cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cold-work internal friction peak in iron

Abstract An investigation of the cold-work peak in iron containing N confirms in modified form, the saturation effect reported by Koster. This effect, coupled with strain-aging results, was used to estimate the number of N atoms per atomic length of dislocation that contribute to the damping peak. The complementary relationship between the Snoek and cold-work peak heights seen upon aging at temperatures greater than that of the cold-work peak is shown to be primarily the result of dislocation recovery upon which is superimposed a lesser thermal distribution effect. An experimental technique for evaluating the latter effect has been proposed, and the free energy expression governing the distribution of N atoms between lattice and dislocation sites has been found to be of the form: ΔG = −0.47–2.6 × 10−4T eV. A residual cold-work peak has been found in specimens having no Snoek peak and is believed due to the migration of N atoms from low energy traps to freshly-introduced dislocation sites. C is shown not to contribute to the cold-work peak and, in fact, to retard its formation.
Long-term effects of reduced renal mass in humans

Long-term effects of reduced renal mass in humans. The long-term risks of kidney donation have not been well defined. We carried out a meta-analysis of investigations that examined the long-term effects of reduced renal mass in humans. We used multiple linear regression to combine studies and adjust for differences in the duration of follow-up, the reason for reduced renal mass, the type of controls, age and gender. We analyzed 48 studies with 3124 patients and 1703 controls. Unilateral nephrectomy caused a decrement in glomerular filtration rate (-17.1 ml/min; 95% confidence interval -20.2 to -14.0 ml/min) that tended to improve with each 10 years of follow-up (1.4 ml/min/decade; 0.3 to 2.4 ml/min/decade). Patients with single kidneys had small, progressive increases in proteinuria (76 mg/day/decade; 52 to 101 mg/day/decade), but proteinuria was negligible after nephrectomy for trauma or kidney donation. Nephrectomy did not affect the prevalence of hypertension, but there was a small increase in systolic blood pressure (2.4 mm Hg; -0.3 to 5.1 mm Hg, P > 0.05) which rose further with duration of follow-up (1.1 mm Hg/decade; 0.0 to 2.2 mm Hg/decade). Diastolic blood pressure was higher after nephrectomy (3.1 mm Hg; 1.8 to 4.4 mm Hg), but this increment did not change with duration of follow-up. Thus, in normal individuals, unilateral nephrectomy does not cause progressive renal dysfunction, but may be associated with a small increase in blood pressure.
A role of the circadian system and circadian proteins in aging

Circadian rhythms are genetically determined biological rhythms that are considered an important adaptive mechanism to the cyclical light/dark alterations in the Earth environment. Age-related changes in the circadian time-keeping mechanism are well known, and seemingly contribute to various pathologies of aging. Recent findings demonstrate that the circadian system and circadian proteins play direct roles in many physiological processes, including those associated with aging. The core circadian proteins BMAL1 and PERIODs, in addition to their known functions in the circadian oscillator, play essential non-redundant roles in the control of tissue homeostasis and aging. Although the exact mechanisms are unknown, the involvement of circadian proteins in the regulation of metabolism, genotoxic stress response and reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis can be responsible for the premature aging, observed in some circadian mutants. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms of these non-circadian activities of the circadian proteins will ultimately lead to the improvement in prevention and treatment of age-related pathologies.
Role of the carboxy-terminal residues of the alpha-subunit in the expression and bioactivity of human thyroid-stimulating hormone.

The glycoprotein hormones TSH, CG, LH, and FSH are heterodimers consisting of a hormone-specific beta-subunit and a common alpha-subunit. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of the carboxy terminus of the common alpha-subunit (amino acids Tyr89-His90-Lys91-Ser92), which has been shown to be important for human (h) CG and hFSH, for the activity of hTSH. Successive truncations of the alpha-carboxy terminus by site-directed mutagenesis revealed a stepwise reduction of bioactivity occurring at residues alpha Ser92 and alpha His90 to 64% and 13%, respectively. This contrasts with previous findings for hCG and hFSH, where loss of bioactivity occurred in a single step with the deletion of alpha Lys91 but alpha Ser92 was not important. The decreased bioactivities of the hTSH alpha-truncation mutants were reflected by concomitant reductions of cAMP production, thyroid hormone synthesis and cell growth and were accompanied by a loss of receptor binding. Substitution of residues alpha Lys91 or a...
The K -Absorption Edges and K β 2 , 5 -Emission Lines of Two Zn-Ni Alloys

A double crystal spectrometer has been used to measure the shapes of the $K{\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2,5}$-emission lines and the $K$-absorption edges of zinc and nickel in two zinc-nickel alloys containing 17 percent zinc and 30 percent zinc by weight, respectively. These lines arise from transitions of valence and 3d electrons into the empty $K$ shell. In the two alloys the zinc emission line and absorption edge are shifted about a volt toward lower energies and the line is narrowed. Nickel is changed only slightly. The results indicate that the higher energy valence electrons of zinc are shared with nickel and probably go into $3d$ states about the nickel atoms.
Berlin and Bosanquet: True self and positive freedom

