cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A system level solution for power electronic measurements

With the increased use of digital instrumentation in industrial applications, it becomes highly essential for the engineer to become more familiar and aware of the possible sources of measurement error related to the instruments being used and their internal construction. This paper aims to provide a common terminology, and error quantification in such systems. The discussion is aimed at both the user and the manufacturer of such instruments. The main body presents many performance features of modern digital measurement systems and the sources of error. Simple MATLAB/SIMULINK models attempt to simulate digital measurement system components in an intuitive manner. Developing such an understanding will aid in the determination of the required tests and the interpretation of their results. The work is aimed at a better understanding of the nonsinusoidal situation and the measuring problems due to nonsinusoidal conditions. The main part of this work is the development of a solid background using modern simulation tools of one of the main components of the measurement system, namely the data converter, and its requirements and errors. Sample data converter specifications are illustrated based on a sample nonlinear inverter waveform analysis. A new simple low cost topology for a data converter suitable for such an application is also presented and its performance is assessed using simulation. Finally, a comparison between this method and the existing one in TI DSP TMS2407 is made.
Genetic and biochemical diversity of ureases of Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella species isolated from urinary tract infection.

Bacterial urease, particularly from Proteus mirabilis, has been implicated as a contributing factor in the formation of urinary and kidney stones, obstruction of urinary catheters, and pyelonephritis. Weekly urine specimens (n = 1,135) from 32 patients, residing at two chronic-care facilities, with urinary catheters in place for greater than or equal to 30 days yielded 5,088 phenotypically and serotypically diverse bacterial isolates at greater than or equal to 10(5) CFU/ml. A total of 86% of specimens contained at least one urease-positive species, and 46% of 3,939 gram-negative bacilli were urease positive. For investigation of genetic relatedness of urease determinants, whole-cell DNA from 50 urease-positive isolates each of Providencia stuartii, Providencia rettgeri, P. mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Morganella morganii were hybridized with a urease gene probe derived from within the urease operon of Providencia stuartii BE2467. The percentage of strains hybridizing with the gene probe was 98 for Providencia stuartii, 100 for Providencia rettgeri, 70 for P. mirabilis, 2 for M. morganii, and 0 for P. vulgaris. Electrophoretic mobilities of ureases from representative isolates revealed nine different patterns among the five species. The urease gene probe hybridized with fragments of HindIII-digested chromosomal DNA from all isolates except M. morganii. Fragment sizes differed between species. Molecular sizes of the enzymes, determined by Sephacryl S-300 chromatography, were found to be 280 kilodaltons (kDa) (P. mirabilis), 323 to 337 kDa (Providencia stuartii, Providencia rettgeri, P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris), 620 kDa (providencia rettgeri), and greater than 700 kDa (M. morganii, Providencia rettgeri). Kms ranged from 0.7 mM urea for M. morganii to 60 mM urea for a P. mirabilis isolate. In general, P. mirabilis ureases demonstrated lower affinities for substrate but hydrolyzed urea at rates 6- to 25-fold faster than did enzymes from other species, which may explain the frequent association of this species with stone formation. Images
Transport of amantadine and rimantadine through the blood-brain barrier.

The unidirectional transport of amantadine and rimantadine across cerebral capillaries, the anatomical locus of the blood-brain barrier, was measured with an in situ rat brain perfusion technique. Both rimantadine and, to a lesser extent, amantadine were transported principally across the blood-brain barrier by a saturable transport system with a one-half saturation concentration of about 1.0 mM (either rimantadine or amantadine). The permeability surface area constants were 8.5 x 10(-2) sec-1 (rimantadine) and 1.1 x 10(-2) sec-1 (amantadine) with concentrations of less than 1.0 microM in the perfusate. The extraction of rimantadine and amantadine from the perfusate at low concentrations (less than 1.0 microM) was 88 and 26%, respectively, of the extraction of diazepam which is 100% extracted. Amantadine and rimantadine transport through the blood-brain barrier was significantly inhibited by weakly basic drugs (e.g., diphenhydramine) but not choline (10 mM), probenecid (1 mM) or leucine (1 mM). Inasmuch as both the pKa and percentage ionized at pH = 7.4 of rimantadine (10.4 and 99.9%, respectively) are much higher than that of amantadine (pKa = 9.0 and 97.5%, respectively), and inasmuch as rimantadine is transported into brain much more readily than amantadine, our results suggest that the carrier-mediated transport of the ionized moiety is the crucial process determining the penetration of amantadine and rimantadine through the blood-brain barrier.
DEVELOPMENTAL VARIABILITY AMONG LABORATORY REARED BALSAM WOOLLY APHID (HEMIPTERA: CHERMIDAE)

Neosistentes reared from eggs of the final generation of the year only developed under a regime of fluctuating temperature. Progeny of the first generation the following spring developed under both constant and fluctuating temperature. In addition, the latter group displayed developmental variability that might provide a basis from which distinct ecological races could develop. Those individuals that developed rapidly showed little variability in the time required to complete development. On the other hand, those that developed slowly displayed more variability. There was no evidence of two distinct developmental groups among individuals reared under a regime of temperature cycling between 55°F and 75°F as the entire group developed rapidly; this treatment also produced the lowest mortality.
Changes in human knee ligament stiffness secondary to osteoarthritis.

