N'G-Me2Arg/NG,NG-Me2Arg ratio was much higher in newborn infants than in older children or adults. Linear regression analysis showed a significant negative correlation between the degree of maturity and the excretion of NG,N'G-Me2Arg. A significant direct linear relationship also was found between the excretion of NG,N'G-Me2Arg and the rate of whole body nitrogen flux and of protein synthesis and catabolism. No correlation was found between the excretion of the dimethylarginines and 3-methylhistidine, but the dimethylarginine/3-methylhistidine ratio declined with advancing conceptual age. A direct linear relationship was found between excretion of NG,N'G-Me2Arg and NG,NG-Me2Arg and whole body nonskeletal muscle protein breakdown. No correlation was found between nonskeletal muscle protein catabolism and 3-methylhistidine excretion. We estimate that approximately 0.34 mumole of dimethylarginine are excreted per gram of nonskeletal muscle protein catabolized. Dietary intake did not affect the excretion of either NG,N'G-Me2Arg or NG,NG-Me2Arg. The data suggest that measurement of urinary dimethylarginines might be useful in the nutritional assessment of premature infants.
Advantages and Limitations of the Use of Optogenetic Approach in Studying Fast-Scale Spike Encoding

Understanding single-neuron computations and encoding performed by spike-generation mechanisms of cortical neurons is one of the central challenges for cell electrophysiology and computational neuroscience. An established paradigm to study spike encoding in controlled conditions in vitro uses intracellular injection of a mixture of signals with fluctuating currents that mimic in vivo-like background activity. However this technique has two serious limitations: it uses current injection, while synaptic activation leads to changes of conductance, and current injection is technically most feasible in the soma, while the vast majority of synaptic inputs are located on the dendrites. Recent progress in optogenetics provides an opportunity to circumvent these limitations. Transgenic expression of light-activated ionic channels, such as Channelrhodopsin2 (ChR2), allows induction of controlled conductance changes even in thin distant dendrites. Here we show that photostimulation provides a useful extension of the tools to study neuronal encoding, but it has its own limitations. Optically induced fluctuating currents have a low cutoff (~70Hz), thus limiting the dynamic range of frequency response of cortical neurons. This leads to severe underestimation of the ability of neurons to phase-lock their firing to high frequency components of the input. This limitation could be worked around by using short (2 ms) light stimuli which produce membrane potential responses resembling EPSPs by their fast onset and prolonged decay kinetics. We show that combining application of short light stimuli to different parts of dendritic tree for mimicking distant EPSCs with somatic injection of fluctuating current that mimics fluctuations of membrane potential in vivo, allowed us to study fast encoding of artificial EPSPs photoinduced at different distances from the soma. We conclude that dendritic photostimulation of ChR2 with short light pulses provides a powerful tool to investigate population encoding of simulated synaptic potentials generated in dendrites at different distances from the soma.
Welfare Reform: Loss of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for Children With Disabilities

Purpose. To describe the changes the new welfare reform legislation, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, makes in children's eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the implications of the changes for low-income children with disabilities and their families. POPULATION. Low-income children and youth, 18 years of age and younger, who have one or more limitations in physical or mental function in performing age-appropriate skills. CONCLUSIONS. The tightened federal standards for determining whether children are disabled place thousands of children at risk for losing SSI cash benefits. This loss of necessary financial support has the potential to adversely affect the physical and psychological health of low-income children with disabilities and their families. The new law represents a step backward from the long awaited gains the 1990 Zebley v. Sullivan U.S. Supreme Court decision legislated for children with disabilities. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS. Knowledge of the legal changes in children's SSI enables nurses to implement interventions that help low-income families maintain SSI eligibility for their children with disabilities and to advocate with the public and policymakers on behalf of this vulnerable population.
Results from the Pilot Study of the Citizens, Victims, and Offenders Restoring Justice Program at the Washington State Reformatory:

Citizens, Victims, and Offenders Restoring Justice Program is a prison-based program conducted as a pilot study at the Washington State Reformatory from 1997 to 1998. The purpose of the study was t...
Menin Critically Links MLL Proteins with LEDGF on Cancer-Associated Target Genes