Is the Idealist conception of positive freedom doomed as politically dangerous? Decidedly yes, Berlin famously argues. The danger lies with manipulating positive freedom into a political tool of tyranny, coercing individuals to be free. The vehicle of manipulation is a conception of a divided self that underpins positive freedom. For, Berlin argues, conceptions of freedom derive directly from views of what constitutes a self. He cites the British Idealists as evidence for his criticism. The case for Green’s immunity to Berlin’s criticism is now well established. Bosanquet, in particular, however, is a sitting duck to Berlin’s fire. Berlin’s fire, however, misses its target. Not only is Bosanquet immune to Berlin’s criticism, but Berlin’s criticism obscures the extent to which Bosanquet shares Berlin’s worry about the danger of concentrated political power. Moreover, Bosanquet institutionalizes positive freedom into a bulwark against political tyranny in a fashion that Berlin’s wholesale criticism of posit...
Hybrid Integration of 1 × 12 Metal-Semiconductor-Metal Photodetector and Polyimide Waveguide Array

We report here a demonstration of hybrid integration of a 1 × 12 metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetector array and polyimide channel waveguides via 45° total-internal-reflection (TIR) micro-couplers. The two-layer polyimide waveguide array was constructed using Ultradel 9120D for the core and Ultradel 9020 for the lower cladding layer. The coupling loss and propagation loss of the waveguide are 0.2dB and 0.21 dB/cm, respectively. The cross talk of the adjacent channels is -32 dB. The MSM photodetector array was fabricated on a semi-insulated GaAs wafer. The photodetectors are integrated to operate in the conventional vertical illumination mode. We measured the external quantum-efficiency and 3 dB bandwidth of the integrated MSM photodetectors at 0.4 A/W and 2.648 GHz, respectively. The aggregate 3 dB bandwidth of the 12-channel integrated system is 32 GHz.
Recruitment in the intertidal limpet Lottia digitalis (Patellogastropoda: Lottiidae) may be driven by settlement cues associated with adult habitat

The ribbed limpet, Lottia digitalis, is found high in rocky intertidal habitat throughout its geographic range. In order to identify likely natural settlement locations for larvae of this species, laboratory-reared larvae were settled onto substrata collected from within and near an adult L. digitalis habitat. Of larvae exposed to rock chiseled from within high-intertidal adult habitat, 31.0% and 23.3% underwent metamorphosis during two separate experiments. Similarly, an unidentified filamentous green alga that was isolated from this rock induced metamorphosis in 26.6% and 8.7% of larvae during additional experiments. In contrast, larvae did not metamorphose upon bare rocks or upon rocks encrusted with a crustose corraline alga (CCA) that were collected from lower intertidal zones, nor did they metamorphose upon the macroalgae Ulva sp., Enteromorpha contorta, Alaria marginata, or Polysiphonia sp. The presence of mucus from adult conspecifics during these experiments did not enhance metamorphosis onto rock taken from adult habitat, but it did induce metamorphosis in an average of 13.5% and 7.0% of larvae introduced to the mid-intertidal bare rock and CCA substrata, respectively. Finally, 38.0% and 34.4% of larvae from two experiments underwent metamorphosis when exposed to the high-intertidal barnacle Pollicipes polymerus. These results suggest that larval settlement, rather than differential post-settlement mortality and/or migration, drives recruitment of L. digitalis in high-intertidal habitats.
A performance monitoring application for distributed interactive simulations (DIS)

This paper discusses the design, development, and use of a performance monitoring tool for Distributed interactive Simulations (DIS). A typical DIS environemnt consists of hundreds of simulations distributed on both local and wide area netowrks. The adoption of the High Level Architecture (HLA) by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) creates even larger and more complex simulations environments and since DIS continues to interoperate withing HLA, the resource demands continue to cause performance bottlenecks that limit its effectiveness. The monitoring tool descibed in this paper can provide meaninful performance information used as a guide in making decisions about the configuration and control of the available hardware and software resources used in DIS. This information can also be used to support DIS modeling requirements and design. Results are presented from tests comparing alternaitve implementations of the performance monitor; the goal is to achieve a balance between the amount and types of performance data collected and the intrusiveness of the instrumentation code. Testing, analysis, and use of the monitoring systems during DIS exercies has demonstrated the utility of a tool that provides high-level performance information to support persons making inferences about dynamic system and simulation behavior.
Determination of the relative stability of fluorocytosine tautomers with single and double excitation coupled-cluster (CCSD) method

Abstract First-order correlation orbitals are generated for different tautomeric forms of the 5-fluorocytosine molecule and used to perform coupled-cluster calculations. It is determined that the population of the most stable hydroxy-amino tautomer should out-number that of the next most stable keto-amino form by a factor of 2500 in the gas phase at room temperature.
The Burial of God: Rupture and Resumption as the Story of Salvation

