cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stappen ter preventie van type 2 diabetes: fysieke inspanning, meer lopen of minder zitten?

Het bewijs stapelt zich op: gestructureerde fysieke inspanning is goed voor de behandeling van prediabetes en de preventie van type 2 diabetes. Helaas leiden hedendaagse maatschappelijke veranderingen in leefwijze (op het werk, thuis, vervoer, vrije tijd) tot een opvallend wijdverspreid tekort aan lichamelijke activiteit (bijvoorbeeld lopen anders dan in het kader van doelbewuste fysieke inspanning), lichamelijke activiteit die ingeruild is voor een overmatig zittende leefwijze (bijvoorbeeld kantoorwerk, arbeidsparende apparaten, reizen per motorvoertuig, vrije tijd doorgebracht voor de tv of de computer). Het is mogelijk dat de gunstige effecten van (gestructureerde) vormen van fysieke inspanning het afleggen tegen of ondermijnd worden door een inactieve leefstijl. Inactiviteit is tegenwoordig een normaal verschijnsel in de samenleving. Richtlijnen voor volksgezondheid richten zich van oudsher op bevordering van gedetailleerd beschreven fysieke inspanning, maar het is zonneklaar dat herziening en uitbreiding van de boodschap noodzakelijk is om deze sluipende en funeste veranderingen in leefwijze aan te pakken. Onze aanbeveling luidt specifiek dat volwassen moeten voorkomen dat ze gemiddeld minder dan 5.000 stappen per dag zetten en naar gemiddeld meer dan 7.500 stappen per dag moeten streven, waarvan ze er meer dan 3.000 (goed voor minimaal 30 minuten) in een tempo van meer dan 100 stappen per minuut moeten zetten. Volwassenen dienen eveneens langdurig zitten te onderbreken door rond te lopen. Simpel gezegd moeten we de boodschap ‘loop meer, zit minder en span je in’ gaan uitdragen.
A Genome-Wide Survey of Transgenerational Genetic Effects in Autism

Effects of parental genotype or parent-offspring genetic interaction are well established in model organisms for a variety of traits. However, these transgenerational genetic models are rarely studied in humans. We have utilized an autism case-control study with 735 mother-child pairs to perform genome-wide screening for maternal genetic effects and maternal-offspring genetic interaction. We used simple models of single locus parent-child interaction and identified suggestive results (P<10−4) that cannot be explained by main effects, but no genome-wide significant signals. Some of these maternal and maternal-child associations were in or adjacent to autism candidate genes including: PCDH9, FOXP1, GABRB3, NRXN1, RELN, MACROD2, FHIT, RORA, CNTN4, CNTNAP2, FAM135B, LAMA1, NFIA, NLGN4X, RAPGEF4, and SDK1. We attempted validation of potential autism association under maternal-specific models using maternal-paternal comparison in family-based GWAS datasets. Our results suggest that further study of parental genetic effects and parent-child interaction in autism is warranted.
Functional characterization of rat chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein-2

Expression of mRNA for the C-X-C chemokine, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), is induced during acute inflammation in rat models of disease. We have characterized the phlogistic potential of rat recombinant MIP-2 (rMIP-2) protein in vitro and in vivo. Recombinant MIP-2 caused marked PMN chemotaxis in vitro, with peak chemotactic activity at 10 nM. Incubation of whole blood with rMIP-2 caused a significant loss of L-selectin and a significant increase in Mac-1 expression on the PMN surface. Under similar conditions rMIP-2 also caused a modest respiratory burst in PMNs. The intratracheal instillation of 10 and 50 micrograms of rMIP-2 caused a significant influx of PMNs into the airspace of the lungs. Rat MIP-2 is a potent neutrophil chemotactic factor capable of causing neutrophil activation and is likely to function in PMN recruitment during acute inflammation in rat disease models.
Probabilistic fretting fatigue life prediction of Ti–6Al–4V

A probabilistic analysis of the fatigue life of specimens subject to fretting fatigue was developed. A mechanics based fretting life analysis was applied that employed the local stress gradient at the edge of contact. The random variables in the analysis included the initial crack size, coefficient of friction, partial slip slope, crack growth rate law, and the contact pad profile. The variation in pad profiles was determined through measurement of 77 machined pads. Distributions for the other random variables were obtained using previously generated test data. A probabilistic fatigue analysis was applied using Monte Carlo sampling to determine the statistics (mean and standard deviation) of the fatigue life prediction and was compared to fretting fatigue test data. Several qualitative and quantitative sensitivity methods were applied to the results including the calculation of the probabilistic sensitivities (partial derivatives of the fatigue life statistics with respect to the input probability density function parameters) via linear regression and finite difference.
Using Functional Assessment and Experimental Functional Analysis to Individualize Treatment for Adolescents in a Residential Care Setting

This case study describes the use of functional assessment in combination with experimental functional analysis as methods for informing and evaluating individualized treatment in a large residenti...
Soot emissions from spherical droplet flames for mixtures of JP8 and tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether.