Stiffness of the medial (MCL) and lateral (LCL) collateral ligaments was compared between a group of 10 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty for varus degenerative osteoarthritis (OAP), a group of 10 osteoarthritic cadaveric knees (OAC), and a group of 10 non-osteoarthritic cadaveric knees (NOA). A load–elongation curve was obtained for the medial and lateral compartments of each knee using an instrumented Moreland spreader. A strain gage (SG) was attached to the spreader handle and strain was calibrated to load applied against the spread distance. In extension, medial compartment stiffness of the OAP, OAC, and NOA groups was 60.7±16, 52.8±9.3 and 21.4±5.0 N/mm, respectively. Lateral compartment stiffness in extension was 29.2±9.2, 33.3±10.3 and 19.5±5.3 N/mm, for OAP, OAC, and NOA, respectively. Differences in stiffness between the OAP and OAC groups were not statistically significant (p>0.05). However, the osteoarthritic groups (OAP and OAC) demonstrated a statistically significantly (p<0.05) increase in ligament stiffness when compared to the NOA group. Following knee arthroplasty, stiffer medial structures in extension may lead to flexion contracture and accelerated polyethylene wear. Adequate bone resection, in conjunction with soft tissue release may alleviate the threefold increase in stiffness observed in the medial compartment secondary to OA without jeopardizing joint stability.
Role of Surface Ligands in Nanoparticle Permeation through a Model Membrane: A Coarse‐grained Molecular Dynamics Simulations Study

How nanoparticles interact with biological membranes is of significant importance in determining the toxicity of nanoparticles as well as their potential applications in phototherapy, imaging and gene/drug delivery. It has been shown that such interactions are often determined by nanoparticle physicochemical factors such as size, shape, hydrophobicity and surface charge density. Surface modification of the nanoparticle offers the possibility of creating site-specific carriers for both drug delivery and diagnostic purposes. In this work, we use coarse-grained molecular dynamic simulations to explore the permeation characteristics of ligand-coated nanoparticles through a model membrane. We compare permeation behaviors of ligand-coated nanoparticles with bare nanoparticles to provide insights into how the ligands affect the permeation process. A series of simulations is carried out to validate a coarse-grained model for nanoparticles and a lipid membrane system. The minimum driving force for nanoparticles to...
Effect of ethanol and aging on histamine release and membranes of mast cells

The effects of ethanol on histamine release from mast cells were compared to ethanol's effects on membrane order of mast cell membranes and synaptosomes in young (6 month) and old (24 month) Fischer 344 rats. Concanavalin A (con A) stimulated histamine release in a concentration dependent manner. Ethanol (10-500 mM) inhibited con A stimulated release while having no effect on nonstimulated release in both young and old rats. Ethanol's effect on membrane order of synaptosomes and mast cell plasma membranes was estimated by measuring the fluorescence polarization of diphenylhexatriene. Ethanol (10-500 mM) decreased the polarization of synaptosomes to the same degree in young and old rats. The polarization of mast cell membranes was also decreased by ethanol but to a greater degree than synaptosomes. The ethanol induced changes in polarization correlated (r2 = 0.99) with ethanol's inhibition of con A stimulated histamine release from mast cells. These findings suggest that mast cells may be more sensitive to membrane disordering by ethanol than synaptosomes. In addition, we have demonstrated that mast cells may be a useful model system for studying ethanol effects on stimulus-secretion coupling. No differences were found between rats 6 and 24 months for histamine release (with or without ethanol) or membrane order of mast cells or synaptosomes.
GARP: Genetic algorithm for part packing in a rapid prototyping machine

A unique 3D packing problem with non-convex parts and without a gravity constraint can be defined in a selective laser sintering rapid prototyping machine. The goal for the packing task is to pack the parts to be manufactured as tightly as possible to maximize volume and machine time utilization. A genetic algorithm is used as a search engine to find a good packing pattern for parts. Each individual in a population represents one packing solution. The chromosomal representation is a 3D ordered list of integers where each sublist has a different allele set. A fitness function simulates the packing of parts and also evaluates the quality of a solution. To calculate part intersections, the fitness function uses methods common in computational geometry. Due to the chromosome structure used, there is a lack of genetic material in the population. Methods to introduce new material into the population are defined and tested. Experiments with more difficult packing problems, where all parts are complex in shape, prove that the developed genetic algorithm is robust and able to find a good solution in most problem instances.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Assistant Principal's Office: What Message Does It Convey?.