Jon Sobrino has suggested that those who stand in the intellectual tradition of the Enlightenment tend to interpret suffering and disaster as ‘crises of meaning’, by which we seek to explain and accommodate alienating experiences within preconceived models of reality. Our question is how evil may be understood. But that search for meaning is a luxury denied those who can barely hold to existence itself. Theirs is a ‘crisis of reality’; and their question is less how to understand evil than how to withstand it, to overcome suffering or at least survive it. ‘The interpretative models become relevant [only] to the extent that they arise out of the experienced reality and aim at eliminating the wretched state of the real world’.
Poly(2,5-thienylene ethynylene) and related oligomers

Abstract The palladium-mediated acetylene halide coupling reaction has been employed for the synthesis of thienylethynylene oligomers containing two to five thiophene units. The use of this methodology for the synthesis of poly(2,5-thienylene ethynylene) affords insoluble polymers with appreciable halogen content, which show no appreciable electrical conductivity on treatment with iodine.
An examination of attributions and emotions in the transactional approach to the organizational stress process

Although the transactional model of the stress process (Lazarus, 1966, 1993; Lazarus and Folkman, 1984, 1987) continues to be utilized in a significant amount of stress research, much of the current literature on job stress focuses on pinpointing objective stressors. This paper examines Lazarus' transactional appraisal approach and includes a specific discussion of the process by which employees' attributions regarding stressors and the resulting emotions significantly influence their choices of coping mechanisms. Given that a single work event can be interpreted in a variety of ways, the role of individuals' cognitive processing is being ignored by much of the current empirical stress research. This paper examines and highlights the importance of the cognitive and emotional components within the organizational stress process. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Financial Impacts of Government Support Price Programs: Comment

Michael Boehlje and Steven Griffin (BG) provide a timely, relevant analysis of the financial impacts of U.S. government price programs that is rigorous in its use of valuation concepts under risk, practical in its simulation approach, and clearly in the spirit of responding to needs for policy-related research. Their major objective is to evaluate how price support programs influence investment and financing behavior of agricultural producers with different financial characteristics and sizes of operation. They reason that indexed support prices will provide greater certainty in farmers' cash flows and thereby reduce financial risks, with more rapid farm growth resulting from increased bid prices for durable assets, especially land, increased debt capacity, and higher financial leverage. Their simulation analyses for farms differing in size, capital structure, and farmer characteristics under selected parameter values indicate that smaller, more highly leveraged operations generally will receive fewer benefits from a cost-of-production-indexed price support program than will larger operations with lower financial leverage. As a result larger, higher-equity operations can bid higher prices for land and should show more rapid growth in net worth, land ownership, and standard of living. The authors conclude with a plea that future analyses more fully account for policy impacts on farms with different financial, economic, and producer characteristics. My response to this kind of analyses is quite positive and I fully support BG's efforts. My comments here consist of two sets of concerns whose resolution should further clarify their analytical approach, strengthen the generality of their results, and perhaps provide for extended analysis. One set of concerns addresses the need for more information to understand fully the specifications and assumptions embodied in their simulation model. The second set, which is closely related to the first, considers how the initial estimates of bid prices for land might respond to changes in some of these model specifications and assumptions. While Boehlje and Griffin attribute much of their results to differences in farms' financial characteristics and debt-servicing capacity, I suspect that the interrelationships of those financial characteristics with the influences of several other factors are more impor
Tetramethylammonium Tetraorganylborates as Coinitiators with 5,7-Diiodo-3-butoxy-6-fluorone in Visible Light Polymerization of Acrylates1

The comparative analysis of the borate salts as coinitiators with 5,7-diiodo-3-butoxy-6-fluorone shows that the number of alkyl groups per boron determines activity. There is not much difference in the reactivity of tetraalkyl- and trialkylaryl borates as coinitiators: they are very fast radical producers. However, they are much less stable in the formulations than are dialkyldiarylborates
Daughter Regge Trajectory in a Field-Theory Model. II

Secondary Regge trajectories obtained from a high-energy perturbation-theory treatment of ladder diagrams are compared with those obtained from numerical solutions of the Bethe-Salpeter equation and are found to be qualitatively identical. In particular, the trajectories intersect, become complex, then become real again, all below threshold; they are very model-dependent. However, ladder diagrams in relativistic field theory do not completely determine the secondary trajectories; the self-energy correction to the exchange particle propagator must be included. This modification of ladder diagrams completely eliminates the pathological behavior of the secondary Regge trajectories and the sensitive dependence on the parameters of the model. The first daughter becomes a nonintersecting, everywhere real, slowly rising function of the energy. The requirement that a field theory have well-behaved secondary Regge poles imposes nontrivial constraints on possible interactions.
Leptin action in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus is sufficient, but not necessary, to normalize diabetic hyperglycemia