The combustion of JP8 (a kerosene-based fuel) mixed with up to 20% (volume) tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether (TPGME, CH3[CH2CH(CH3)O]3OH) is studied to examine the influence of composition on soot dynamics for the configuration of an isolated and stationary droplet burning with nearly spherical symmetry. The spherical droplet flame is characterized by a one-dimensional transport process with a concentric flame and droplet, and a sooting configuration for which the soot aggregates are trapped between the droplet and flame in a “shell” or “cloud”. Sooting tendencies are inferred from photographic documentation of the droplet burning process and are found to be in the approximate order JP8 > JP8 + 10% TPGME > JP8 + 20% TPGME. At 20% the soot cloud all but disappears. The maximum soot aggregate diameter is 80 (±17) nm, independent of composition. Preferential vaporization is pronounced as evidenced by a plateau in the evolution of the droplet diameter (squared) which indicates a dominant influence of TPGM...
Synthesis and structure–activity studies of benzyl ester meperidine and normeperidine derivatives as selective serotonin transporter ligands

A series of benzyl esters of meperidine and normeperidine were synthesized and evaluated for binding affinity at serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine transporters. The 4-methoxybenzyl ester 8b and 4-nitrobenzyl ester 8c in the meperidine series and 4-methoxybenzyl ester 14a in the normeperidine series exhibited low nanomolar binding affinities at the SERT (K(i) values 1500 and NET/SERT >1500).
Extremal Kähler metrics and Hamiltonian functions II

We apply a previously obtained ansatz for extremal Kahler metrics to show that if a manifold admits a Hodge metric with constant scalar curvature, then the total space of the projectivization of a line bundle with first Chern class equal to the Kahler class of the metric admits a one-parameter family of extremal Kahler metrics. This generalizes earlier constructions.
Annealing of chemically vapor deposited nanoscale Ti-Si islands on Si

Small islands of Ti-Si were formed by chemical vapor deposition onto a Si substrate and subsequently annealed. The islands were deposited in the 610–730 °C temperature range by the H2 reduction of TiCl4, either without or with a Si-containing gas added during deposition. Subsequent annealing above 800 °C decreases the island density significantly, and the islands take characteristic shapes. After annealing, the island size depends only weakly on the amount of Ti deposited while the island density varies more significantly and depends on the addition of a Si-containing gas during deposition. Three different dominant island shapes are seen on Si(001), and different shapes are found on Si(111).
Effects of hypoxia on isolated vessels and perfused gills of rainbow trout

Abstract Local hypoxia dilates systemic and constricts pulmonary blood vessels in mammals without neural or humoral involvement. The direct effects of hypoxia on isolated vessels from bony fish have not been examined. In the present study, isolated vessels (efferent branchial artery, EBA; coeliacomesenteric artery, CMA; ventral aorta, VA; and anterior cardinal vein, ACV) from rainbow or steelhead trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) were subjected to either passive load (resting tension) or contracted with a ligand or 50 mM KCl and then subjected to 60 min of hypoxia by N 2 administration and an additional 30 min of normoxia. All vessels were usually refractory to hypoxia under conditions of resting tension. EBAs, CMAs and VAs pre-contracted with a receptor-mediated ligand were all significantly relaxed by hypoxia and only VAs recovered significantly upon subsequent restoration of normoxia. In contrast, tension in all arteries pre-contracted with 50 mM KCl was elevated further in response to hypoxia. Conversely, ligand-contracted ACVs responded to hypoxia with a further increase in tension, whereas KCl-contracted ACVs relaxed. During apparently random 2–3-week periods EBA and CMA from steelhead and EBA from rainbow trout were hyper-reactive to hypoxia. Steelhead vessels responded to hypoxia with a rapid contraction that increased in magnitude over 3 days. These contractions were independent of pre-stimulation and they were dose-dependent upon P o 2 . In isolated gills, hypoxic perfusate produced an immediate but transient elevation of resistance ( R GILL ) in all four gill arches. R GILL increased by as much as 30% of initial values and this response was unaltered upon a second hypoxic exposure. These studies demonstrate that isolated vascular segments of rainbow trout are indeed responsive to hypoxia and that these differential responses are vessel and tone dependent and the overall response may be altered by as yet unknown seasonal or environmental factors. Hypoxia-induced arterial relaxation is blocked by elevated external [K + ], implicating alteration of transmembrane K + conductance and/or membrane potential in this depressor response. K + -channel closure or voltage-gated Ca 2+ influx cannot account for arterial vasoconstriction due to hypoxia during KCl contractions. Vascular responses to hypoxia could have a profound impact on local flow in vivo and could mediate ventilation–perfusion matching in the branchial circulation of fish.
Polynomial methods for allocating complex components

Methods for performing component matching by expressing an arithmetic specification and a bit-level description of an implementation as word-level polynomials have been demonstrated for combinational circuits. This representation allows the functionality of a specification and existing implementation to be compared. We present extensions to this basic method that allow polynomial models to be constructed for circuits that employ sequential elements as well as feedback. Furthermore, we derive a means of approximating the functionality of nonpolynomial functions and determining a bound on the error of this approximation. These methods are used to synthesize an infinite impulse response filter from a library of potential implementations.
Chicken Pax‐1 gene: structure and expression during embryonic somite development