What sort of impression should an assistant principal seek to have the office environment promote when meeting the parents of a youngster who is in trouble? This writer reviews what research says about the options.
Cortical binocularity is disrupted by strabismus more slowly than by monocular deprivation

Abstract Two groups of normally reared kittens were exposed on postnatal day 28 to brief periods of monocular deprivation or experimental strabismus caused by optical prisms. Single-unit analysis was then carried out in striate cortex and ocular dominance distributions were determined. Both procedures were found to disrupt binocular connections, but effects from monocular deprivation occurred more rapidly and were more extensive. We conclude that in the short term, monocular deprivation is a more potent procedure and it is possible that, at least initially, it may involve different mechanisms.
Modal equations for the nonlinear flexural vibrations of a cylindrical shell

Boundary and continuity conditions for cylindrical shell under nonlinear flexural vibrations, discussing modal approximations for equations of motion
Increasing membrane permeability of UV-modified poly(ether sulfone) ultrafiltration membranes

Abstract The use of the chain transfer agent, 2-mercaptoethanol, and ethanol cleaning was successful in producing hydrophilic membranes with higher permeabilities than the unmodified poly(ether sulfone) (PES) membrane. Permeabilities of dip-modified membranes were three to five times higher than with ethanol cleaning alone. Membrane permeability increased by 50% for dip-modified membranes in the presence of a low 2-mercaptoethanol concentration and by 20–200% when high 2-mercaptoethanol concentrations were used. From the lower degree of grafting (DG) achieved, it was inferred that the graft chain density and chain length decreased with increasing concentration of chain transfer agent. However, the observed rejection was severely reduced indicating that dip-modification caused considerable pore enlargement. This was not previously observed because non-grafted homopolymer may have been formed which effectively blocked the pores. It is speculated that ethanol cleaning removed the homopolymer because it wets and possibly swells the membrane pore structure. This indicated that it was not possible to dip-modify 50 kDa PES UF membranes using 300 nm lamps and a benzene filter without causing significant change to the pore structure. In addition, the combination of irradiation and N -vinyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NVP) caused a more severe loss of observed rejection than irradiation alone. The molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) of membranes irradiated and/or dip-modified with or without 2-mercaptoethanol was estimated to be between 50 and 100 kDa using a calibration curve for observed rejection versus membrane MWCO. The high hydrophilicity, high permeability, and low fouling character of membranes modified with 2-mercaptoethanol and cleaned with ethanol make them desirable for the filtration of larger proteins (>500 kDa) or for applications with smaller proteins in which high protein transmission is required.
Ultrafast optical study of magnons in the ferromagnetic semiconductor GaMnAs

Abstract Coherent oscillations of the magnetization were observed in magneto-optical Kerr measurements in thin films of the ferromagnetic semiconductor GaMnAs. For magnetic fields oriented in the film plane, two precession modes were observed. Their frequencies increase with the field when it is along the [100] axis, whereas they behave non-monotonically when the field is oriented along the in-plane hard axis [110]. Spectra are also presented for fields applied normal to the film plane. From the measured field-dependence of the magnon frequency, the spin stiffness and magnetic anisotropy constants were obtained.
Nanoscale manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieves (OMS-2) as efficient photocatalysts in 2-propanol oxidation

Abstract Crystalline tunnel structure cryptomelane type manganese oxides (OMS-2) have been studied as photocatalysts for the selective oxidation of 2-propanol to acetone. The reaction is carried out with visible light irradiation at room temperature. The activities of various K-OMS-2 and metal doped OMS-2 (M-OMS-2) catalysts prepared by different synthesis procedures have been evaluated. K-OMS-2 and M-OMS-2 (M = Fe, Ni) with nanorod morphology were the most active photocatalysts. Conversions obtained for these catalysts ranged from 50 to 15%. K-OMS-2 fibers gave only 5–6% conversion. All reactions gave 100% selectivity to acetone. The reusability of the K-OMS-2 catalyst was also tested. Characterization of K-OMS-2 catalysts was done using several techniques like temperature programmed desorption, UV–vis spectroscopy, average oxidation state analysis, XRD, BET and FE-SEM. As suggested by the photochemical and characterization data, synthesis methodology, morphology, mixed valency and the release of oxygen from the OMS-2 structure are important factors for the design of active OMS-2 photocatalysts. XRD and FTIR were also used to study structural changes in the catalyst after photolysis.
Extension of a Two-Site transient kinetic model of TiO2 deactivation during photocatalytic oxidation of aromatics: concentration variations and catalyst regeneration studies

Abstract In our previous studies, three variations of a kinetic model for the transient gas–solid photocatalytic oxidation of aromatic contaminants on titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) were developed and compared with experimental data. Two of the models, based upon a single type of catalyst site, were not capable of replicating transient experimental data from the photocatalytic oxidation of benzene, toluene, or m -xylene in air at a single feed concentration (50 mg/m 3 ). The remaining kinetic model, the Two-Site model, presumed the presence of a more hydrophilic type of site and was capable of replicating the time-varying behavior seen with all three aromatic contaminants considered. In the present study, this Two-Site kinetic model is extended to separately consider the photocatalytic oxidation of gas-phase toluene at various feed concentrations (20–100 mg/m 3 ) and the regeneration of used catalysts via flowing, humidified air and UV illumination. Our Two-Site model provides reasonable fits for experimental data collected during the photocatalytic oxidation of toluene at several concentration levels with no significant changes to the prior model. It is also capable of representing catalyst regeneration, although some significant differences between the model predictions and experimental results are noted.
Reduced foraging of Solenopsis geminata (Hymenoptera : Formicidae) in the presence of parasitic Pseudacteon spp. (Diptera : Phoridae)

