cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Digital library framework for progressive compressed 3D models

With the growth in computing, storage, and networking infrastructure, it is becoming feasible for multimedia professionals, such as graphic designers in commercial, manufacturing, scientific, and entertainment areas, to work with 3D models of objects of their interest. As a result, the volume of 3D models available in digital form is rapidly growing. However, we lack a digital library system for these models, where they can be stored, searched and retrieved efficiently. As the size of data representing a 3D model is usually large, it presents a number of challenges in building an efficient digital library system. In this paper, we propose a digital library framework that is designed to provide storage services for 3D models, search and discovery services, and progressive retrieval services. The key to the digital library framework is a representation of a 3D model based on 'surface signatures'. This representation scheme captures the shape information of any free-form surface and encodes it into a 2D image corresponding to a certain point on the surface. The original object can be reconstructed from the intersection of the inverse mapping of few signatures with accuracy that depends on the location of the selected points and the number of signatures used in representing the object. This compressed representation allows for efficient storage and is amenable for progressive retrieval. Also, the 3-D objects can be checked for similarities in the compressed domain.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Low-density lipoprotein apheresis therapy during pregnancy

Pregnancy in patients with severe hypercholesterolemia and coronary artery disease results in multiple problems both for mother and fetus; the most potent agents for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol reduction, the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) cannot be used during pregnancy. We present a case in which LDL apheresis via heparin-induced extracorporeal LDL precipitation was employed safely and efficaciously during pregnancy in a woman with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and stable coronary artery disease.
Three-dimensional Velocity Fields for Newtonian and Non-Newtonian Melts Produced by a Rotating Magnetic Field

A model is developed to calculate fluid flow in Newtonian and non-Newtonian systems subjected to rotational electromagnetic stirring. In the former case, transport equations for K, the turbulence energy, and e, its rate of dissipation, were used to deduce the effective viscosity, while in the latter case, constitutiv relations were used to relate the shear stress to the rate of strain. The body forces due to the rotating magnetic field are deduced from the established analytical results obtined from the solution of Maxwell's equations.
Glove and gender effects on muscular fatigue evaluated by endurance and maximal voluntary contraction measures.

Objective: To investigate the effects of gender and gloves on hand fatigue, measured by the reduction in grip strength (ΔMVC), the shift in time needed to reach maximal voluntary contraction (MVC; ...
Participation in education among older people

National random sample data on 4254 people in four adult age categories were analyzed with regard to enrollments in different kinds of education settings, enrollment motives, and barriers to enrollment. Further analysis compared participants to nonparticipants. Most adult enrollments were at the college or university level before age 40, in other settings thereafter, and instrumental motives were predominant across the lifespan. Lack of time and interest were major barriers to enrollment among older people, and those enrolled generally had higher prior educational attainments, were younger, and lived in urban or suburban locations.
Early experience with percutaneous tracheotomy

Early reports of a percutaneous dilatational technique for tracheotomy tube placement have been encouraging. This method uses a needle for placement into the trachea, a J-tipped guidewire, and progressively larger dilators to widen the stoma for insertion of a tracheotomy tube. A prospective study was undertaken to assess the efficacy of this percutaneous tracheotomy technique. Serious complications were encountered, including difficulty with dilatation, excessive bleeding, false passage of the tracheotomy tube, and death. Because of this unacceptable morbidity, the study was terminated after enrollment of only seven patients. Percutaneous tracheotomy is a dangerous procedure with potential for catastrophic complications. These complications were encountered by third-and fourth-year surgical residents performing the procedure under close supervision. If the puncture technique is further popularized and attempted by untrained physicians, these authors predict many disasters.
C-Disaccharides I. Stereoselective approach to β-(1–4)-3-deoxy-C-disaccharides from levoglucosenone

Abstract β -(1–4)-C-Disaccharides have been synthesized in four steps by stereoselective base catalyzed Michael addition reaction of glucosyl nitromethane to the chiral synthon, levoglucosenone followed by radical removal of the nitro group with tributyltinhydride.
Why are mortgage rates so uniform

Any reasonable model of mortgage lending concludes that interest rates depend on loan and borrower characteristics. In this paper, the rate is a function of the loan-to-value ratio, the parameters of the densities of future price of housing and income, deposit rate, and cost of foreclosure. Nevertheless, in practice, each lender charges only one rate to all borrowers. This is first explained by the difficulty of estimation of the parameters of the density functions. Since lenders cannot categorize their borrowers, they treat them uniformly and set minimum standards to minimize the risk of default by each borrower. Mortgage insurance, moreover, enables lenders to lend risklessly outside of the range in which they can operate risklessly on their own. Second, mortgage rate uniformity is explained by the lenders' risk aversion. Third, when borrowers are separated into discrete categories, uniform rates can result from perfect categorization of borrowers with respect to the future value of the relevant random variables. It is more likely, however, that lenders cannot categorize borrowers perfectly and that interest rates vary substantially among categories. As rates jump from one category to the next and borrowers are reluctant to gain small increases in loan size at significantly higher rates, lenders respond by offering only the basic category of loans.
Monte Carlo studies of a driven lattice gas. I. Growth and asymmetry during phase segregation