Recent mouse genetic studies have implicated Pax-1, a paired-box-containing gene, in sclerotomal differentiation and vertebral body formation. To investigate Pax-1 function in somitic sclerotomal differentiation in the chick embryo, we have cloned the chicken Pax-1 gene, and its full length cDNA, and characterized its temporal and spatial expression pattern during somite development. Sequence analysis shows that chicken Pax-1 is highly homologous to murine and human Pax-1 genes with respect to the putative DNA-binding paired-box domain and the octapeptide domain. Northern analysis using probes derived from the paired-box domain and a unique non-paired box sequence of chicken Pax-1 detected 2-kb mRNA transcript. The expression profiles of Pax-1 were examined by in situ hybridization and Northern analysis. The first detectable expression of Pax-1 is seen in the most caudal epithelial somite. As the somite matures, Pax-1 expression takes on a medial distribution, thus corresponding to but preceding the emergence of the sclerotome. In the more mature, rostral somites (stage V and older), Pax-1 expression is found to be progressively localized first to the ventral-medial regions, and then to the caudal-ventral-medial quadrant of the mature somite. This pattern strongly supports the notion that Pax-1 expression is involved in somitogenesis and sclerotomal differentiation, and that it is subsequently a characteristic of the caudal half of the sclerotome, the presumptive precursor of vertebral cartilage. Northern analysis substantiated this expression profile and further revealed that the level of somitic Pax-1 expression increases as a function of embryonic development. Finally, we subjected chicken embryos to controlled heat shock treatment to perturb somite formation and segmentation. The pattern of Pax-1 expression in the anomalous somitic structures generated by controlled heat shock further supports a functional role for Pax-1 in somite development.
Spliceosomal Introns and Fish Phylogeny: A Critical Reanalysis

The currently available spliceosomal intron data were found to be of limited utility as phylogenetic characters for resolving the phylogeny of several clades of fishes. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred from a parsimony analysis of the distribution of introns among representatives of 18 major groups of vertebrates for seven genes. Phylogenetic signal of the spliceosomal intron data was limited to support for the monophyly of the Teleostei. The spliceosomal intron based phylogeny of B. Venkatesh, Y. Ning, and S. Brenner (in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 1999) was evaluated and found to be fundamentally flawed. The analysis of B. Venkatesh, Y. Ning, and S. Brenner (in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, 1999) was compromised by errors in the treatment of missing and polymorphic data, the arbitrary exclusion of taxa, the assessment of homology, outgroups and rooting, the ordering and polarization of character states, and a failure to follow the logical implications of multiple equally parsimonious trees.
The number of alleles in electrophoretic experiments

Abstract We examine the rate of divergence of the number of distinguishable alleles in a large sample. Our calculations are based on the Ohta-Kimura model for electrophoretic experiments, in which types can only take discrete values, and mutations are selectively neutral.
Scoring the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory: Comments on Herbertet al. (1991)

The manuscript by Herbert, Bellack, and Hope (1991) entitled "Concurrent validity of the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory," presented additional psychometric data on this instrument. Specifically, concurrent validity data for the Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI) were reported. Also, the authors reached a number of conclusions regarding the manner in which the subscales of the SPAI should be used. We do not agree with the authors' conclusions in this regard and wish to point out what we believe are problems with their recommendations. First, Herbert et al. (1991) concluded that the SPAI social phobia subscale score is a slightly better measure of social phobia symptoms than the Difference score. This conclusion primarily was based on Herbert and co-workers' interpretation that the correlations between the SPAI social phobia subscale and the instruments used to establish its concurrent validity are larger than the correlations between the SPAI Difference score and these measures. However, no statistical test was performed on these data. Also, in several cases, the correlation coefficients presented in Table I of the study by Herbert et aL (t991) differ by only one or two points, making it highly unlikely that they are statistically significant. Furthermore, because the SPAI was developed specifically to measure social phobia, and the other instruments used by Herbert et al. (1991) to establish its concurrent validity were not, one needs to use caution in interpreting patterns of correlation.
Pharmacokinetics of 1,4-Butanediol in Rats: Bioactivation to γ-Hydroxybutyric Acid, Interaction with Ethanol, and Oral Bioavailability