The rate of food retrieval in Costa Rican colonies of the fire ant, Solenopsis geminata (F.), declines to near zero in the presence of parasitic phorid flies of the genus Pseudacteon Coquillett (Diptera: Phoridae) because virtually all workers assume a distinctive antiparasitoid defense posture. The presence of a single male parasitoid is sufficient to elicit defense behavior in 100 or more workers and significantly reduces food retrieval. We hypothesize that interactions between phorid parasitoids and South American fire ants lead to similar disruptive behavior. In contrast to some other researchers, we argue that phorid parasitoids are excellent candidates for biological control of imported fire ants.
Modeling carrier relaxation in hot carrier solar cells

Third generation concepts in photovoltaic devices depend critically on the dynamics of ultrafast carrier relaxation and electron-phonon interactions on very short times scales in nanostructures such as quantum wells, wires and dots. Hot carrier solar cells in particular depend on the reduction in the energy relaxation rate in an absorber material, where hot carriers are extracted through energy selective contacts. Here we investigate the short time carrier relaxation in quantum well, hot electron solar cells under varying photoexcitation conditions using ensemble Monte Carlo (EMC) simulation coupled with rate equation models, to understand the limiting factors affecting cell performance. In particular, we focus on the potential role of hot phonons in reducing the energy loss rate in order to achieve sufficient carrier temperature for efficient performance.
A Lewis Acid Site-Activated Reaction in Zeolites: Thiophene Acylation by Butyryl Chloride

The acylation of thiophene by butyryl chloride has been studied in the liquid phase in the presence of 12 catalysts: HZSM-5, H-mordenite, and HY (ultrastable Y) with various framework Si/Al ratios, various numbers of Bronsted and Lewis sites, and various amounts of nonframework aluminum. The numbers of Bronsted and Lewis acid sites were obtained by FT-IR using chemisorbed ammonia, as described elsewhere. There is a correlation between the initial rates of reaction and the number of Lewis acid sites, whereas there is no correlation between the initial rates and the number of Bronsted sites. The correlation with the number of Lewis sites may be considered significant, since it expands on more than one order of magnitude. Poisoning of the catalyst probably results from the oligomerization on butyryl chloride. No carboxylic acid has been detected in the course of the reaction. No attempt has been made to determine the nature of the poisoning reaction.
Phylogeography of the Barred Owl (Strix varia): Species limits, multiple refugia, and range expansion

ABSTRACT. The Barred Owl (Strix varia) is a common nonmigratory owl distributed across southern Canada, south to California in the west, and to Texas and Florida in the east, with isolated populations in central Mexico. We examined the genetic structure of Barred Owl populations throughout their range using 500–600 base pairs each of one nuclear and three mitochondrial genes. In 75% of the shortest trees and 64% of the bootstrapped trees, Barred Owls were not monophyletic; rather, S. v. sartorii of Mexico was separated from the remaining taxa of S. varia by S. fulvescens of Central America. Consequently, the Barred Owls of Mexico are a species-level taxon. There was a large component (32%) of genetic variance distributed among population samples from the United States and Canada because of the occurrence of two clades of haplotypes (4.8% sequence divergence) with differing geographic distributions. One clade was predominant along the Atlantic Coast and the second in the south-central United States. The tw...
Studies on a ferrous-ion-oxidizing bacterium. II. Cytochrome composition

Abstract 1. 1. Cells of an iron-oxidizing bacterium have been shown to contain both cytochrome c and cytochrome a 1 . No cytochrome b was detected in whole cells or cell-free extracts. 2. 2. The cytochrome c was partially purified and had absorption maxima at 552, 523, and 417 mμ. Pyridine and cyanide hemochromogens showed it to be a c type cytochrome. The E 0 ′ at pH 7.0 was 0.31 v., while at pH 2.9 the potential was 0.38 v. The cytochrome was not oxidized by the air, and its concentration in the cell was 88 mg./g. nitrogen. 3. 3. Both the cytochrome c and cytochrome a 1 were reduced when ferrous ion was added to a cell suspension. The relation of the cytochrome composition to the physiology of the organism is discussed, and it is proposed that the biological oxidation of iron involves a transfer of electrons from iron to cytochrome c, cytochrome a 1 , and oxygen in that sequence.
Engineered low-dimensional nanomaterials for sensors, actuators, and electronics