We investigate the effects of an external field on the kinetics of phase segregation in systems with conservative diffusive dynamics. We find that, in contrast to the situation without a field, there are now qualitative differences between the results of microscopic simulations of a 2D lattice model with biased Kawasaki exchanges and those obtained from various modifications of the macroscopic Cahn-Hilliard equation (mCH). While both microscopic simulations and numerical solutions of MCH yield triangular domains, we find that in the former the triangles mainly point opposite to the field, while in the latter and in new calculations with the mCH they point along the field. On the other hand, the rate of growth of the clusters and their final state, bands parallel to the field, are similar. This issue and the question of the mesoscopic behavior of cell dynamical systems is discussed but not resolved.
Bitumen spreading and formation of thin bitumen films at a water surface

Abstract Bitumen spreading at gas bubble surfaces was observed through a stereoscopic microscope for Whiterocks oil sand samples submerged in alkaline solutions. This phenomenon was also observed for model systems where air bubbles were placed at the surface of a bitumen-coated quartz slide. Finally, the film pressure for bitumen films spreading at the aqueous phase surface was measured as a function of pH with the Wihelmy plate technique. It was found that a balance of interfacial tensions in all these systems favors spreading of the bitumen at the gas bubble surface because of a positive spreading coefficient. Filming occurs by the initial advancement of a thin film, the “bitumen film precursor”. This bitumen film precursor reduces the surface tension of the aqueous phase, and as a consequence, affects the driving force (spreading coefficient) for spreading. At room temperature, the gas bubble surface is covered by the bitumen film precursor during the first few seconds of contact between the phases. Subsequently, in a matter of minutes the bubble is enveloped by the bitumen film. Although thermodynamic conditions favor envelopment of the gas bubble by bitumen, several discontinuities in the thickness of the thin films (bitumen film precursors) were observed with a microscope. For oil sand systems, fine mineral particles with hydrophobic properties further complicate the spreading of bitumen over the gas bubble surface and promote the formation of bitumen islands.
CT number distribution and its association with local control and as a marker of lung tumor response to radiation.

An early noninvasive indicator of tumor response to therapy and the ability to predict clinical outcome may potentially enhance disease management. Currently, however, tumor response to therapy is often delayed, potentially compromising disease management. We examined the computed tomography (CT) number or Hounsfield unit distribution to follow lung tumor response to radiation treatment. To help interpret the results, we examined whether the CT number distribution follows a simple two-component model. The CT number distribution was derived from a CT-simulator for 11 patients with lung cancer before and after the initial radiation treatment (1–1.5 months, average 3,407 cGy). Clinical outcomes were followed in 8 patients who received 5,580–6,660 cGy. All patients were scanned serially, using identical radiation imaging parameters (voltage, current, scan time, and slice thickness) in a CT-simulator. The lung tumors were digitally contoured, and software windows were applied to avoid inclusion of lung tissue in the analysis. Histograms and statistical analysis of the CT numbers for the tumor were generated. Radiation-induced CT number or Hounsfield unit (HU) shifts exceeding a threshold (13 HU) in lung tumors were associated with (P = 0.04) local control (⩾10 months). Initial lung tumor size (below 100 cm3) was less well-associated with local control (P = 0.26). The change in standard deviation of the CT numbers (derived from the more careful contouring and using software windows) induced by radiation treatment correlated with the change in average CT number (R2 = 0.71). The change in standard deviation did not correlate with a change in tumor volume (R2 = 0.02). Radiation treatments reduced the average CT number (P < 0.001). In summary, radiation reduces the CT number and this reduction may be associated with local control at 10 months. A two-component model is consistent with lung tumor number distribution and its response to radiation. Radiat. Oncol. Invest. 6:281–288, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Copper pathways in Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes indicate an efflux role for the copper P-ATPase.

Copper, like iron, is a transition metal that can generate oxygen radicals by the Fenton reaction. The Plasmodium parasite invades an erythrocyte host cell containing 20 μM copper, of which 70% is contained in the Cu/Zn SOD (cuprozinc superoxide dismutase). In the present study, we follow the copper pathways in the Plasmodium-infected erythrocyte. Metal-determination analysis shows that the total copper content of Percoll-purified trophozoite-stage-infected erythrocytes is 66% that of uninfected erythrocytes. This decrease parallels the decrease seen in Cu/Zn SOD levels in parasite-infected erythrocytes. Neocuproine, an intracellular copper chelator, arrests parasites at the ring-to-trophozoite stage transition and also specifically decreases intraparasitic levels of Cu/Zn SOD and catalase. Up to 150 μM BCS (2,9-dimethyl-4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthrolinedisulphonic acid), an extracellular copper chelator, has no effect on parasite growth. We characterized a single copy PfCuP-ATPase (Plasmodium falciparum copper P-ATPase) transporter, which, like the Crypto-sporidium parvum copper P-ATPase, has a single copper-binding domain: ‘Met-Xaa-Cys-Xaa-Xaa-Cys’. Recombinant expression of the N-terminal metal-binding domain reveals that the protein specifically binds reduced copper. Transcription of the PfCuP-ATPase gene is the highest at late ring stage/early trophozoite, and is down-regulated in the presence of neocuproine. Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy indicate the transporter to be both in the parasite and on the erythrocyte membrane. Both the decrease in total copper and the location of the PfCuP-ATPase gene indicate a copper-efflux pathway from the infected erythrocyte.
Quantifying singlet fission in novel organic materials using nonlinear optics