1,4-Butanediol (BD), a substance of abuse, is bioactivated to γ-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), but its fundamental pharmacokinetics (PK) have not been characterized. Because this bioactivation is partly mediated by alcohol dehydrogenase, we hypothesized that there may also be a metabolic interaction between ethanol (ETOH) and BD. We therefore studied, in rats, the plasma PK of GHB, BD and ETOH each at two intravenous (IV) doses, when each substance was given alone, and when GHB or BD was co-administered with ETOH. Results showed that bioconversion of intravenously administered BD to GHB was complete, and that both GHB and BD exhibited nonlinear PK. Various population PK models were analyzed using NONMEM VI, and the best disposition model was found to include two PK compartments each for BD, an (unmeasured) putative semialdehyde intermediate (ALD), GHB and ETOH, the presence of nonlinear (Michaelis–Menten) elimination for each compound, and several mutual inhibition processes. The most prominent mutual metabolic inhibition was found between ETOH and BD, while that between GHB and ETOH was not significant. In vitro studies using liver homogenates confirmed mutual metabolic inhibitions between GHB and BD. Oral absorption of BD was best described by a first-order process with lag-time and pre-systemic metabolism from BD to ALD. Oral absorption of BD (as BD plus ALD) was rapid and complete. The fraction of the absorbed dose entering the central compartment as BD was 30% for the 1.58 mmol/kg dose and 55% for the 6.34 mmol/kg dose. At 6.34 mmol/kg IV, the onset of loss of righting reflex (LRR) for BD was significantly delayed vs. that produced by GHB (72.0 ± 9.1 min vs. 6.7 ± 0.6 min, respectively, p < 0.001), and the total duration of LRR was prolonged for BD vs. GHB (192 ± 28 min vs. 117 ± 2 min, respectively, p < 0.05). Relative to IV dosing, oral BD produced similar but more variable LRR effects. These results may provide a quantitative PK framework for the understanding of the toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics of both BD and GHB.
The complex of T4 bacteriophage gene 44 and 62 replication proteins forms an ATPase that is stimulated by DNA and by T4 gene 45 protein

Abstract The bacteriophage T4 genome is believed to encode all of the proteins needed for the replication of its own DNA. Included among these proteins are the “polymerase accessory proteins”, the products of T4 genes 44, 62 and 45. The first two of these genes specify the synthesis of the 44 62 protein complex, which is here shown to be a DNA-dependent ATPase, hydrolyzing either ATP or dATP to the corresponding nucleoside diphosphate and releasing inorganic phosphate. This nucleotide hydrolysis is greatly stimulated by addition of the gene 45 protein and by single-stranded DNA termini. A rapid micro DNA-cellulose assay is introduced and used to measure accessory protein binding to the complex of T4 gene 32 protein and single-stranded DNA. In the presence of ATP, the 44 62 protein binds to this complex but not to naked DNA, while the 45 protein requires both the 32 protein and the 44 62 protein for detectable binding.
Trinko and mandated access to the internet

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to identify five lessons of the Trinko decision and apply them to internet access issues.Design/methodology/approach – The research identifies five lessons and then relates these lessons to access issues involving the internet.Findings – Based on application of the lessons of Trinko, it is likely that access to the public internet will be maintained but it is uncertain as to what the nature of access requirements will be, if any, for private internets.Originality/value – The research provides an economic analysis of the milestone legal decision in Trinko and applies the lessons of Trinko to access issues involving the internet.
Sheet sticking caused by charge flow in a buried conducting layer

Abstract Electrostatic charge causes sheets to misfeed from the input stacks in inkjet and laser printers. Conductive layers within sheets that suppress discharges and reduce particulate contamination also aggravate sheet sticking. The surface potential of sheet media is a direct measure of the charge in the buried conducting layer. Our experiments find that the times characterizing the voltage transients range from 10 to 1000 s for conductive layers with sheet resistivities in the range from 10 +9 to 10 +11 Ω/□. Our models predict that charge flowing in the conducting layer increases the electrostatic sticking force. Model predictions are in agreement with our experimental measurements.
Valproate and epilepsy surgery

Based on our experience with valproate during presurgical workup and epilepsy surgery, we recommend routine prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times and platelet count in all patients on valproate prior to the insertion of sphenoidal leads. We also recommend routine discontinuation of valproate at least 2 weeks prior to epilepsy surgery. In addition, we prohibit its use in the immediate post-operative period.
Fast reaching in clutter while regulating forces using model predictive control

Moving a robot arm quickly in cluttered and unmodeled workspaces can be difficult because of the inherent risk of high impact forces. Additionally, compliance by itself is not enough to limit contact forces due to multi-contact phenomena (jamming, etc.). The work in this paper extends our previous research on manipulation in cluttered environments by explicitly modeling robot arm dynamics and using model predictive control (MPC) with whole-arm tactile sensing to improve the speed and force control. We first derive discrete-time dynamic equations of motion that we use for MPC. Then we formulate a multi-time step model predictive controller that uses this dynamic model. These changes allow us to control contact forces while increasing overall end effector speed. We also describe a constraint that regulates joint velocities in order to mitigate unexpected impact forces while reaching to a goal. We present results using tests from a simulated three link planar arm that is representative of the kinematics and mass of an average male's torso, shoulder and elbow joints reaching in high and low clutter scenarios. These results show that our controller allows the arm to reach a goal up to twice as fast as our previous work, while still controlling the contact forces to be near a user-defined threshold.
Optoelectronic-based face recognition versus electronic PCA-based face recognition

Face recognition based on principal component analysis (PCA) using eigenfaces is popular in face recognition markets. In this paper we present a comparison between various optoelectronic face recognition techniques and principal component analysis (PCA) based technique for face recognition. Computer simulations are used to study the effectiveness of PCA based technique especially for facial images with a high level of distortion. Results are then compared to various distortion-invariant optoelectronic face recognition algorithms such as synthetic discriminant functions (SDF), projection-slice SDF, optical correlator based neural networks, and pose estimation based correlation.
Study of solute rejection models for thin film composite polyamide ro membranes