We present an overview of our research on nanoelectronics and nanomechanics based on low-dimensional materials, including carbon nanotubes and graphene. Our primary research focus is on carbon nanotube and graphene architectures for electronics, energy harvesting, and sensing applications. We are also investigating an atomically precise graphene nanomachining method as well as a high-throughput desktop nanolithography process. In addition, we are exploiting nanomechanical actuators and nanoscale measurement techniques for reconfigurable arrayed nanostructures with applications in THz antennas, remote detectors, and biomedical nanorobots. Last, we are studying the effect of antibody functionalized nickel nanowires to improve cell separation techniques. These design, nanofabrication, manipulation, and characterization processes will enable next-generation nanoelectronics that have a wide range of applications including sensors, detectors, system-on-a-chip, system-in-a-package, programmable logic controls, energy storage systems, and all-electronic systems.
Perpendicular Magnetic Particle Imaging, pMPI

Current magnetic particle imaging methods use an alternating magnetic field (AMF) to induce magnetization from the magnetic nanoparticles. The dominant component of the magnetization is in the same direction as the AMF; hence only the harmonics of the magnetization can be isolated from the AMF using their frequencies. We recently introduced a method of using a small static field to induce a component of the magnetization in the direction perpendicular to the AMF. The perpendicular magnetization is geometrically as well as spectrally decoupled from the AMF. The magnetization is generated as the AMF passes though zero and is entirely composed of even harmonics. The method was developed for spectroscopic sensing applications. Here we suggest that perpendicular magnetization can be used to image the spatial distribution of magnetic nanoparticles. Two gradient orientations can be used and simulations of the two were made to perform a preliminary comparison. In both cases, spatial gradients in static magnetic fields were employed. The direction of magnetic field is critical: In the first case, the static gradient fields are in the direction perpendicular to the AMF. In the second case, the static gradient fields are in the same direction as the AMF. In both cases, there would be gradients in all three directions. In both cases, the AMF can be large enough to image all pixels in the field of view at once, or a stepped static field can be used to break the field of view into subregions to reduce the power requirements on the AMF. Both methods should be able to produce low-noise images with reasonably conditioned reconstructions that are less than ten.
Web-based radiology applications for clinicians and radiologists

The University of Pennsylvania Radiology Department has developed a suite of Web based applications for clinicians and radiologists to provide wide spread, cost-effective and easy access to radiological information. The Image Viewer application provides clinicians and radiologists access to all diagnostic reports and digital images performed in the last week for all Emergency Dept., Intensive Care Unit and Neuro/CT studies. Image control options including zoom/pan, rotate, flip, and window/level are all available. The image mover/viewer application gives radiologists and technologists the ability to both move studies between any DICOM Storage Class Provider (SCP) and DICOM storage class user (SCU) and to view studies from any DICOM displayed. Web server support requires integration using Perl based CGI scripts with our DICOM/PACS and the MIR/CTN for images and our IDXrad/RIS for reports. Targeted images and reports are automatically routed from the PACS and RIS for storage on the web server. All images sent to the web server are modality specific per-processed to reduce size and improve contrast. After processing, all images are stored in DICOM and GIF formats. Client support requires web browsers with JavaScript and frame support.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
SPATIAL DISPERSION AND DENSITY DEPENDENCE IN A PERENNIAL DESERT SHRUB (CHRYSOTHAMNUS NAUSEOSUS: ASTERACEAE)

Dogma asserts that desert shrubs should become uniformly dispersed through time through a process of self-thinning caused by competition for water. We present long-term data (1985–2001) on two nearby populations of the perennial shrub, Chrysothamnus nauseosus ssp. consimilis, in sand-dune ecosystems near Mono Lake, California. Because previous studies established that water limited the growth, survival, and reproduction of this shrub, we searched for population-level patterns of competition. A seven-year history of survival, growth, and flowering of marked individuals delineated five demographic stage classes corresponding roughly to age and plant size: seedlings, nonflowering juveniles, juveniles that later flowered, adults that flowered intermittently, and “immortal” adults that flowered annually. For all stages except nonflowering juveniles, initial size was a strong predictor of life expectancy, and for the reproductive classes, flowering was associated with larger size and higher survival. Survival o...
Aromatizität und pericyclische Reaktionen

Pericyclische Reaktionen ahneln formal dem Ubergang einer Kekule-Struktur in eine andere; der Ubergangszustand kann „aromatisch”, „nichtaromatisch” oder „antiaromatisch” sein. Thermische pericyclische Reaktionen verlaufen bevorzugt uber aromatische Ubergangszustande. Photochemische pericyclische Reaktionen fuhren dagegen bevorzugt zu Produkten, die thermisch uber antiaromatische Ubergangszustande gebildet wurden.
The use of recombinant factor VIIa in the treatment of bleeding disorders