In rodent models of type 1 diabetes, leptin administration into brain ventricles normalizes blood glucose at doses that have no effect when given peripherally. The ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) is a potential target for leptin's antidiabetic effects because leptin-sensitive neurons in this brain area are implicated in glucose homeostasis. To test this hypothesis, we injected leptin directly into the bilateral VMN of rats with streptozotocin-induced uncontrolled diabetes mellitus. This intervention completely normalized both hyperglycemia and the elevated rates of hepatic glucose production and plasma glucagon levels but had no effect on tissue glucose uptake in the skeletal muscle or brown adipose tissue as measured using tracer dilution techniques during a basal clamp. To determine whether VMN leptin signaling is required for leptin-mediated normalization of diabetic hyperglycemia, we studied mice in which the leptin receptor gene was deleted in VMN steroidogenic factor 1 neurons using cre-loxP technology. Our findings indicate leptin action within these neurons is not required for the correction of diabetic hyperglycemia by central leptin infusion. We conclude that leptin signaling in the VMN is sufficient to mediate leptin's antidiabetic action but may not be necessary for this effect. Leptin action within a distributed neuronal network may mediate its effects on glucose homeostasis.
Smooth quantile processes from right censored data and construction of simultaneous confidence bands

The smooth nonparametric estimator of a quantile function Q(p) is defined as the solution of , where is the distribution function corresponding to a kernel estimator of a density function. The asymptotic properties of the smooth quantile process, , based on randomly right censored lifetime data are studied. The bootstrap approaches to approximate the distributions of the smooth quantile processes are investigated and are used to construct simultaneous confidence bands for quantile functions. Data-based selection of the bandwidth required for computing is also investigated using bootstrap methods. A Monte Carlo simulation is carried out to assess small sample performance of the proposed confidence bands. An application to construct confidence bands for the quantile function of the time between a manuscript's submission and its first review is provided using a JASA data set. The developed results can be applied to construct simultaneous confidence bands for the difference of two quantile functions and to ch...
Within-person variability in kidney measures.

Background Our objective was to quantify short-term total within-person variability in standard and nontraditional kidney measures using national data. Study Design Repeated examination study of serum and urine kidney measures. Setting & Participants Participants 18 years or older in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) who had repeated blood and urine samples collected during visits occurring approximately 18 days apart. Measurements Standardized serum creatinine, standardized cystatin C, β-trace protein (BTP), β 2 -microglobulin (B2M), and urine albumin and creatinine. We calculated the within-person coefficient of variation (CV w ), which includes both biological and analytical variability. We also evaluated the impact of variability on estimates of the prevalence of reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria. Results Serum cystatin C level demonstrated the lowest short-term within-person variability (CV w = 6.8%). Serum creatinine and B2M levels (CV w = 7.6% and 8.4%, respectively) also had low variability. BTP level had the most variability of the serum markers (CV w = 11.6%). As expected, urine albumin and urine creatinine measurements showed high variability (CV w >30% for both); however, albumin-creatinine ratio performed much better than either measure alone, with CV w of 11.3%. The effect of short-term variability on the prevalence of reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate was moderate, with an ∼20% lower prevalence when defined based on single measurements compared to repeated application of the same test approximately 18 days apart. Repeated testing for albuminuria had a larger effect, showing a 33% lower prevalence of albuminuria when repeated testing was applied. Limitations Only 2 measurements available. General population with low prevalence of kidney disease. Conclusions Our results suggest that creatinine, cystatin C, and B2M levels have similarly low short-term variability. BTP level was more variable compared with the other serum filtration markers. Urine albumin and creatinine levels were highly variable and may benefit from repeated assessments to reduce the misclassification of albuminuria.
Single Optical Fiber Probe for Fluorescence Detection and Optogenetic Stimulation

We have developed a fiber-optic-based probe for precise delivery of stimulation/excitation light pulses and detection of faint fluorescence signals for applications in neuroscience and optogenetics. In this design, a thin multimode fiber serves as the head of the probe to be inserted into the brain. This fiber is used to deliver light to the region of interest and guide a sample of the emission signal back to detectors. The major tradeoff in the design of such a system is to decrease the size of the fiber and intensity of input light to minimize physical damage and to avoid photobleaching/phototoxicity but to keep the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) reasonably high. Here, the excitation light and the associated emission signal are frequency modulated. Then, the output of the detector is passed through a time lens which compresses the distributed energy of the emission signal and maximizes the instantaneous S/N. By measuring the statistics of the noise, the structure of the time lens is designed to achieve the global optimum of S/N. We have also designed side-firing fibers and a micromechanical assembly for distributed light delivery and fluorescence detection.
Ab Initio Calculations and Structural Stability of Boron-Doped Sodium Manganese Oxide

The structural stability of NaB x Mn 1-x O 2 , where x = 0.0-0.375 has been studied using first-principles density-functional theory with pseudopotentials and plane-wave basis (VASP). In addition, the structural stability of the oxides with 75% vacancies of Na ions for each concentration of B has been investigated. Results of the simulation show that the monoclinic phase of these oxides is thermodynamically stable for all the B concentrations studied. Moreover, substitution of a larger amount of boron results in a higher energy difference between the monoclinic phase and its nearest concurrent orthorhombic phase. Furthermore, deintercalation of Na ions from the parent oxide has shown that the monoclinic phase is stable and does not undergo any structural transformation to the spinel phase, which could be expected with substantial removal of Na ions. The energy difference between the monoclinic and spinel crystal structures increases with increasing amounts of boron and reaches a value of 13.0 kJ/mol for 37.5% B. Based on our studies, it appears that NaB x Mn 1-x O 2 with an optimum amount of B can be used as a potential parent cathode for the synthesis of a lithiated cathode material LiB x Mn 1-x O 2 by ion-exchange following the chimie douce reaction.
Pre-emergence Flooding and Nitrogen Atmosphere Effects on Germinating Corn Inbreds