Abstract Experimental separation data collected for the system water-sodium chloride-thin film composite polyamide membranes are used to compare four theoretical rejection equations. In addition, mechanistic (physical) parameters which characterize thin film composite membranes are estimated, and then compared to the values obtained earlier for the system water-sodium chloride-cellulose acetate. The general results of this study are similar to the results obtained for cellulose acetate membranes: although ideal membrane models provide a reasonable description of membrane behavior, models corrected for solute passage produce significantly better results; and, solute separation is accurately predicted over a wide range of pressure, feed rate, and feed concentration by either the corrected diffusive flow model or the corrected viscous flow model. The mechanistic parameters determined for thin film composite polyamide membranes show trends similar to those obtained using cellulose acetate membranes but are generally one order of magnitude larger.
Interleukin (IL) 1β Induction of IL-6 Is Mediated by a Novel Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase-dependent AKT/IκB Kinase α Pathway Targeting Activator Protein-1

Here we describe a novel role for the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT pathway in mediating induction of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in response to IL-1. Pharmacological inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibited IL-6 mRNA and protein production. Overexpression of either dominant-negative AKT or IκB kinase α mutant, IKKαT23A, containing a mutation in a functional AKT phosphorylation site, shown previously to be important for NFκB activation, completely abrogated IL-6 promoter activation in response to IL-1. However, mutation of the consensus NFκB site on the IL-6 promoter did not abrogate promoter activation by IL-1 in contrast to the AP-1 site mutation. IL-1 induces phosphorylation of IKKα on the NFκB inducing kinase (NIK) phosphorylation sites Ser176/Ser180 and on the Thr23 site, and although phosphorylation of IKKαT23 is inhibited both by LY294002 and wortmannin, phosphorylation of Ser176/Ser180 is not. Neither inhibition of PI 3-kinase/AKT nor IKKαT23A overexpression affected IκBα degradation in response to IL-1. Only partial inhibition by dominant-negative AKT and no inhibitory effect of IKKαT23A was observed on an IL-6 promoter-specific NFκB site in contrast to significant inhibitory effects on the AP-1 site. Taken together, we have discovered a novel PI 3-kinase/AKT-dependent pathway in response to IL-1, encompassing PI 3-kinase/AKT/IKKαT23 upstream of AP-1. This novel pathway is a parallel pathway to the PI 3-kinase/AKT upstream of NFκB and both are involved in IL-6 gene transcription in response to IL-1.
X-ray Hazard from Electron Microscopes

The observation of x-ray emission from electron microscopes, which persisted for long periods, is reported. One incident occurred when oil vapor was drawn from the diffusion pump into the column because of failure of a sealing ring in the column. For a week or two after this occurrence, continuous x-ray emission was observed in an upward direction from the base of the gun whenever 100 kv was applied, accompanled by a gun-current reading due to the ion current. A second x-ray emission at 100 kv is also described. It is noted that additional lead glass protection was found desirable over the viewing window of the particular instrumert when lining up the column with 100 kv applied and the condenser aperture removed, because of x-ray emission from the screen. (P.C.H.)
Single layer garnet materials for 1 μm diameter bubble ion-implanted contiguous-disk devices

Abstract Single layer garnet films supporting 1 μm diameter bubble, ion-implanted contiguous-disk devices were grown from a PbOB 2 O 3 flux using the LPE method. The films have garnet compositions of the form of (YSmGdX) 3 (GaFe) 5 O 12 where X is either Tm, Yb or Lu. Characteristics of the films are presented. A typical worst case propagation margin of ∼ 30 Oe was achieved for a drive field > 45 Oe on close packed circuits with a 4.0 μm × 4.5 μm cell on (YSmGdTm) 3 (GaFe) 5 O 12 films.
Performance of multi-dimensional models for simulating diesel premixed charge compression ignition engine combustion using low- and high-pressure injectors

An engine CFD model has been developed to simulate premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) combustion using detailed chemistry. The numerical model is based on the KIVA code that is modified to use CHEMKIN as the chemistry solver. The model was applied to simulate ignition, combustion, and emissions processes in diesel engines operated to achieve PCCI conditions. Diesel PCCI experiments using both low- and high-pressure injectors were simulated. For the low-pressure injector with early injection (close to intake valve closure), the model shows that wall wetting can be minimized by using a pressure-swirl atomizer with a variable spray angle. In the case of using a high-pressure injector, it is found that late injection (SOI = 5 degrees ATDC) benefits soot emissions as a result of low-temperature combustion at highly premixed conditions. The model was also used to validate the emission reduction potential of an HSDI diesel engine using a double injection strategy that favours PCCI conditions. It is concluded that the present model is useful to assess future engine combustion concepts, such as PCCI and low-temperature combustion (LTC). (A)
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and Fluorescence Study of Thermochromism in an Ultrathin Poly(diacetylene) Film: Reversibility and Transition Kinetics