Menin displays the unique ability to either promote oncogenic function in the hematopoietic lineage or suppress tumorigenesis in the endocrine lineage; however, its molecular mechanism of action has not been defined. We demonstrate here that these discordant functions are unified by menin's ability to serve as a molecular adaptor that physically links the MLL (mixed-lineage leukemia) histone methyltransferase with LEDGF (lens epithelium-derived growth factor), a chromatin-associated protein previously implicated in leukemia, autoimmunity, and HIV-1 pathogenesis. LEDGF is required for both MLL-dependent transcription and leukemic transformation. Conversely, a subset of menin mutations in multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 patients abrogate interaction with LEDGF while preserving MLL interaction but nevertheless compromise MLL/menin-dependent functions. Thus, LEDGF critically associates with MLL and menin at the nexus of transcriptional pathways that are recurrently targeted in diverse diseases.
A Leucine Zipper Stabilizes the Pentameric Membrane Domain of Phospholamban and Forms a Coiled-coil Pore Structure

Phospholamban is a phosphoprotein regulator of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum which is phosphorylated in response to β-adrenergic stimulation. Previous results have shown that phospholamban forms Ca2⁺-selective channels in lipid bilayers. The channel-forming domain has been localized to amino acid residues 26-52, which form a stable pentameric, helical structure. The specific residues responsible for stabilizing the pentameric membrane domain of phospholamban have been identified by mutational analysis. Residues 26-52 were individually mutated to Ala or Phe, and the ability of the resulting mutant to form a pentamer or other oligomer was assessed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis. Replacement of Leu37, Ile40, Leu44, Ile47, or Leu51 by Ala prevented pentamer formation, indicating their essential involvement in the oligomeric assembly. The heptad repeats, and 3-4-residue spacing of the essential amino acids suggest that residues 37-52 adopt a pentameric coiled-coil structure stabilized by a leucine zipper motif formed by the close packing of Leu37, Ile40, Leu44, Ile47, and Leu51. The resulting symmetric structure contains a central pore defined by the hydrophobic surface of the five stabilizing leucine zippers, which are oriented to the interior and form the backbone of the pentamer.
Computer Simulation and the Design of New Biological Molecules

Molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out for the enzyme bovine trypsin, for the small inhibitor benzamidine, and for the complex formed by these two molecules, all in the presence of enough water to approximate dilute solution conditions. The simulations have been analyzed to characterize the structure and dynamics of the enzyme and its solvent surroundings. Using the recently developed thermodynamic cycle-perturbation method, the simulations have also been analyzed to determine how changes in the structure of the enzyme and the inhibitor alter the free energy of complex formation. The results suggest that such simulations may be useful in the design of new enzymes and enzyme inhibitors.
Near-Infrared Acousto-Optic Tunable Filter Hadamard Transform Spectroscopy

The acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) is a digitally accessible, compact, solid-state spectrometer that is well suited to high-frequency optical switching and wavelength selection. With injection of a combination of radio-frequency signals into its transducer, the AOTF acts as an electronically controllable, multiplexing spectrometer. The multiplexing AOTF in this study is employed in two distinct fashions. The first of these utilizes the multiplexing AOTF as a matched filter whose intended spectral profile (i.e., bandpass and band symmetry) is controlled almost at will, providing unprecedented flexibility and high throughput. Second, the multiplexing AOTF is employed for the first time as a Hadamard transform spectrometer. In operation, the integrated intensity on the detector measures combinations of the diffracted wavelengths. The light encodement is performed without the use of physical masks and is governed by HT mathematics, which allow efficient recovery of the optical spectrum. Appreciable signal-to-noise enhancement is demonstrated with the HT AOTF spectrometer.
Implicit Finite-Difference Simulation of Flow about Arbitrary Two-Dimensional Geometries

Finite-difference procedures are used to solve either the Euler equations or the "thin-layer" Navier-Stokes equations subject to arbitrary boundary conditions. An automatic grid generation program is employed, and because an implicit finite-difference algorithm for the flow equations is used, time steps are not severely limited when grid points are finely distributed. Computational efficiency and compatibility to vectorized computer processors is maintained by use of approximate factorization techniques. Computed results for both inviscid and viscous flow about airfoils are described and compared to viscous known solutions.
Advances in recrystallization technology