Singlet fission is a form of multiple exciton generation in which two triplet excitons are produced from the decay of a photoexcited singlet exciton. In a small number of organic materials, most notably pentacene, this conversion process has been shown to occur with unity quantum yield on sub-ps timescales. However, a poorly understood mechanism for fission along with strict energy and geometry requirements have so far limited the observation of this process to a few classes of organic materials, with only a subset of these (most notably the polyacenes) showing both efficient fission and long-lived triplets. Here, we utilize novel organic materials to investigate how the efficiency of the fission process depends on the coupling and the energetic driving force between chromophores in both intra- and intermolecular singlet fission materials. We demonstrate how the triplet yield can be accurately quantified using a combination of traditional transient spectroscopies and recently developed excited state saturable absorption techniques. These results allow us to gain mechanistic insight into the fission process and suggest general strategies for generating new materials that can undergo efficient fission.
The basic techniques of intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring for spine surgery

Continuous intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring using appropriate monitoring modalities is crucial to prevent and minimize neurologic injury, which can be a direct result of surgical intervention or an indirect result of factors unrelated to the surgical field. The complexity of modern spine surgery, the abnormal physiologic position of the patient during surgery, and the long duration of the surgical procedures put the patient at risk for neurologic injury that may vary from a simple peripheral nerve neurapraxia to a devastating complete spinal cord injury. Neuromonitoring can prevent and correct most of these complications through early detection.
Studies on Thin Films (Dielectric and Metallic) Constituting Micro Thermo-Mechanical Sensors Embedded in Metal Structures

It is of interest to obtain the thermomechanical response of tools, equipment, and structural components in a real manufacturing environment. Microfabricated thin film thermocouples and strain gages are attractive for their small size and fast response. It is novel and challenging to fabricate these sensors on metal substrate and finally embed them into location of interest. Consequently, the materials (dielectric and metallic) constituting the sensor need to be characterized and optimized properly for reliability. We present here results of characterization and optimization of materials making a thermomechanical sensor to be embedded in metal structure.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Reinventing Mpowerment for Black Men: Long-Term Community Implementation of an Evidence-Based Program

Although research on the dissemination of evidence-based programs to community providers has rapidly grown, research describing implementation of evidence-based efforts remains a central need. Insight on implementation may aid in developing approaches to assisting organizations to use a variety of evidence-based practices effectively and to improve the design of programs that can and will be used faithfully. This mixed-method case study provides a descriptive account of the implementation of an evidence-based program designed principally for white gay and bisexual young men, the Mpowerment Project, in the 4th and 5th years after its initial adoption by an organization serving black gay and bisexual men. We identify factors that have shaped how the program has evolved and is currently operated. The case study results highlight how the dynamic interaction of practice-based experiences, skills, relationships, local context, and practitioner judgments about the relevance and credibility of evidence for specific actions propel the reinvention of evidence-based program procedures. Implications for research and practice are provided.
Studies of catecholamine metabolism in schizophrenia/psychosis-I

Acutely psychotic schizophrenic patients not taking antipsychotic medications and control subjects were studied before and during treatment with debrisoquin (DBQ), an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase, which does not penetrate into brain. Homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) were measured in plasma, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Significant differences between patients and control subjects were more easily discerned during treatment with DBQ. In patients, HVA was increased in plasma but not in urine or CSF, although MHPG was increased in all three fluids. There were many significant correlations between plasma MHPG and HVA levels and clinical ratings of psychoticism. Plasma MHPG correlated positively with both the severity of positive and negative symptoms and plasma HVA correlated only with positive symptom severity. These data suggest that both dopamine and norepinephrine (NE) metabolism are disturbed in acutely psychotic schizophrenic patients; disturbed NE metabolism may relate to negative symptoms as well.
Turning the Tables on Authority: The Power of Refusal

Waging Nonviolent Struggle: 20th Century Practice and 21st Century Potential. By Gene Sharp. Manchester, NH: Porter Sargent Publishers, 2005. 598 pp., $24.95 cloth (ISBN: 0-8755-8161-7), $14.95 paper (ISBN: 0-8755-8162-5). The connection between resistance and violent struggle is a familiar one, filling the pages of history as well as daily media reports. Such struggles are glorified as the essence of courage in the face of repression; so Minutemen and Marianne at the barricades become symbols of the weak taking power from the strong. Indeed, many people assume that, for an opposition to be effective, it must combat its opponent through violence, thereby undermining the monopoly on force traditionally enjoyed by the state and placing the state's security at risk. In Waging Nonviolent Struggle , Gene Sharp argues that repressive systems can be fought in another way, and in a way that may be even more effective at changing the structure of authority and giving powerless constituencies a voice. This theme is not new for Sharp, who is perhaps the preeminent authority on the methods and importance of nonviolent opposition (see, for example, Sharp 1973a, 1973b, 1985; Ackerman and Duvall 2001). “This other technique,” he writes, “is based on the ability to be stubborn, to refuse to cooperate, to disobey, to resist powerful opponents powerfully” (p. 14). The power that Sharp describes was recently on display in Ukraine, where the Orange Revolution provided a touching reminder that courage does not require weapons and that even a strong state can crumble in the face of a collective and insistent “no.” …
Studies on carbon tetrachloride-ethanol interactions in mice