This investigation was conducted to assess the relationship between sensitivity to pre-emergence flooding and effects of anoxia on ethanol production and glycolytic activity in order to identify flood-tolerant and flood-susceptible corn cultivars. Seed of 20 common corn inbred lines (Zea mays L.) were exposed to different durations (0, 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 144 h) of simulated anaerobic conditions in the laboratory or, immediately after planting, to flooding in greenhouse and growth-chamber. (...)
Comparison of methods for assessing photoprotection against ultraviolet A in vivo

Photoprotection against ultraviolet A (UVA) by three sunscreens was evaluated in humans, with erythema and pigmentation used as end points in normal skin and in skin sensitized with 8-methoxypsoralen and anthracene. The test sunscreens were Parsol 1789 (2%), Eusolex 8020 (2%), and oxybenzone (3%). UVA was obtained from two filtered xenon-arc sources. UVA protection factors were found to be significantly higher in sensitized skin compared with normal skin. Both Parsol and Eusolex provided better and comparable photoprotection (~3.0) than oxybenzone (~2.0) in sensitized skin, regardless of whether 8-methoxypsoralen or anthracene was used. In normal unsensitized skin, Parsol 1789 and Eusolex 8020 were also comparable and provided slightly better photoprotection (~1.8) than oxybenzone (~1.4) when pigmentation was used as an end point. The three sunscreens, however, were similar in providing photoprotection against UVA-induced erythema. Protection factors obtained in artificially sensitized skin are probably not relevant to normal skin. It is concluded that pigmentation, either immediate or delayed, is a reproducible and useful end point for the routine assessment of photoprotection of normal skin against UVA.
Role of chemotherapy for patients with recurrent platinum-resistant advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: A cost-effectiveness analysis.

BACKGROUND. Current chemotherapy in platinum-resistant ovarian cancer patients has demonstrated minimal to no improvements in survival. Despite the lack of benefit, significant resources are utilized with such therapies. Therefore, the objective in the current study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of salvage chemotherapy for patients with platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). METHODS. A decision analysis model evaluated a hypothetical cohort of 4000 platinum-resistant patients with recurrent EOC. Several chemotherapy strategies were analyzed: 1) best supportive care (BSC); 2) second-line chemotherapy-monotherapy; 3) second-line chemotherapy-combination therapy; 4) third-line chemotherapy after disease progression on second-line monotherapy; and 5) third-line chemotherapy after disease progression on second-line combination therapy. Sensitivity analyses were performed on all pertinent uncertainties. RESULTS. Using costs alone, BSC was the only definitive cost-effective treatment for platinum-resistant recurrent ovarian cancer patients, and second-line monotherapy was a reasonable cost-effective strategy with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $64,104. The cost-effectiveness ranged from $4,065 per month of overall survival (OS) for BSC to $12,927 for third-line previous combination therapy. Compared with BSC, second-line monotherapy gained an additional 3 months of OS, with a cost-effectiveness of $4,703 per month of OS. Second-line combination therapy and third-line therapies exhibited unfavorable ICER. CONCLUSIONS. The current decision analysis was intended to be thought-provoking and bring awareness to the high costs of subsequent chemotherapy with limited effectiveness in patients with recurrent platinum-resistant EOC. Although actual patients may receive multiple lines of chemotherapy, from the perspective of costs alone this model using a hypothetical cohort demonstrated that best supportive care was the only cost-effective strategy, with second-line monotherapy appearing to be a reasonable cost-effective strategy given current chemotherapeutic options. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.
Using clusters in undergraduate research: Distributed animation rendering, photo processing, and image transcoding

With distributed and parallel computing becoming increasingly important in both industrial and scientific endeavors, it is imperative that students are introduced to the challenges and methods of high performance and high throughput computing. Because these topics are often absent in standard undergraduate computer science curriculums, it is necessary to encourage and support independent research and study involving distributed and parallel computing. In this paper, we present three undergraduate research projects that utilize distributed computing clusters: animation rendering, photo processing, and image transcoding. We describe the challenges faced in each project, examine the solutions developed by the students, and then evaluate the performance and behavior of each system. At the end, we reflect on our experience using distributed clusters in undergraduate research and offer six general guidelines for mentoring and pursing distributed computing research projects with undergraduates. Overall, these projects effectively promote skills in high performance and high throughput computing while enhancing the undergraduate educational experience.
Human keratinocytes and A-431 cells synthesize and secrete factor B, the major zymogen protease of the alternative complement pathway.