A program is briefly reported aimed at the development of SOI material using a seeded zone melting recrystallization (ZMR) technique which is known as isolated silicon epitaxy (ISE). The ISE process has the flexibility required to meet the demands of a variety of different applications. Specifically, thin films of epitaxial Si (0.10 mu m) on thin SiO/sub 2/ (0.4 mu m) layers are being produced for fully depleted CMOS applications. At the same time, low-defect thick-film Si (>2 mu m) on thick oxide (1-2 mu m) are being fabricated for bipolar applications. >
Universal decentralized estimation in a bandwidth constrained sensor network

We consider universal decentralized estimation of a noise-corrupted signal by a bandwidth constrained sensor network with a fusion center (FC). We show that in a homogeneous sensing environment and under a bandwidth constraint of 1-bit per sample per node, there exist universal decentralized estimation schemes (DES) with a mean squared error (MSE) decreasing at the rate 1/K, where K is the total number of sensors. We extend such 1-bit decentralized estimators to the case of a inhomogeneous sensing environment, and propose quantization and transmission power control strategies for local sensors in order to minimize the total consumed sensor energy while ensuring a given MSE performance. We also design a DES for the joint estimation of a vector source based on its noisy and linearly distorted observations, and show that to achieve a MSE within a factor of 2 away from the best linear unbiased estimator (BLUE), the local message length has a nice form of being the channel capacity of "a virtual AWGN channel" from "nature" to each local sensor.
Conceptualizing irrigation project modernization through benchmarking and the rapid appraisal process

Benchmarking is defined as a systematic process for achieving continued improvement in the irrigation sector through comparisons with relevant and achievable internal or external goals, norms, and standards. The three aspects of benchmarking are: evaluation of technical indicators (both internal and external); appraisal of the system processes; and an evaluation of service to users and their satisfaction with that service. The authors have incorporated all three components into a training program in which project staff learn the concepts of modernization and then evaluate their own project in a systematic rapid appraisal process (RAP). At the end of the training, internal and external indicators are developed for the project, and the local staff develop a priority list for modernization of the project. This paper will present the concepts of the RAP. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Le benchmarking est un procede systematique permettant l'amelioration des performancesde l'irrigation par comparaison avec des objectifs internes ou externes, des normes et des criteres appropries et realisables. Les trois aspects du benchmarking sont: l'evaluation des indicateurs techniques (a la fois internes et externes); l'appreciation du fonctionnement du systeme et l'evaluation des services rendus et la satisfaction des usagers. Les auteurs ont incorpore chacune des trois composantes a dans programme de formation dans lequel le personnel de projet se familiarise avec les concepts de modernisation et evalue ensuite son propre projet dans un processus systematique d'evaluation rapide (RAP). A la fin de la formation, des indicateurs internes et externes sont developpes pour le projet, et le personnel local developpe une liste prioritaire d'actions pour l'amelioration du projet. Cet article presente les concepts du RAP. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mothers' Predictions of the Self—Concept of their Normal or Learning-Disabled Children

Two reported effects of the labeling process in special education were investigated in a study which assessed the self-concepts of 48 learning-disabled (LD) children, 54 of their normal age-mates, and 16 regular class students whose teachers indicated the need for special education services. In addition, the mothers of children in each group were asked to complete the same self-concept instrument, responding to the items as they predicted their children would respond. Self-concepts of the children groups were compared to test the hypothesis that labeling and segregating the educationally handicapped from the larger school population might reduce self-regard. Mothers' self-concept predictions were compared to the scores of their LD children to test the hypothesis that labeling a child may reduce parents' perceptions of the child's feelings of self-worth. Predictions made by mothers of normal children were used to assess the accuracy of prediction across the parenting groups. The results gleaned from mother...
Injection molded solder technology for Pb-free wafer bumping

A new wafer bumping technology is described that is especially suited for Pb-free applications. Although capable of using standard PbSn eutectic solder, IMS (injection molded solder) has been found to be especially suited for accommodating a wide range of Pb-free alloys with equal ease. The development of IMS technology was driven by the need to reduce wafer bumping costs while simultaneously addressing the conflicting demands of increasing wafer dimensions to 300 mm and decreasing bump and pitch dimensions below 75 /spl mu/m on 150 /spl mu/m centers. The IMS wafer bumping process uses a new head assembly that melts bulk solder alloys with precisely controlled compositions and dispenses the molten solder into multiple cavities of a wafer-sized mold plate. The mold plate is CTE matched to silicon and is reusable many times, thus reducing the per wafer bumping cost. In the process, a mold plate is scanned and filled with molten solder and inspected after solidification. Thereafter, the mold plate and device wafer are aligned and adjoined in a mirror image fashion for processing through a solder reflow furnace to transfer solder to the wafer. In this paper, early manufacturing challenges and solutions are described which allow IMS to be considered as an attractive technology for 300 mm Pb-free wafer bumping. Early process feasibility data for 200 mm wafer bumping are reviewed. Economical and environmental advantages are also discussed in relation to key process characteristics, such as solder waste reduction, use of low-cost bulk alloys, and others.
Unverifiable publications in otolaryngology residency applications