Recombinant factor VIIa was initially developed for the treatment of hemorrhagic episodes in hemophilic patients with inhibitors to factors VIII and IX. After its introduction, it has also been used “off-label” to enhance hemostasis in nonhemophilic patients who experience bleeding episodes not responsive to conventional therapy. Evidence so far indicates that the use of factor VIIa in hemophilic patients with inhibitors is both safe and effective. Anecdotal reports also suggest that the product is safe and effective in controlling bleeding in nonhemophilic patients. However, its use in these conditions has not been approved by the FDA, and conclusive evidence of its effectiveness from controlled clinical trials is not yet available. Several questions pertaining to the use of factor VIIa require further investigation, including the mechanism of action; the optimal dose; definitive indications; ultimate safety; and laboratory tests for monitoring therapy. (Blood. 2004;104:3858-3864)
Ordinal arithmetic based on Skolem hulling

Abstract Taking up ordinal notations derived from Skolem hull operators familiar in the field of infinitary proof theory we develop a toolkit of ordinal arithmetic that generally applies whenever ordinal structures are analyzed whose combinatorial complexity does not exceed the strength of the system KP l 0 of set theory. The original purpose of doing so was inspired by the analysis of ordinal structures based on elementarity invented by T.J. Carlson, see [T.J. Carlson, Elementary patterns of resemblance, Annals of Pure and Applied Logic 108 (2001) 19–77], [G. Wilken, Σ 1 -Elementarity and Skolem hull operators, Annals of Pure and Applied Logic 145 (2) (2007) 162–175], and [G. Wilken, Assignment of ordinals to patterns of resemblance, The Journal of Symbolic Logic (in press)]. Within the arithmetical context laid bare in this work, the “ KP l 0 -numbers” play a role analogous to the role epsilon numbers play in the ordinal arithmetic based on the notion of Cantor normal form.
The role of the mutT gene of Escherichia coli in maintaining replication fidelity

Spontaneous mutation levels are kept low in most organisms by a variety of error-reducing mechanisms, some of which ensure a high level of fidelity during DNA replication. The mutT gene of Escherichia coli is an important participant in avoiding such replication mistakes. An inactive mutT allele is a strong mutator with strict mutational specificity: only A.T-->C.G transversions are enhanced. The biological role of the MutT protein is thought to be the prevention of A.G mispairs during replication, specifically the mispair involving a template A and an oxidized form of guanine, 8-oxoguanine, which results when the oxidized form of dGTP, 8-oxodGTP, is available as a polymerase substrate. MutT is part of an elaborate defense system that protects against the mutagenic effects of oxidized guanine as a part of substrate dGTP and chromosomal DNA. The A.G mispairings prevented by MutT are not well-recognized and/or repaired by other fidelity mechanisms such as proofreading and mismatch repair, accounting in part for the high mutator activity of mutT. MutT is a nucleoside triphosphatase with a preference for the syn form of dGTP, hydrolyzing it to dGMP and pyrophosphate. 8-oxodGTP is hydrolyzed 10 times faster than dGTP, making it a likely biological substrate for MutT. MutT is assumed to hydrolyze 8-oxodGTP in the nucleotide pool before it can be misincorporated. While the broad role of MutT in error avoidance seems resolved, important details that are still unclear are pointed out in this review.
Bone marrow angiogenesis and circulating plasma cells in multiple myeloma.

Summary. Bone marrow (BM) angiogenesis is increased in multiple myeloma (MM) and has prognostic significance. The presence of circulating plasma cells (PCs) in MM is associated with a poorer prognosis. We examined BM biopsies obtained at diagnosis of MM for angiogenesis, and correlated the microvessel density (MVD) with the presence of circulating PCs. There was a positive correlation between the absolute number of circulating PCs and the mean MVD. This relationship was independent of the disease activity and of the PC burden in the marrow. The increased angiogenesis may promote plasma cell proliferation and enable PC migration into the circulation.
Practice Issues: Understanding Aged Holocaust Survivors

The new regulations throughout Europe concerning increased reparations for Holocaust survivors and the recent opportunities for restitution from Swiss banks have resulted in renewed interest in the situation of aged Holocaust survivors. Understanding the special needs of aged survivors is essential to providing services and the supportive evidence needed for the receipt of financial compensation. Although survivors now seek the help of social workers for practical reasons, the process is charged with painful and horrifying memories. Practice with survivors must address these feelings. In addition, survivors are coping currently with the losses attendant to aging in a context which includes the suffering for themselves and their adult children still directly related to the Holocaust experience. Social workers will likely serve aged survivors and their families in senior programs, hospitals, and nursing homes and must consider the practice issues related to this population.
Non-opioid-based approaches to burn pain.