Biosynthetic radiolabeling studies demonstrate that human keratinocytes and A-431 cells a human epidermoid earn cell line, synthesize and secrete factor B as a meric 105 kD protein. Epithelial cell derived facto B comigrates in SDS PAGE with that produced by HepG2 cells, a human hepatoma cell line traditionally employed in studies complement component biosynthesis. Comparative chase studies in A 431 arid HepG2 cell show that this native pathway complement component is produced as co migrating 100-kD intracellular proteins that are processed in both cell types to 105 kD extracellular factor B. Quantitatively, immunoprecipitable factor B account for 0.005 of radiolabeled proteins in A 431 cell culture media. Treatment of biosynthetically radiolabeled A 431 cell culture media with cobra venom factor and factor D for 60 mm at 37degree C produces the specific factor Bcleavage products Ba and Bb. These fragments are not identifiable in control culture media subjected to similar treatment in the absence of alternative pathway activators. Northern blot analysis of total cellular RNA from human keratinocytes, A-431 cells, and HepG2 cells reveals qualitative identity of a 2.8 kb factor B mRNA species in these three cell types. The relative level of factor B mRNA expression in these cells parallels their level of factor B protein synthesis (i.e., HepG2 cells > A-431 cells > human keratinocytes). Epithelial cell derived factor B may play an important role in local inflammatory reaction and also directly interact with epithelial cell derived C3—a key classical and alternative pathway complement component recently shown to be produced by human keratinocytes.
Computer-aided detection and classification of microcalcifications in mammograms: a survey

Abstract Breast cancer continues to be a significant public health problem in the world. Approximately, 182,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed and 46,000 women die of breast cancer each year in the United States. Even more disturbing is the fact that one out of eight women in US will develop breast cancer at some point during her lifetime. Primary prevention seems impossible since the causes of this disease still remain unknown. Early detection is the key to improving breast cancer prognosis. Mammography is one of the reliable methods for early detection of breast carcinomas. There are some limitations of human observers, and it is difficult for radiologists to provide both accurate and uniform evaluation for the enormous number of mammograms generated in widespread screening. The presence of microcalcification clusters (MCCs) is an important sign for the detection of early breast carcinoma. An early sign of 30–50% of breast cancer detected mammographically is the appearance of clusters of fine, granular microcalcification, and 60–80% of breast carcinomas reveal MCCs upon histological examinations. The high correlation between the appearance of the microcalcification clusters and the diseases show that the CAD (computer aided diagnosis) systems for automated detection/classification of MCCs will be very useful and helpful for breast cancer control. In this survey paper, we summarize and compare the methods used in various stages of the computer-aided detection systems (CAD). In particular, the enhancement and segmentation algorithms, mammographic features, classifiers and their performances are studied and compared. Remaining challenges and future research directions are also discussed.
IBM System z9 eFUSE applications and methodology

IBM System z9TM is the first zSeries® product to use electronic fuses (eFUSEs). The blowing of the fuse does not involve a physical rupture of the fuse element, but rather causes electromigration of the silicide layer, substantially increasing the resistance. The fuse is "blown" with the application of a higher-than-nominal voltage, eFUSEs provide several compelling advantages over the laser fuses they have replaced. The blow process does not risk damage to adjacent devices, eFUSEs can be blown by a logic process instead of a physical laser ablation method, eFUSEs are substantially smaller than laser fuses, and they scale better with process improvements. Finally, since no specialized equipment or separate product flow is required, eFUSEs can be blown at multiple test and application stages. We discuss circuit design, fuse programming, test considerations, and z9TM system applications. The physical and logical implementation of eFUSEs has resulted in improved yield at wafer, module, and final assembly test levels, and has provided additional flexibility in logic function and in system use.
A potential positive feedback loop controlling CLN1 and CLN2 gene expression at the start of the yeast cell cycle

Abstract The CLN1, CLN2 , and CLN3 genes of S. cerevisiae form a redundant family essential for the G1-to-S phase transition. CLN1 and CLN2 mRNAs were previously shown to be negatively regulated by mating pheromone and by cell cycle progression out of G1, whereas CLN3 mRNA is not. The CLN3-2 (DAF1-1) allele prevents both cell cycle arrest and the turnoff of CLN1 and CLN2 mRNAs in response fo mating pheromone, but only in the presence of an active CDC28 gene. An internally deleted nonfunctional cln2 gene was used as a reporter gene to demonstrate that in the absence of mating pheromone, efficient expression of cln2 mRNA requires both an active CDC28 gene and at least one functional CLN gene. mRNA from a nonfunctional cln1 gene was regulated similarly. Thus, CLN function and CDC28 activity jointly stimulate CLN1 and CLN2 mRNA levels, potentially forming a positive feedback loop for CLN1 and CLN2 expression.
Chloroplasts as the major protein-bearing structures in Oenothera leaves