Objective. To determine the prevalence of unverifiable (''ghost'') publications in applications to an otolaryngology residency pro- gram through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), correlate with applicant characteristics, and determine if incidence changed after the addition of PubMed (PMID) num- bers in 2008. Study Design and Setting. Cross-sectional study of residency applications before and after inclusion of PMID numbers at an academic otolaryngology program. Subjects and Methods. Applications for 2007 and 2008 were reviewed. Publications were verified against Medline, Google Scholar, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and Google. Ghost publications were defined as journals, books, abstracts, or posters that could not be verified as presented, published, or including the applicant author. Results. In total, 489 applications were reviewed: 243 before PMID numbers were requested and 246 after. Of 2300 listed publications, 125 (5%) were not actual publications and 460 (20%) were in pending status. Forty-five percent (775/1715) could not be verified: 660 of 953 (69%) abstracts/posters, 18 of 47 (38%) chapters, and 97 of 715 (14%) journal articles. Abstracts/posters and book chapters were hardest to verify. The proportion of overall reported publications that could be verified was lower following the addition of PMID to the ERAS application (P = .0003), and the proportion of verifiable journal articles was unchanged from 86.0% to 86.9% (P = .62). Unlike previous findings, gender and medical school ranking were not associated with ghost publications. Conclusion. A substantial number of publications, especially book chapters and posters/abstracts, listed on otolaryngol- ogy residency applications could not be verified. The addi- tion of the PMID to applications did not reduce the number of ghost journal publications.
Aberrant STYK1 expression in ovarian cancer tissues and cell lines.

Background Overexpression of STYK1, a putative serine/threonine and tyrosine receptor protein kinase has been shown to confer tumorigenicity and metastatic potential to normal cells injected into nude mice. Mutation of a tyrosine residue in the catalytic STYK1 domain attenuates the tumorigenic potential of tumor cells in vivo, collectively, suggesting an oncogenic role for STYK1.
TRAGEDY OF THE COMMONS MEETS THE ANTI-COMMONS: WATER MANAGEMENT AND CONFLICT ON THE SOUTHERN PLAINS OF THE UNITED STATES

Based on longitudinal data, and relying on the tragedy of the commons and the tragedy of the anti-commons theoretical frameworks, we argue: (1) groundwater permit patterns in Oklahoma are likely to contribute to the tragic overuse of groundwater resources; and (2) involvement of large and opposing groups that operate within an environment of fragmented access rights undermines the emergence of an efficient water management regime for Sardis Lake on Native American land in southeastern Oklahoma. Based on quantitative and qualitative research approaches, this study seeks to reveal patterns of groundwater overexploitation and deconstruct the complex processes surrounding the water dispute over Sardis Lake so that policymakers understand the relevant dangers and are able to identify sound policy solutions to manage common pool resources.
Effects of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I/IGF-binding protein-3 treatment on glucose metabolism and fat distribution in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients with abdominal obesity and insulin resistance.

Context: HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy are at increased risk for excess visceral adiposity and insulin resistance. Treatment with GH decreases visceral adiposity but worsens glucose metabolism. IGF-I, which mediates many of the effects of GH, improves insulin sensitivity in HIV-negative individuals. Objective: Our objective was to determine whether IGF-I, complexed to its major binding protein, IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), improves glucose metabolism and alters body fat distribution in HIV-infected patients with abdominal obesity and insulin resistance. Methods: We conducted a pilot, open-label study in 13 HIV-infected men with excess abdominal adiposity and insulin resistance to assess the effect of 3 months of treatment with IGF-I/IGFBP-3 on glucose metabolism and fat distribution. Glucose metabolism was assessed by oral glucose tolerance test and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Endogenous glucose production (EGP), gluconeogenesis, whole-body lipolysis, and de novo lipogenesis (DNL) were measured with stable isotope infusions. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and abdominal computed tomography scan. Results: Glucose tolerance improved and insulin-mediated glucose uptake increased significantly during treatment. EGP increased under fasting conditions, and suppression of EGP by insulin was blunted. Fasting triglycerides decreased significantly in association with a decrease in hepatic DNL. Lean body mass increased and total body fat decreased, whereas visceral adipose tissue did not change. Conclusions: Treatment with IGF-I/IGFBP-3 improved whole-body glucose uptake and glucose tolerance, while increasing hepatic glucose production. Fasting triglycerides improved, reflecting decreased DNL, and visceral adiposity was unchanged.
EARLY RENAL ISCHEMIA, WITH OR WITHOUT REPERFUSION, ACTIVATES NFκB AND INCREASES TNF-α BIOACTIVITY IN THE KIDNEY