We have investigated the thermochromic transition of an ultrathin poly(diacetylene) film. The Langmuir film is composed of three layers of polymerized 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid [CH{sub 3}(CH{sub 2}){sub 11}C{triple_bond}CC{triple_bond}C(CH{sub 2}){sub 8}COOH] (poly-PCDA) organized into crystalline domains on a silicon substrate. Spectroscopic ellipsometry and fluorescence intensity measurements are obtained with in-situ temperature control. Poly-PCDA films exhibit a reversible thermal transition between the initial blue form and an intermediate ''purple'' form that exists only at elevated temperature (between 303-333 K), followed by an irreversible transition to the red form after annealing above 320 K. We propose that the purple form is thermally distorted blue poly-PCDA, and may represent a transitional configuration in the irreversible conversion to red. This hypothesis is supported by the appearance of unique features in the absorption spectra for each form as derived from the ellipsometry measurements. Significant fluorescence emission occurs only with the red form, and is reduced at elevated temperatures while the absorption remains unchanged. Reduced emission is likely related to thermal fluctuations of the hydrocarbon side chains. Time-resolved fluorescence measurements of the irreversible transition have been performed. Using a first-order kinetic analysis of these measurements we deduce an energy barrier of 17.6 {+-} 1.1 kcal mol{sup -1} between the blue and red forms.
Simulation of Perspective by Nonlinear Transformations

Abstract A feature of the brain processing the visualization of objects is such that objects that are much farther away from the eye look smaller than closer objects to the eye. We show that a family of nonlinear transformations, also to be called compactifications, simulate qualitatively this property of keeping objects in perspective. These transformations project objects in a plane on a spherical shell. It is shown then that an observer located at a fixed point on the axis of the sphere visualizes the projected objects on the sphere in perspective. Namely, that objects that are farther away from the observation point seem smaller. Examples are provided. This is a departure from the traditional approaches using linearity and projections of objects from one plane into another plane.
Yeasts from the North Sea

Yeasts were isolated from twelve established sites in the North Sea from 1964 to 1966. A percentage frequency of 99% with populations varying from 3000 viable cells/L was observed. This mycota was characterized by considerable spatial and temporal fluctuation, with the dominant yeast present being the ascosporogenous species, Debaryomyces hansenii. This taxon, as well as other common North Sea yeasts, e.g., Rhodotorula rubra and Candida diddensii, have been reported frequently from other marine locales. Noteworthy concentrations of yeasts, especially D. hansenii, were observed during summer months, often in association with various stages of development of the dinoflagellate, Noctiluca miliaris. The population dynamics of the North Sea yeasts are discussed in relation to similar studies of other marine environments.
Calretinin mRNA and immunoreactivity in the medullary reticular formation of the rat: colocalization with glutamate receptors.

Abstract Calretinin-positive cells were identified in the medullary reticular formation of the rat by both immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization histochemistry. In addition, double immunocytochemical labeling was used to examine the degree of colocalization of calretinin with GluR2/R3, GluR4 and GluR5−7 glutamate receptor subtypes. Results indicated regional variation in calretinin expression across reticular formation regions with the exception of the largest cells which were mostly calretinin-positive. Calretinin mRNA was particularly abundant in the parvocellular reticular nucleus. Most calretinin-immunoreactive cells also expressed at least one of the glutamate receptor subtypes examined with the exception of the smallest calretinin-positive cells of the parvocellular reticular formation which were generally not immunoreactive for any of the glutamate receptors examined. Calretinin immunoreactivity was colocalized with immunoreactivity for all three glutamate receptor subtypes examined in most of the large cells of the reticular formation. Immunoreactivity for the GluR4 antibody was least abundant in the reticular formation and GluR4 immunoreactive cells were least likely to co-express calretinin. These results suggest that calretinin and glutamate receptor antibodies may be used to identify specific subsets of reticular formation neurons.
Reproducible resistance transitions near room temperature in single crystal YBa2Cu3O7−δ with regional defects

Abstract Two drastically different transition temperatures have been observed in a nonhomogeneous single crystal of YBa2Cu3O7−δ. The resistance measured perpendicular to the platelet surface (along the c-axis) has the well-known superconducting transition associated with YBa2Cu3O7. In the direction parallel to the platelet surface, a sharp resistive change of more than 4 orders of magnitude was observed near 265 K. Several other samples have shown transitions near 330 K. Various electrical measurements and the material analyses suggest that these resistive transitions are associated with the defect-filled regions localized in the samples. The transitions became more reproducible in time and finally stabilized after the sample was kept in oxygen environment for more than one month.
Characterization of mild whole-body hyperthermia protocols using human breast, ovarian, and colon tumors grown in severe combined immunodeficient mice.