Analyses of chloroplasts isolated from mature leaves of Oenothera (evening primrose) have shown that plastids contain 75% of the leaf protein. Chloroplasts are thus the major source of proteins in these leaves. It is suggested that plastids are also the major sites of protein synthesis in the leaf. Preparation of protein-rich chloroplasts was possible because the plastids lost little protein if isolated in a sucrose medium containing phosphate as the buffering ion. However, if borate was substituted for phosphate, Oenothera chloroplasts lost almost half of their proteins during isolation. The use of borate in the isolating medium rather than phosphate also reduced severely the ability of chloroplasts to fix CO2 in light. Dilute phosphate buffer, a poor extractant of proteins from isolated chloroplasts, extracted little protein from mature Oenothera leaves, whereas borate, an efficient extractant of chloroplast proteins, was also a good extractant of protein from the whole leaf. Furthermore, most soluble proteins obtained from leaves by extraction with borate were shown both quantitatively and by electrophoretic comparison to be chloroplast proteins. Therefore, many soluble proteins of Oenothera leaves are not cytoplasmic proteins, but originate mainly in chloroplasts.
Fauna of Natural Seagrass and Transplanted Halodule wrightii (Shoalgrass) Beds in Galveston Bay, Texas

Abstract We compared nekton and benthos densities and community compositions in a natural mixed seagrass bed dominated by Halodule wrightii (shoalgrass) with those found in three shoalgrass transplant sites and adjoining sand habitats in western Galveston Bay, Texas, U.S.A. Quantitative drop traps and cores were used to compare communities up to seven times over 36 months post-transplant where transplant beds survived. Total densities of fishes, decapods, annelids, benthic crustaceans, and most dominant species were significantly higher in natural seagrass than in transplanted shoalgrass or sand habitats during most sampling periods. On occasion, fish and decapod densities were significantly higher in transplanted shoalgrass than in adjoining sand habitats. No consistent faunal differences were found among transplant sites before two of three sites failed. Taxonomic comparison of community compositions indicated that nekton and benthos communities in natural seagrass beds were usually distinct from those in transplanted beds or sand habitats, which were similar. We conclude that reestablishing a shoalgrass bed that resembles a natural seagrass bed and its faunal communities in the Galveston Bay system will take longer than 3 years, provided that transplants persist.
An integer sequence from a rational recursion

Abstract The sequence of numbers { a i } defined by the recurrence a n = (a n−3 a n−1 +a 2 n−2 ) a n−4 for n >3 with initial values a 0 , a 1 , a 2 , a 3 =1 is shown to be integral. Other initial values are also considered.
Comparison of the composition and surface activity of "alveolar" and whole lung lipids in the dog.

Abstract 1. 1.The surface activity of lung extracts has been shown to be due to a lipoprotein complex which lines the alveolar surface. The lipids responsible for this surface activity were studied by endobronchial lavage of dog lung in vivo . Lipids obtained from the alveolar surface by lavage were identified and compared with those obtained from an homogenate of whole lung. 2. 2.The lipids obtained by lung lavage comprise only a very small proportion of total lung lipids and differ from the latter in several important respects. The predominant lipid from both sources is lecithin (55% of “alveolar” lipids but only 41% of whole lung lipids). “Alveolar” lecithin contained 66% esterified palmitate; whole lung lecithin contained only 39%. Total saturated fatty acids were also much higher in “alveolar” lecithin. 3. 3.Lecithin monolayers from lung lavage lowered surface tension to 0.5 dynes/ cm whereas whole lung lecithin produced a minimum tension of only 20 dynes/cm. Only one other lipid component consistently produced marked surface-tension lowering. This component, a phospholipid, was about 6% of both alveolar and whole lung total lipids. 4. 4.This surface active phospholipid was shown to be phosphatidyl- N , N -dime-thylethanolamine containing 59–62% esterified palmitate with a distribution of total fatty acids very similar to that of “alveolar” lecithin. It is suggested that dipalmitoyllecithin, the principal pulmonary surface active agent, is formed in lung by conversion of phosphatidylethanolamine to lecithin by way of phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine.
Spatial dynamics of measles epidemics

Abstract In a set of three new papers, Grenfell and collaborators lay bare measles dynamics in England and Wales over 50 years. They use a simple mechanistic model and current statistical techniques to analyse records of measles infections in every town and city, and show that measles dynamics, including the spatial spread of the disease, is astonishingly clockwork like, and the underlying processes are remarkably simple.
PV output smoothing with energy storage

This paper describes a simple algorithm designed to reduce the variability of photovoltaic (PV) power output by using an energy storage device. A full-scale implementation was deployed in an actual PV-Energy demonstration project, in partnership with a utility and a battery manufacturer. The paper describes simulation tests as well as field results. In addition to demonstrating implementation of smoothing controls, this work also served to verify the models, identify best parameter sets for utility operations, and study the operation of an advanced energy storage system under partial state of charge and rapid, irregular charge/discharge cycling.
Critical behavior of the electron-spin-resonance linewidth in multilayered Cu 0.89 Mn 0.11 /Cu spin glasses