Male C57BL/6J (C57) and DBA/2J (DBA) inbred mice were dosed with either corn oil or carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in corn oil 24 h before a 3.25 g/kg i.p. dose of ethanol. The CCl4 doses were increased in approximate half-log intervals (5, 15, 50, 150 or 500 microliter/kg, intragastrically (i.g.)). Blood acetaldehyde concentrations were significantly increased 1, 2, 3 and 4 h after ethanol administration at CCl4 doses of 15 microliter/kg and higher, with DBA and C57 mice exhibiting similar dose-response effects up to the 150 microliter/kg dose. A CCL4 dose of 500 microliter/kg produced differences in blood acetaldehyde elevation between the two inbred strains (DBA - 5-fold, C57 - 3-fold). Associated with the elevation of blood acetaldehyde content was a decrease in the rat of elimination of ethanol from blood. Using male genetically heterogeneous stock (HS) mice it was shown that phenobarbital pretreatment potentiated the CCl4-induced decrease in in vivo acetaldehyde oxidation. An equimolar dose of CHCl3 (0.5 mmol/kg) was without effect in either control or phenobarbital-pretreated mice. Mice pretreated with 0.5 mmol/kg, i.g., 1,2-dichloroethane, 1, 1,2-trichloroethylene or bromobenzene did not exhibit significant interaction with ethanol. These data show that in vivo acetaldehyde oxidation is inhibited by very low doses of CCl4 (15 microliter/kg, i.g.) and that this inhibition is enhanced by the cytochrome P-450-inducing agent phenobarbital.
Photo-oxidation of metal carbynes

Abstract Photo-oxidation of the metal carbyne complexes (η-C 5 H 5 )L 1 L 2 MCR (MMo, W; L 1 , L 2 CO, P(OMe) 3 ; R ≡ phenyl, cyclopropyl) generates radical that are extremely reactive. Depending on the reaction conditions, either the oxidized species exhibit the ligand exchange and atom abstraction processes typical of metal radicals, or the carbyne ligands undergo a series of highly unusual rearrangement to yield organic products. For the cyclopropyl carbynes (η 5 -C 5 H 5 )[P(OMe) 3 ](CO)MC(c-C 3 H 5 ), photo-oxidation in the absence of added ligands results in the formation of cyclopentenone. When substituents are present on the cyclopropyl ring, single regioisomers or stereoisomers of the resulting cyclopentenones are produced.
Reactor Pulse-Repeatability Studies at the Annular Core Research Reactor

The Annular Core Research Reactor (ACRR) at Sandia National Laboratories is a water-moderated pool-type reactor designed for testing many types of objects in the pulse and steady-state mode of operations. Personnel at Sandia began working to improve the repeatability of pulse operations for experimenters in the facility. The ACRR has a unique UO2–BeO fuel that makes the task of producing repeatable pulses difficult with the current operating procedure. The ACRR produces a significant quantity of photoneutrons through the 9Be(γ, n)8Be reaction in the fuel elements. The photoneutrons are the result of the gammas produced during fission and in fission product decay, so their production is very much dependent on the reactor power history and changes throughout the day/week of experiments in the facility. Because the photoneutrons interfere with the delayed-critical measurements required for accurate pulse reactivity prediction, a new operating procedure was created. The photoneutron effects at delayed critical are minimized when using the modified procedure. In addition, the pulse element removal time is standardized for all pulse operations with the modified procedure, and this produces less variation in reactivity removal times.
Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and affects up to 12% of all patients with SSc, with a 50% mortality rate within 3 years of PAH diagnosis. Compared with the idiopathic form of PAH (IPAH), patients with SSc-associated PAH (SSc-PAH) have a threefold increased risk of death and may receive a diagnosis late in the course of disease because of insidious onset and the high prevalence of cardiac, musculoskeletal, and pulmonary parenchymal comorbidities. Treatment with conventional forms of PAH therapy often yield poor results compared with IPAH cohorts; unfortunately, the exact reasons behind this remain poorly understood but likely include variations in the pathologic mechanisms, differences in cardiovascular response to increasing afterload, and inadequate strategies to detect and treat SSc-PAH early in its course. Current methods for screening and longitudinal evaluation of SSc-PAH, such as the 6-min walk test, transthoracic echocardiography, and MRI, each have notable advantages and disadvantages. We provide an up-to-date, focused review of SSc-PAH and how it differs from IPAH, including pathogenesis, appropriate screening for disease onset, and new approaches to treatment and longitudinal assessment of this disease.
Aminopyridazines attenuate hippocampus-dependent behavioral deficits induced by human β-amyloid in a murine model of neuroinflammation