Burn pain is almost always acute, and treatment strategies are often on the opposite end of the spectrum from chronic pain. However, many of the techniques developed for chronic pain can be useful for burn pain, particularly when the problem involves characteristics of both. The cognitive styles that patients bring to burn care and the manner in which they interpret nociception provide a rich source of intervention strategies. Learning theory can be extremely useful in pain control, particularly if such principles are structured into the overall manner in which care is provided (e.g., medication schedules and therapy approaches). Because patients in the burn unit often undergo significant distress, less conventional approaches such as hypnosis may assume a legitimate role. Finally, the needs of children have been neglected in the burn pain literature, and efforts on adjunctive techniques should also consider this population.
THE MENOPAUSE A CONSIDERATION OF THE SYMPTOMS, ETIOLOGY, AND TREATMENT BY MEANS OF ESTROGENS

The treatment of menopause symptoms by ovarian extracts dates back a full generation, but therapy by means of pure hormone preparations is of very much more recent origin. Large quantities of pure estrogens have become available only during the past 5 years. This report deals with the treatment of 200 cases of menopause by means of purified or crystalline estrogenic hormones (except one). These patients have been observed over a period of not less than 6 months and, on the average, not more than 3 years years. Several patients have been observed for about 4 years. Distribution of cases. The etiological factors in the causation of the menopause have been as follows; spontaneous menopause, 160 cases= surgical menopause, 34 cases= radiation menopause, 6 cases.
Mechanism for Tensile Strain Hardening in High Performance Cement-based Fiber Reinforced Composites

Abstract The mechanism responsible for the improvement in tensile strain capacity of FRC (fiber reinforced concrete) as a result of the addition of high volume fraction of discontinuous fibers was investigated, using energy changes associated with cracking. The energy terms considered include: matrix fracture energy, matrix strain energy. debonding energy, fiber strain energy and fiber frictional energy. Assuming that the first observed crack is also the failure crack, it was found that multiple cracking occurs in high performance FRC. In such composites the energy needed to open the critical cracks exceeds the energy needed to form a new crack. The analysis predicts that the major energy term determining this behavior is the fiber debonding energy. Multiple cracking was observed in fiber reinforced small densified DSP (particles) containing a high volume fraction (higher than 3%) of fine and short steel fibers. Because crack localization did not occur during multiple cracking, very large increases in total strain capacity were achieved with increasing fiber volume fraction. At 12% fiber volume fraction, a total strain capacity of about 0·2% was measured from flexures tests; an increase of about 15 to 20 times over that of the plain matrix.
Insulin resistance in adipose tissue: direct and indirect effects of tumor necrosis factor-α

Insulin resistance is a fundamental defect that precedes the development of the full insulin resistance syndrome as well as beta cell failure and type 2 diabetes. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a paracrine/autocrine factor highly expressed in adipose tissues of obese animals and human subjects, is implicated in the induction of insulin resistance seen in obesity and type 2 diabetes. Here, we review several molecular aspects of adipose tissue physiology, and highlight the direct effects of TNF-alpha on the functions of adipose tissue including induction of lipolysis, inhibition of insulin signaling, and alterations in expression of adipocyte important genes through activation of NF-kappaB, as well as their pertinence to insulin sensitivity of adipocytes. We also review the ability of TNF-alpha to inhibit synthesis of several adipocyte-specific proteins including Acrp30 (adiponectin) and enhance release of free fatty acids (FFAs) from adipose tissue, and discuss how these factors may act as systemic mediators of TNF-alpha and affect whole body energy homeostasis and overall insulin sensitivity. On the basis of these mechanisms, we examine the therapeutic potential of blocking specific autocrine/paracrine signaling pathways in adipocytes, particularly those involving NF-kappaB, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
The Role of Ascorbate in Biomembrane Energetics

The mechanism(s) whereby membrane translocations are energized are poorly understood. Our work has focused on transmembrane microsomal and plasma membrane redox constituents as a means to energize membranes via alternative mechanisms complementary to ATP-driven processes. One such component is NADH-ascorbate free radical (mono- or semidehydroascorbate) oxidoreductase. This activity is associated with the trans or exit face of the Golgi apparatus, transport vesicles that move between the Golgi apparatus and the plasma membrane, and with the plasma membrane itself. Various lines of evidence, mostly indirect, link this activity to membrane translocations. Included is an apparent activation of the reductase in membranes when coated with clathrin, a single large polypeptide chain involved in exocytosis and in receptor-mediated and absorptive endocytosis. The results are consistent with a role of the ascorbate free radical as an acceptor for electron transport-mediated transfer of electrons from NADH perhaps to oxygen by coated membranes as a part of a mechanism to drive membrane translocations via generation of a proton gradient or of a membrane potential. Additionally, plasma membrane redox may be important in the regulation of cell growth, but a strict dependence on ascorbate free radical for the latter seems less likely than with internal endomembranes, where redox function may strictly depend upon the restricted pool of regeneratable acceptor that the ascorbate free radical provides.
De Bruijn covering codes with arbitrary alphabets

Let @W be a set of q symbols and @W^n={x"1...x"n|x"[email protected][email protected]}. We prove that for any fixed q and R, there is a de Bruijn covering code of radius R of length O(q^n(nR)lnn), answering a question of Chung and Cooper.
The relationship of sodium balance and concomitant diuretic therapy to blood pressure response with calcium channel entry blockers.