The temperature dependence of the electron-spin-resonance linewidth, \ensuremath{\Delta}H(T), has been measured in multilayered ${\mathrm{Cu}}_{0.89}$${\mathrm{Mn}}_{0.11}$/Cu as a function of spin-glass layer thickness ${\mathit{W}}_{\mathrm{SG}}$ with 1 nm\ensuremath{\le}${\mathit{W}}_{\mathrm{SG}}$\ensuremath{\le}500 nm. We find that the critical behavior, as characterized by the divergence strength C and exponent \ensuremath{\kappa} changes systematically with ${\mathit{W}}_{\mathrm{SG}}$. A function parametrized in terms of the ratio of the freezing temperature in a sample with spin-glass layer thickness ${\mathit{W}}_{\mathrm{SG}}$ to that of the bulk, ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{f}}$(${\mathit{W}}_{\mathrm{SG}}$)/${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{f}}$(\ensuremath{\infty}), describes all data with ${\mathit{W}}_{\mathrm{SG}}$\ensuremath{\ge}7 nm. Samples with ${\mathit{W}}_{\mathrm{SG}}$\ensuremath{\le}3 nm do not obey this form and are better described by a two-dimensional form that diverges as ${\mathit{T}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2.5}$. A universal function describing a crossover from three-dimensional to two-dimensional behavior as the layer thickness changes is suggested. Once the dependence of the critical part of \ensuremath{\Delta}H(T) on ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{f}}$(${\mathit{W}}_{\mathrm{SG}}$) is known, finite-size and droplet relationships can be used to infer the dependence on ${\mathit{W}}_{\mathrm{SG}}$. The possibility that this crossover is due to increasing anisotropy as ${\mathit{W}}_{\mathrm{SG}}$ is decreased is briefly discussed.
An analogue of Hartshorne and Serre problems for 1-convex surfaces

Abstract Let C be an elliptic curve and let L ∈Pic( C ). If c 1 ( L ) L is rigid. On the other hand, Arnold provided a criterion for the rigidity of L when c 1 ( L )=0. However, a concrete example of such a bundle is hard to come by. In this paper, we construct explicitly such an L which turns out to be the line bundle associated to some toroidal group C 2 /Λ , viewed as topologically trivial C ∗ -bundle over C . This example turns out to be the counterexample to the following analogue of a problem of Serre for 1-convex surfaces: Let X be a compactifiable surface such that C - dim H q (X,Ω p ) for all p ⩾0 and q ⩾1. Is X always 1-convex? Also a cohomological characterization of toroidal groups of finite type is established, as well as an analogue of a problem of Hartshorne for 1-convex surfaces will be discussed.
Winter storm effects on the spawning and larval drift of a pelagic fish

Recruitment for many marine organisms depends on survival and transport of eggs and larvae from spawning grounds to nursery areas1. We investigated the effects of winter storms and the Gulf Stream on the spawning, development and drift of the Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, which spawns offshore2 and metamorphoses in estuaries3. Spawning was maximal during storms in water upwelled near the western edge of the Gulf Stream. Eggs and larvae drifted shoreward with abundant food in the warm surface stratum of a density-driven circulation maintained by the large sea–air heat flux. We suggest that the Atlantic menhaden and other species have evolved to reproduce in winter near warm boundary currents, including the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio, as a result of physical conditions that permit the rapid development and shoreward drift of their eggs and larvae, with consequent high recruitment and fitness.
Glucose biosensors based on oxygen electrode with sandwich-type membranes

A glucose biosensor based on an amperometric oxygen electrode has been developed. Polycarbonate and Silastic membranes were assembled (glued together) to form a multilayer sandwich glucose diffusion barrier. The effects of the glue layer composition and thickness of the Silastic membrane on sensor response parameters have been investigated in order to optimize the sensor. The parameters measured were the sensitivity, the concentration range of the linear dependence of the sensor response to glucose, and the long-term operation time. The sensors with the sandwich-type glucose diffusion membrane (Silastic membrane prepared from 20% Silastic suspension, glue layer prepared from polyurethane, 0.5 w/v % in THF solution and standard polycarbonate membrane) demonstrated linearity of response up to 520 mg/dl glucose at 25°C and up to 400 mg/dl at 37°C. These sensor showed good reproducibility of response without significant interference effects (from 1 to 5% of the background current value). The long-term continuous operational time of the sensors was over 40 days at 37°C, and over 60 days at 25°C.
DISPOSITIONAL INFLUENCES ON TRANSFER OF LEARNING IN MULTISTAGE TRAINING PROGRAMS

The training effectiveness literature has paid little attention to the potentially dynamic interaction of individual differences with various phases of training in determining ultimate training success. This study investigates the role of individual differences in explaining the transfer of learning from 1 phase of training to another among pilot trainees in a multistage, aviation training program. Using 3 of the Big Five factors (Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, Openness to Experience), the results showed these measures to contribute to the prediction of the number of hours it took for trainees to attain their private pilot's license. Significant interactions between some of these measures and success on an earlier, simulator phase of the training program were also found. The results are discussed in terms of both the role of individual differences in training research as well as the broader issue of transfer of learning between phases of training.
Spectroscopic characterization of selected β- sheet hairpin models

The IR and vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra of a model two-stranded beta hairpin are compared to those of a related cyclic two-stranded model, which are both stabilized by DPro- Gly turns. The spectra are compared to ab initio based simulations to support specific assignments of the dominant features and suggest a revised interpretation of the IR and VCD spectra for beta sheet containing proteins.