The importance of glial cell-driven neuroinflammation in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) led us to initiate a drug discovery effort targeting the neuroinflammatory cycle that is characteristic of AD. We used our synthetic chemistry platform focused on bioavailable aminopyridazines as a new chemotype for AD drug discovery to develop novel, selective suppressors of key inflammatory and oxidative pathways in glia. We found that MW01-070C, an aminopyridazine that works via mechanisms distinct from NSAIDs and p38 MAPK inhibitors, attenuates β-amyloid (Aβ)-induced neuroinflammation and neuronal dysfunction in a dose-dependent manner, and prevents Aβ-induced behavioral impairment. In vivo data were obtained with a murine model that uses intraventricular infusion of human Aβ1–42 peptide and replicates many of the hallmarks of AD pathology, including neuroinflammation, neuronal and synaptic degeneration, and amyloid deposition. The quantifiable endpoint pathology is robust, reproducible, and rapid in onset. Our results provide a proof of concept that targeting neuroinflammation with aminopyridazines is a viable AD drug discovery approach that has the potential to modulate disease progression and document the utility of this mouse model for preclinical screening of compounds targeting AD-relevant neuroinflammation and neuronal death.
Disorder-induced Raman scattering in NiSi2.

Disorder-induced Raman scattering (DIRS) has been observed in epitaxial films of ${\mathrm{NiSi}}_{2}$ on (111) Si. The DIRS, which is found to have primarily A-like symmetry, is attributed to Si-site disorder. A comparison with lower-resolution inelastic-neutron-scattering measurements on polycrystalline films suggests that the Raman spectra represent a coupling-parameter-weighted density of states.
Simple predictive model for flavor production in hadronization

We have found a simple powerful Ansatz, interpreting the Lund symmetric-fragmentation function as a universal production density, which predicts multiplicities and momentum and ${P}_{T}^{2}$ distributions of the many meson and baryon flavors observed in ${e}^{+}$${e}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}}$ collisions at ${E}_{\mathrm{c}.\mathrm{m}.\mathrm{\ensuremath{\simeq}}30}$ GeV almost perfectly with only two ``natural'' parameters of the Lund symmetric-fragmentation function. The model depends only on hadron masses and not on quark-level suppression factors such as s/u or qq/q. At a minimum, it provides an easy basis for the prediction of particle production rates and distributions, and may provide insight into the actual production mechanism.
A very rapid turning of the plasma-tail axis of comet Bradfield 19791 on 1980 February 6

Schmidt camera photographs of comet Bradfield 19791 obtained at the Joint Observatory for Cometary Research (JOCR) indicate that a rapid change took place in the comet's plasma tail on 1980 February 6. On that date, a sequence of photographs spanning 27.5 minutes shows a 10 deg shift occurring in the plasma-tail axis between the first and last exposures. The speed of this tail-turning event greatly exceeds that of any other known event and even exceeds turning rates for individual tail streamers. An interpretation based on the windsock theory of plasma tails is that the comet entered a region of rapidly changing solar-wind flow direction. While the search for an associated solar-wind event from near-earth spacecraft observations is a future activity, the present analysis shows that a 50 km/s change in the polar component of the solar-wind velocity, from about 30 km/s northward to about 20 km/s southward, would have produced the 10 deg shift in the tail axis.
Effects of a lower-body exoskeleton device on metabolic cost and gait biomechanics during load carriage

This study investigated the effects on metabolic cost and gait biomechanics of using a prototype lower-body exoskeleton (EXO) to carry loads. Nine US Army participants walked at 1.34 m/s on a 0% grade for 8 min carrying military loads of 20 kg, 40 kg and 55 kg with and without the EXO. Mean oxygen consumption (VO(2)) scaled to body mass and scaled to total mass were significantly higher, by 60% and 41% respectively, when the EXO was worn, compared with the control condition. Mean VO(2) and mean VO(2) scaled to body mass significantly increased with load. The kinematic and kinetic data revealed significant differences between EXO and control conditions, such as walking with a more flexed posture and braking with higher ground reaction force at heel strike when wearing the EXO. Study findings demonstrate that the EXO increased users' metabolic cost while carrying various loads and altered their gait biomechanics compared with conventional load carriage. STATEMENT OF RELEVANCE: An EXO designed to assist in load bearing was found to raise energy expenditure substantially when tested by soldiers carrying military loads. EXO weight, weight distribution and design elements that altered users' walking biomechanics contributed to the high energy cost. To realise the potential of EXOs, focus on the user must accompany engineering advances.
Some general probabilistic estimations for the rate of convergence in operator semigroup representations

Starting from well-known estimations for the rate of convergence in Hille's, Phillips' and Widder's representation formulas for operator semigroups we show that by a suitable probabilistic approach, these results are easily reobtained, and can immediately be generalized to arbitrary (probabilistic) representation formulas. Some examples are also considered.
Immune regulation by phospholipase C-β isoforms