Abstract Marked heterogeneity exists in the response of blood pressure to specific antihypertensive agents. In general, a single therapeutic agent can be expected to provide an adequate blood pressure response in 40% to 60% of hypertensive patients. The addition of a second agent usually extends the response rate to over 85%. The addition of a diuretic to nondiuretic regimens often produces an additive blood pressure-lowering effect. However, calcium channel entry blockers (CCBs) may be an exceptions, as diuretics do not appear to improve these agents' efficacy. CCBs have a dual mechanism for blood pressure reduction. In addition to their vasodilatory actions, they also promote diuresis and natriuresis. These features account for the striking efficacy of these agents when used as monotherapy in hypertensive patients. Studies have shown that dietary sodium restriction does not appear to improve the efficacy of CCBs, nor is a high-salt diet predictive of a better therapeutic outcome. Recent studies also indicate that the addition of a diuretic to a CCB does not produce a significant or consistent additive antihypertensive effect. Because CCBs do not produce the typical responses of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system to sodium/volume depletion, their diuretic and natriuretic effects do not result in the same adverse metabolic consequences as experienced with traditional diuretic therapy.
Coming to a Foundational Understanding of Multicultural Education for Social Justice.

Although scholarship has described the challenges inherent in becoming a teacher, less attention has been paid to the process of becoming a teacher educator. Within this paper, I describe the intellectual and pedagogical struggles I have experienced as a graduate student and novice teacher educator committed to the goals and aims of multicultural education. Specifically, I describe my efforts to integrate social foundations and multicultural education.
NMDA-evoked consumption and recovery of mitochondrially targeted aequorin suggests increased Ca2+ uptake by a subset of mitochondria in hippocampal neurons

Abstract Activation of NMDA receptors produces large increases in cytosolic Ca2+ that are taken up into mitochondria. We used recombinant aequorin targeted to mitochondria to report changes in matrix Ca2+ in rat hippocampal neurons in culture. Upon binding Ca2+, aequorin emits a photon in a one-shot reaction that consumes the indicator. Here we show that stimulation with NMDA produced a mitochondrial Ca2+ response that rapidly inactivated. However, following a 30-min recovery period the response was restored, suggesting the presence of a pool of indicator that was not exposed to high Ca2+ during the initial stimulus. We speculate that aequorin distant from the Ca2+ source was protected from microdomains of high Ca2+ near the plasmalemma and that this aequorin moved, either by movement of individual mitochondria or via the mitochondrial tubular network, to replenish consumed indicator during the recovery time. A large Ca2+ increase in a subset of mitochondria could produce local changes in energy metabolism, regional Ca2+ buffering, and foci that initiate neurotoxic processes.
Radical Lawmakers in Colonial Massachusetts: The `Countenance of Authoritie' and the Lawes and Libertyes

GENOA, the city and its university, celebrated the Columbus Quincentenary in grand style during the fall of 1992. Among the festivities were a number of distinguished international conferences and addresses, including the conference "I1 diritto dei nuovi mondi" (the "law of new worlds"), which both looked back to the historical effects of Columbus's discoveries on modern law and forward to the "new worlds" of the future, including the new legal worlds of computer technology, satellites, and space exploration. The following paper was delivered at that conference through the kind invitation and support of the University of Genoa, Professor Giovanna Visintini, and Professor Vito Piergiovanni. With the reader's kind forbearance, I would like to "set the scene." Those familiar with modern Italy will accept at once the paradox of anus, the bifrons Roman god of gates and doorways whose double face looks backward and forward simultaneously. The Columbus lectures, including those on space law and satellite communications, took place in the sixteenth-century Palace of the Jesuits. At intervals, meticulous waiters in white gloves served coffee from elegant silver pots. In the busy medieval streets
A basis for unified flood‐control operation of reservoir systems

Reservoir operations for passage of flood waters customarily depend upon water levels in the reservoir or upon flows entering the reservoir. Both of these factors are influenced materially by the manner of operation of other reservoirs in the watershed, and by the construction and operation of any dam, levee, or channel improvement in the upstream flood plain. The purpose of this paper is to present a criterion of effective operation which would independent of upstream reservoir operation and which would also be equitably alterable as upstream developments increase or decrease the flood-control capability of the reservoir system. Advance drawdown of pool levels for flood storage and the control of a tributary to keep its flow off the flood peak of a main stream are illustrated. The method is presented as being most useful in reservoir developments principally for power generation, irrigation, and navigation, and secondarily for flood control; and most needed in developments in which only a small amount of reservoir storage capacity is reserved for flood-time use.
Using Multiple Methods to Assess Students' Perceptions of Classroom Goal Structures

Two studies were conducted to examine how students perceive and interpret achievement goal messages in the classroom. The first study, using observational and interview methodologies in four classrooms, found that goals are rarely explicitly discussed by teachers or students in the classroom, and that teachers often provide mixed and contradictory goal messages. In addition, students differed in their perception of and reaction to goal messages, partly according to age and achievement levels. The second study employed survey methods and hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) analytic methods with a sample of high school students. This study revealed that both individual-level and classroom-level goal structure perceptions were associated with students' personal goals, self-handicapping, value, and achievement in English classes. The results from the two studies suggest that teachers can create coherent goal structures that affect students' personal goals and achievement in the classroom, but these goal struct...