Purpose:: Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and the ensuing renal failure induced by ischemia and reperfusion injury (I/R) remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality among patients in the intensive care unit. Although it is well established that exogenous tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF) induces renal injury, it remains unknown whether ischemia and/or reperfusion activates the signaling mechanisms required for renal TNF production. We hypothesized that ischemia and/or reperfusion would activate the oxidant sensitive TNF transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), and thereby lead to renal TNF production.Materials and Methods:: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital, after which various periods of renal ischemia, with or without reperfusion, were induced in rats. At different time intervals, kidneys were harvested and NFκB activation (electrophoretic mobility shift assay), TNF mRNA content (RT-PCR), and TNF bioactivity (WEHI-164 cell clone cytotoxicity assay) were determ...
Iterative deconvolution and receiver-function estimation

We describe and apply an iterative, time-domain deconvolution approach to receiver-function estimation and illustrate the reliability and advantages of the technique using synthetic- and observation-based examples. The iterative technique is commonly used in earthquake time-function studies and offers several advantages in receiver-function analysis such as intuitively stripping the largest receiver-function arrivals from the observed seismograms first and then the details; long-period stability by a priori constructing the deconvolution as a sum of Gaussian pulses; and easy generalization to allow multiwaveform deconvolution for a single receiver-function estimate.
What (If Anything) Does East Asia Tell Us About International Relations Theory

Transatlantic international relations (IR) theory has more or less neglected the international relations of East Asia. This relative neglect has come in different forms: excluding East Asian cases from analysis, including East Asian cases but miscoding or misunderstanding them, or including them but missing the fact that they do not confirm the main findings of the study. A review of the East Asia–related literature on three important clusters of theorizing—structural theories of conflict, institutional design and efficacy, and historical memory—suggests that this neglect of the region (and other regions) may come at a cost to transatlantic IR, not only in terms of data problems but also in terms of omitted or downplayed explanatory variables and theoretical arguments.
Discovering Documentation for Java Container Classes

Modern programs make extensive use of reusable software libraries. For example, we found that 17 percent to 30 percent of the classes in a number of large Java applications use the container classes from the java.util package. Given this extensive code reuse in Java programs, it is important for the reusable interfaces to have clear and unambiguous documentation. Unfortunately, most documentation is expressed in English and, therefore, does not always satisfy these requirements. Worse yet, there is no way of checking that the documentation is consistent with the associated code. Formal specifications present an alternative that does not suffer from these problems; however, formal specifications are notoriously hard to write. To alleviate this difficulty, we have implemented a tool that automatically derives documentation in the form of formal specifications. Our tool probes Java classes by invoking them on dynamically generated tests and captures the information observed during their execution as algebraic axioms. Although the tool is not complete or correct from a formal perspective, we demonstrate that it discovers many useful axioms when applied to container classes. These axioms then form an initial formal documentation of the class they describe.
The Role of Linking Objects in Parental Bereavement

Because linking objects in mourning were first described by Volkan (1972) in the context of pathological grieving, they have been associated with complicated mourning. This descriptive study surveyed forty-nine bereaved parents to assess the existence, characteristics, and function of linking objects in parental bereavement. A majority of the participants reported linking objects. The objects fit into the same categories as those described by Volkan. However, whereas Volkan described ambivalence toward linking objects in his patients, the bereaved parents did not treat their objects in an ambivalent manner. There were no indications in the data that linking objects served as obstacles in the mourning process, as suggested by Volkan. The parents reported that the objects were meaningful, important, and provided a connection with their dead child.