OBJECTIVE: We have shown that one treatment of fever-like whole body hyperthermia (WBH) on mice bearing human breast tumors results in a tumor growth delay. Our goal was to repeat this study in mice bearing human ovarian or colon tumors. We further evaluated this WBH protocol by performing multiple and interrupted WBH treatments. METHODS: Human tumors were grown in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. For WBH, core body temperatures were maintained at 39.8+/-0.2 degrees C for 6-8 hours. Multiple treatments were given 6-7 days apart. Interrupted WBH consisted of three 2-hour heatings, 15 minutes apart. Tumor growth time (TGT) was the number of days to grow 1.5 or 2 times in volume. RESULTS: For WBH-treated ovarian tumors, TGT was 12+/-1.2d, compared with 5.0+/-0.1d for untreated mice (P < 0.05). For colon tumors with one WBH treatment TGT was 4.4+/-1.1d. Two and three treatments had TGTs of 9+/-2.3d and 8+/-1.6d. For the untreated tumors, TGT was 2+/-0.7d (P < 0.01 for one, two, and three treatments). Histological examination indicated that one and two treatments were associated with cellular damage within the tumors. With a slower growing colon tumor, the TGT was 24+/-3.3d with three WBH treatments, compared with 14+/-1.8d for controls (P < 0.01). The TGT of breast tumors treated with interrupted WBH was not significantly different than the noninterrupted, with TGT of 7.3+/-0.8d and 6.2+/-1.0d, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data illustrate that WBH causes a tumor growth delay in mice bearing human ovarian and colon tumors. This response is enhanced with a second treatment of WBH. Interrupted and noninterrupted WBH give comparable anti-tumor results. We will continue to evaluate WBH in various animal models to optimize its potential for clinical administration and maximize the anti-tumor response.
Brownian motion in a quasi-cone

We determine precise logarithmic asymptotics of the probability of a large exit time for Brownian motion in a quasi-cone. This answers a question formally posed by Lifshits and Shi (Bernoulli 8:745–765, 2002), but first studied by Li (Ann Probab 31:1078–1096, 2001).
Analyzing power efficiency of optimization techniques and algorithm design methods for applications on heterogeneous platforms

Graphics processing units (GPUs) have become widely accepted as the computing platform of choice in many high performance computing domains. The availability of programming standards such as OpenCL are used to leverage the inherent parallelism offered by GPUs. Source code optimizations such as loop unrolling and tiling when targeted to heterogeneous applications have reported large gains in performance. However, given the power consumption of GPUs, platforms can exhaust their power budgets quickly. Better solutions are needed to effectively exploit the power-efficiency available on heterogeneous systems. In this work, we evaluate the power/performance efficiency of different optimizations used on heterogeneous applications. We analyze the power/performance trade-off by evaluating energy consumption of the optimizations. We compare the performance of different optimization techniques on four different fast Fourier transform implementations. Our study covers discrete GPUs, shared memory GPUs (APUs) and low power system-on-chip (SoC) devices, and includes hardware from AMD (Llano APUs and the Southern Islands GPU), Nvidia (Kepler), Intel (Ivy Bridge) and Qualcomm (Snapdragon S4) as test platforms. The study identifies the architectural and algorithmic factors which can most impact power consumption. We explore a range of application optimizations which show an increase in power consumption by 27%, but result in more than 1.8 A increase in speed of performance. We observe up to an 18% reduction in power consumption due to reduced kernel calls across FFT implementations. We also observe an 11% variation in energy consumption among different optimizations. We highlight how different optimizations can improve the execution performance of a heterogeneous application, but also impact the power efficiency of the application. More importantly, we demonstrate that different algorithms implementing the same fundamental function (FFT) can perform with vast differences based on the target hardware and associated application design.
Yeast U1 snRNP-pre-mRNA complex formation without U1snRNA-pre-mRNA base pairing.

Base pairing between the 59 end of U1 snRNA and the conserved 59 splice site of pre-mRNA is important for commitment complex formation in vitro. However, the biochemical mechanisms by which pre-mRNA is initially recognized by the splicing machinery is not well understood. To evaluate the role of this base pairing interaction, we truncated U1 snRNA to eliminate the RNA‐RNA interaction and surprisingly found that U1 snRNP can still form a nearly normal RNA‐protein complex and maintain sequence specificity. We propose that some feature of U1 snRNP, perhaps one or more protein factors, is more important than the base pairing for initial 59 splice site recognition. In addition, at least five sets of interactions contribute to complex formation or stability. Only one of these is base pairing between the 59 splice site and the 59 end of U1 snRNA, without which the U1 snRNP‐pre-mRNA complex is less stable and has a somewhat altered conformation.
Globally optimal regions and boundaries

We propose a new form of energy functional for the segmentation of regions in images, and an efficient method for finding its global optima. The energy can have contributions from both the region and its boundary, thus combining the best features of region- and boundary-based approaches to segmentation. By transforming the region energy into a boundary energy, we can treat both contributions on an equal footing, and solve the global optimization problem as a minimum mean weight cycle problem on a directed graph. The simple, polynomial-time algorithm requires no initialization and is highly parallelizable.
Decentralized Coordinated Attitude Control Within a Formation of Spacecraft

The problem of controlling the attitude of spacecraft within a formation is investigated. A class of decentralized coordinated attitude control laws using behavior-based control is developed. The decentralized coordinated attitude control laws that comprise the class differ by the coordination architecture used by the spacecraft formation. The choice of behavior weights defines the coordination architecture. A corollary of Barbalat’s Lemma is used to prove that the class of control laws globally asymptotically stabilizes the spacecraft formation. Convergence of the system is shown to be a consequence of the closed-loop equations of motion. Numeric simulation is used to reinforce the analytic results, and to briefly investigate the effect of coordination architecture on performance.
Further studies on the hypernoradrenergic state of treated hypertensives: effect of captopril.