Rapid progress has recently been made regarding how phospholipase C (PLC)-β functions downstream of G protein-coupled receptors and how PLC-β functions in the nucleus. PLC-β has also been shown to interplay with tyrosine kinase-based signaling pathways, specifically to inhibit Stat5 activation by recruiting the protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1. In this regard, a new multimolecular signaling platform, named SPS complex, has been identified. The SPS complex has important regulatory roles in tumorigenesis and immune cell activation. Furthermore, a growing body of work suggests that PLC-β also participates in the differentiation and activation of immune cells that control both the innate and adaptive immune systems.
Effect of pH and Auxin on Chloride Uptake into Avena Coleoptile Cells

The effect of pH on 36Cl− movement into coleoptile cells (Avena sativa L. cv. Garry) was investigated and compared with effects of indoleacetic acid. 36Cl− uptake, but not efflux, is stimulated when coleoptile sections are placed in media adjusted to pH levels from 5 to 3 after a preincubation period at pH 6.5. The enhancement is seen within 2 minutes, is not correlated with growth, and is completely erased by respiratory inhibitors. In comparison to the acid-induced stimulation, the stimulatory effect of indoleacetic acid on 36Cl− uptake is also not accompanied by accelerated efflux, and indoleacetic acid does not further stimulate 36Cl− uptake into 1-millimeter sections beyond that seen at pH 3.5 without auxin.
Friction Behavior of Boric Acid and Annealed Boron Carbide Coatings Studied by In Situ Raman Tribometry

The sliding friction behavior of boric acid and annealed boron carbide coatings has been investigated by in situ Raman tribometry. Reciprocating sliding tests were performed in air (∼20% relative humidity) at 1 mm/s with a transparent sapphire hemisphere dead weight loaded against the coated substrates. A homebuilt micro-Raman tribometer recorded the friction force as well as allowed both visualization and Raman spectroscopy of the contacts during sliding. Friction coefficients for the boric acid films remained low (μ ∼ 0.06) throughout sliding until failure (μ ∼ 0.7), at which time boric acid was lost from the contact and substrate material (aluminum) transferred to the slider. Friction coefficients for the annealed boron carbide, known to form boric acid surface films upon cooling, were initially low (0.08), then gradually increased and leveled out at about 0.2. Raman spectroscopy revealed a mixture of boric acid and carbon initially; but as the friction coefficient rose, the boric acid intensity decrea...
Regeneration of waste SCR catalyst by air lift loop reactor

A solution of 0.1 mol/L to 1.0 mol/L H2SO4 can dissolve alkali metals and alkaline earth metals which weaken an active site of SCR catalyst. The waste catalyst washed with 0.5 mol/L H2SO4 regained the best catalytic activity. When a concentration of the sulfuric acid is less than 0.5 mol/L, sufficient cleaning effects cannot be obtained. In contrast, when the concentration is greater than 1.0 mol/L, the active components, vanadium and tungsten are undesirably eluted. The total BET surface of the catalyst regenerated by air lift loop reactor showed almost the same as that of fresh catalyst due to the removal of insoluble compounds which may be penetrated into pores of catalyst. The addition of a solution of 0.075 mol/L ammonium vanadate (NH4VO3) and 0.075 mol/L ammonium paratungstate (5(NH4)2O·12WO3·5H2O) to 0.1 mol/L H2SO4 significantly increases the activity of the waste catalyst.
Sequential activation and loss of the pre-B cell Thy-1 gene in T-cell X pre-B cell somatic hybrids.

In somatic cell hybrids between the pseudodiploid Thy-1− Abelson-leukemia-virus-induced pre-B cell lymphoma RAW 253.1 and the Thy-1+ T-cell lymphoma, AKR1 (Thy-1+), all cells express the Thy-1 allele of the T-cell parent but most hybrid cells do not express the Thy-1 allele of the pre-B cell lymphoma parent. The Thy-1 allele of the pre-B cell parent, however, is spontaneously activated in a minor proportion of hybrid cells. By sorting for cells expressing the Thy-1 allele of the pre-B cell parent, derivative clones in which 100% of cells express both parental Thy-1 alleles can be isolated. Revertants with a phenotype identical with that of the original hybrid cell line can be isolated from these derivatives by sorting for nonexpression of the Thy-1 allele of the pre-B cell parent. These first-generation revertant cell lines have lost one copy of the Thy-1 gene derived from the pre-B cell lymphoma parent. By a further cycle of sorting, derivatives in which 100% of cells express both parental Thy-1 alleles can again be obtained. Second-generation revertants isolated by sorting these Thy-1+ hybrid cells for nonexpression of the Thy-1 allele of the pre-B cell parent no longer contain a normal copy of the pre-B cell Thy-1 allele and this surface antigen is no longer expressed by any cells in the population. These results are consistent with a mechanism that sequentially activates each copy of the Thy-1 gene derived from the pre-B cell lymphoma parent. Hybrids between the class D Thy-1 − mutant, AKR1(Thy-1−d), in which the 5′ region of the Thy-1 structural gene has been deleted, and RAW 253.1 cannot be activated to express either Thy-1 allele. This result indicates that a sequence upstream of exon 2 of the active Thy-1 allele is critical for the initial activation event.
Targeted ablation of cardiac sympathetic neurons reduces the susceptibility to ischemia-induced sustained ventricular tachycardia in conscious rats

The Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial demonstrated that antiarrhythmic drugs not only fail to prevent sudden cardiac death, but actually increase overall mortality. These findings have been conf...
Ethylene production from propanal.