We investigated the effect of captopril on plasma norepinephrine concentration and blood pressure in two groups of hypertensive patients. One group consisted of five severely hypertensive patients rendered hypernoradrenergic by administration of a minoxidil-propranolol-diuretic regimen. The other group was ten untreated mildly hypertensive patients.Two hours after 12.5mg of captopril, blood pressure was lowered (p<.05) in four of the five hypernoradrenergic patients from 180±8/102±8 to 132±7/77±8 mmHg. Chronic administration of 100-150mg of captopril tid caused no further blood pressure reduction.Precaptopril plasma norepinephrine concentration was 925±206 and two hours after the 12.5mg dose was 807±80 pg/ml. Three months later having advanced the dose to 300-450 mg/day it was lower (p<.05) at 752 pg/ml. The acute blood pressure response correlated (r=-0.72, p<.001) with the precaptopril plasma norepinephrine.Precaptopril blood pressure in the mild hypertensive patients was 146±4/98±1, after a 25-100mg do...
Pseudomonas aeruginosa LecB is involved in pilus biogenesis and protease IV activity but not in adhesion to respiratory mucins

Pseudomonas aeruginosa expresses two lectins which are implicated in adhesion and biofilm formation. In this study, we demonstrate that P. aeruginosa LecB is involved in pilus biogenesis and proteolytic activity. Moreover, neither lectin was involved in adhesion to human tracheobronchial mucin. We infer that some of the ascribed functions are secondary effects on other systems rather than effects of the lectins themselves.
Ordering random object poses

Complete or partial three-dimensional reconstruction of objects from multiple angle-views, or poses, is important in several applications such as photogrammetry, machine vision, and computer-aided design. Knowledge of the pose angles and their proper ordering are required for accurate reconstruction. When these multiple angle images are acquired in random order and the angle of view information is not available the poses have to be put into proper order. This work presents an approach based on principal component analysis (PCA) for automatic ordering of random object poses. A measure based on local curvature and correlation of the estimated pose trajectory in a multidimensional manifold is also developed to assess confidence in the ordering. In addition to providing a degree of confidence for pose ordering with single cameras, this measure enhances the pose estimation accuracy in double and multiple camera systems by providing a basis for camera selection for different poses. The paper presents theoretical development and experimental results.
Alterations in damage processes in dense cancellous bone following gamma-radiation sterilization.

Abstract Structurally intact cancellous bone allograft is an attractive tissue form because its high porosity can provide space for delivery of osteogenic factors and also allows for more rapid and complete in-growth of host tissues. Gamma radiation sterilization is commonly used in cancellous bone allograft to prevent disease transmission. Commonly used doses of gamma radiation sterilization (25–35 kGy) have been shown to modify cortical bone post-yield properties and crack propagation but have not been associated with changes in cancellous bone material properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of irradiation on the elastic and yield properties and microscopic tissue damage processes in dense cancellous bone. Cancellous bone specimens (13 control, 14 irradiated to 30 kGy) from bovine proximal tibiae were tested in compression to 1.3% apparent strain and examined for microscopic tissue damage. The yield strain in irradiated specimens (0.93±0.11%, mean±SD) did not differ from that in control specimens (0.90±0.11%, p =0.44). No differences in elastic modulus were observed between groups after accounting for differences in bone volume fraction. However, irradiated specimens showed greater residual strain ( p =0.01), increased number of microfractures ( p =0.02), and reduced amounts of cross-hatching type damage ( p
Terrestrial molluscs as indicators of global aeolian dust fluxes during glacial stages

This paper represents an approach to discerning the kind of climatic signal that land snails might record. The study uses previous analyses of the Achenheim molluscs, whose time series can be compared with ice-core records or marine records. Terrestrial molluscs are characteristic of the environment in which they live, mainly mirroring prevailing climate and vegetation. As a result of this relatively close connection between biotope and mollusc assemblages, reconstructions of past environments can be made that agree generally with results from pollen analyses. In this way, malacofaunas in loess sections permit determination of environmental variability and climatic change. Loess deposits, however, correspond to a particular environment. Decreasing or increasing dust deposition affects the molluscan assemblages by altering the environmental conditions for better or for worse. The variation in the mollusc diversity index in Achenheim shows a striking correspondence with dust-flux variation. There is only a low correlation between diversity index and temperature, precipitation or moisture estimates.
Towards Computer-Based Microstructure Models for Cement-Based Systems

Computer-based models represent an important development that should provide a scientific basis for in-depth predictions of the behavior of materials. Aspects of microstructure models for cement-based systems are described. A computer model is described that can incorporate many assumptions in the form of sub-models. Specific algorithms are selected to solve specific parts of the problem. The algorithm chosen depends on specific problem requirements at each stage of calculation, and these problem requirements may not be anticipated in advance. An important part of these computer models is that they incorporate a file of numbers, representing the microstructure, which can be operated on to effect an incremental change in the system.