Tracer studies using a model system consisting of Cu2+ and ascorbate indicate that carbons 2 and 3 of propanal are converted to ethylene, and carbon 1 is converted to formic acid and CO2. A mechanism accounting for this reaction is described. In apple tissue, methionine but not propanal is readily incorporated into ethylene. It is therefore concluded that propanal is not a precursor of ethylene in this fruit.
ENCOURAGING MULTIPLE FORMS OF SCHOLARSHIP IN FACULTY REWARD SYSTEMS: Does It Make a Difference?

This article presents findings from a national study of Chief Academic Officers of 4-year institutions on the impact of policy efforts to encourage multiple forms of scholarship in faculty roles and rewards. The extent of reform, kinds of reform and influence of initiating reform is examined in four areas: expectations for faculty evaluation, the faculty evaluation process, promotion and tenure outcomes, and institutional effectiveness. The findings are also examined by institutional type. Findings from this study show that campuses that initiated policy reforms to encourage multiple forms of scholarship were significantly more likely than their counterparts to report that teaching scholarship and engagement counted more for faculty evaluation, to report a broader set of criteria used to assess scholarship, and report a higher percentage of tenure and promotion cases that emphasized their work in these areas. In addition, CAOs at campuses that initiated reforms reported a greater congruence between faculty priorities and institutional mission, and greater improvement in attention to undergraduate learning over the last decade.
Colony size, cell density and nature of the tumor promoter are critical variables in expression of a transformed phenotype (focus formation) in co-cultures of UV-TDTx and C3H10T1/2 cells.

UV-TDTx cells are cloned from foci arising after C3H10T1/2 cells are sequentially exposed to u.v. irradiation followed by tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA). When grown in pure culture, UV-TDTx cells appear transformed. Co-culture with C3H10T1/2 cells suppresses focus formation by the UV-TDTx cells. In the presence of TPA, however, focus formation by UV-TDTx cells occurs in C3H10T1/2 co-cultures. We now demonstrate that only tumor promoters that activate protein kinase C (TPA, teleocidin) can reverse C3H10T1/2 suppression of UV-TDTx focus formation in co-culture; other promoters (diethyl stilbestrol, dioxin, saccharin, cadmium) are inactive. Retinoic acid, a potent inhibitor of many biological effects of TPA, blocks the action of TPA in UV-TDTx:C3H10T1/2 co-cultures. Focus formation by UV-TDTx cells in co-culture is dependent on the size of the UV-TDTx colony at confluence; if the UV-TDTx colony is below a minimal size when the co-cultures reach density-dependent growth arrest, suppression of focus formation by C3H10T1/2 cells occurs even in the presence of TPA. Finally, TPA must be present prior to confluence to relieve suppression of focus formation. If TPA is added to co-cultures after density arrest, UV-TDTx cells will not subsequently form foci.
Towards a precision measurement of theta13 with reactor neutrinos: Initiatives in the United States

Recent experimental results have provided unambiguous evidence that neutrinos have a small but finite mass and mix from one type into another. The phenomenon of neutrino mixing is characterized by the coupling between the neutrino flavor (nu e,mu,tau) and mass eigenstates (nu 1,2,3) and the associated mixing angles. Previous neutrino oscillation experiments have determined two of the three mixing angles in the neutrino mixing matrix, U MNSP. Using multiple neutrino detectors placed at different distances from a nuclear power plant, a future reactor neutrino experiment has the potential to discover and measure the coupling of the electron neutrino flavor to the third mass eigenstate, Ue3, the last undetermined element of the neutrino mixing matrix. In this paper we describe recent efforts in the US towards a next-generation experiment to measure theta13 with reactor neutrinos.
Six Years of CO 2 Flux Measurements for a Moderately Grazed Mixed-Grass Prairie

The large area occupied by temperate grassland ecosystems makes it important to determine their strength as a carbon sink. The Bowen ratio/energy balance (BREB) technique was used to determine CO2 fluxes over a moderately grazed mixed-grass prairie at Mandan, North Dakota, USA, over a 6-year period from 1996 to 2001. Above-ground biomass and leaf area index (LAI) were measured about every 21 days throughout the growing period. Root biomass was determined to 1.1 m depth in mid-July each year. Peak above-ground biomass typically occurred between mid-July to early August and ranged from 782 kg/ha in 1998 to 2173 kg/ha in 1999. Maximum LAI ranged from 0.4 in 1998 to 0.9 in 1999. Root biomass ranged from 11.8 Mg/ha in 1997 to 17.4 Mg/ha in 1996. Maximum daily CO2 fluxes generally coincided with periods of maximum LAI and above-ground green biomass. The average time period for CO2 uptake was 5 May to 3 October. Annual CO2 fluxes ranged from a low of 13 g CO2/m2 in 1998 to a high of 247 g CO2/m2 in 2001, nearly a 20-fold difference, and averaged 108 g CO2/m2. The cumulative annual flux over all 6 years was 646 g CO2/m2 or 176 g CO2-C/m2. These results indicate that the strength of the carbon sink for this moderately grazed prairie site is about 30 g CO2-C/m2/yr, which is quite small, but considering that the site was grazed and still remains a sink for carbon, it is significant.
Scalar program performance on multiple-instruction-issue processors with a limited number of registers

The performance of multiple-instruction-issue processors with variable register file sizes is examined for a set of scalar programs. The authors make several important observations. First, multiple-instruction-issue processors can perform effectively without a large number of registers. In fact, the register files of many existing architectures (16-32 registers) are capable of sustaining a high instruction execution rate. Second, even for small register files (8-12 registers), substantial performance gains can be obtained by increasing the issue rate of a processor. In general, the percentage increase in performance achieved by increasing the issue rate is relatively constant for all register file sizes. Finally, code transformations designed for multiple-instruction-issue processors are found to be effective for all register file sizes; however, for small register files, the performance improvement is limited due to the excessive spill code introduced by the transformations. >
Prevention of Oral Diseases

Health care consumers and providers alike are placing greater emphasis on achieving health through disease prevention. Today, health and wellness are promoted as achievable priorities in our society—and oral health is included (Goldhaber, 1977; Green & Johnson, 1982; Iverson, 1980; Iverson & Kolbe, 1983; U.S. Department of HEW, 1979; World Health Organization, 1980). Although a treatment tradition and expectation—on the part of both dentistry and the public—has prevailed since dentistry was formally established, this orientation need not and, indeed, should not continue. Oral diseases should not be considered as inevitable, as one of life’s burdens that must be endured. Preventive measures are available now to prevent or control the two major oral diseases—dental caries and periodontal diseases. An intact dentition with healthy surrounding tissues is an achievable goal. How to achieve this goal is the theme of this chapter.
Theory of X-Ray Diffraction by a Distorted Crystal. II. Scattering Amplitude for a Wave Packet of Finite Size

The X-ray scattering amplitude for a finite wave packet diffracted by a distorted crystal is calculated by the use of a previously formulated theory (M. Kuriyama: J. Phys. Soc. Japan 23 (1967) 1369). Only a limited portion of the crystal is responsible for scattering. The geometrical arrangement of this region is discussed in terms of an observation point on the crystal exit surface, an incident (glancing) angle and an observation (detector) angle. The accuracy of the results depends on the lateral size of the incident X-ray beam. The internal wave fields and paths of classical energy flow are also discussed from the viewpoint of the present formulation.
Sexual activity and cardiovascular disease

Cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction (ED) are frequently comorbid. Therefore, it is important to consider the risk of renewed sexual activity after successful treatment of ED in men with cardiovascular disease. This article reviews the limited existing knowledge of the metabolic and cardiovascular demands of sexual activity. Evidence suggests that there is a small increase in cardiovascular risk related to sexual activity. Overall, however, the metabolic and cardiovascular demands of sexual activity are modest, and regular physical activity can almost eliminate the increase in risk occurring during sex. In addition, it is unlikely that any direct effect of a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor increases cardiovascular risk in patients with cardiovascular disease, absent the coadministration of organic nitrates.
The angular distribution of energetic electron and X‐ray emissions from triggered lightning leaders

[1] We investigate individual X-ray bursts from lightning leaders to determine if energetic electrons at the source (and hence X-rays) are emitted isotropically or with some degree of anisotropy. This study was motivated by the work of Saleh et al. (2009), which found the falloff of X-rays in concentric radial annuli, covering all azimuthal directions in each annulus, from the lightning channel to be most consistent with an isotropic electron source. Here we perform a statistical analysis of angular and spatial distributions of X-rays measured by up to 21 NaI/PMT detectors at the International Center for Lightning Research and Testing site for 21 leader X-ray bursts from five leaders (including four dart-stepped leaders and one dart leader). Two procedures were used to complete this analysis. Procedure 1 found the first-order anisotropy, and procedure 2 tested whether or not the angular distribution was consistent with an isotropic distribution. Because higher-order anisotropies could be present in the data, a distribution that is not isotropic does not necessarily have a significant first-order anisotropy. Using these procedures, we find that at least 11 out of 21 X-ray bursts have a statistically significant first-order anisotropy, and hence those 11 are inconsistent with an isotropic emission. The remaining 10 bursts do not have significant first-order anisotropy. However, of those 10 bursts, 9 are inconsistent with isotropic emission, since they exhibit significant higher-order anisotropies. Since Saleh et al. (2009) did not consider anisotropies in the azimuthal direction, these new measurements of anisotropy do not necessarily contradict that work. Indeed, our analysis supports the finding that the X-ray emissions from lightning are inconsistent with a vertically downward beam. The level of anisotropy of the runaway electrons is important because it provides, in principle, information on the streamer zone in front of the leader and the electric field near the lightning leader tip.