cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Regional Analysis of Cloudy Mean Spherical Albedo over the Marine Stratocumulus Region and the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

Since clouds are the largest variable in Earth's radiation budget, it is critical to determine both the spatial and temporal characteristics of their radiative properties. This study examines the relationships between cloud properties and cloud fraction in order to supplement grid scale parameterizations. The satellite data used in this study is from three hourly ISCCP (International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project) and monthly ERBE (Earth Radiation Budget Experiment) data on a 2.50 x 2.50 latitude-longitude grid. Mean cloud spherical albedo, the mean optical depth distribution and cloud fraction are examined and compared off the coast of California and the mid-tropical Atlantic for July 1987 and 1988. Individual grid boxes and spatial averages over several grid boxes are correlated to Coakleys (1991) theory of reflection for uniform and broken layered cloud and to Kedem, et al.(1990) findings that rainfall volume and fractional area of rain in convective systems is linear. Kedem's hypothesis can be expressed in terms of cloud properties. That is, the total volume of liquid in a box is a linear function of cloud fraction. Results for the marine stratocumulus regime indicate that albedo is often invariant for cloud fractions of 20% to 80%. Coakley's satellite model of small and large clouds with cores (1 km) and edges (100 in) is consistent with this observation. The cores maintain high liquid water concentrations and large droplets while the edges contain low liquid water concentrations and small droplets. Large clouds are just a collection of cores. The mean optical depth (TAU) distributions support the above observation with TAU values of 3.55 to 9.38 favored across all cloud fractions. From these results, a method based upon Kedem, et al. theory is proposed to separate the cloud fraction and liquid water path (LWP) calculations in a general circulation model (GCM). In terms of spatial averaging, a linear relationship between albedo and cloud fraction is observed. For tropical locations outside the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), results of cloud fraction and albedo spatial averaging followed that of the stratus boxes containing few overcast scenes. Both the ideas of Coakley and Kedem, et al. apply. Within the ITCZ, the grid boxes tended to have the same statistical properties as stratus boxes containing many overcast scenes. Because different dynamical forcing mechanisms are present, it is difficult to devise a method for determining subgrid scale variations. Neither of the theories proposed by Kedem, et al. or Coakley works well for the boxes with numerous overcast scenes.
Patterned Expression of BDNF and NT-3 in the Retina and Anterior Segment of the Developing Mammalian Eye

PURPOSE. The neurotrophins brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) are hypothesized to play an important role in vertebrate eye development because of their patterned expression in the developing and adult neuroretina, their regulated response to retinal and optic nerve injury, and the effects of altered neurotrophin signaling on retinal development. To further characterize the role of these neurotrophins in mammalian eye development and maintenance, the pattern of expression of BDNF and NT-3 was analyzed in the developing and mature mouse eye. METHODS. Using mouse strains in which the reporter gene lacZ, encoding the enzyme b-galactosidase, was targeted to either the BDNF or NT-3 locus, the expression of BDNF and NT-3 in the eyes of mice heterozygous for these mutations was analyzed by enzyme histochemistry during embryogenesis, postnatal development, and adulthood. RESULTS. BDNF and NT-3 expression were first observed in the inner and outer segments of the developing optic cup at embryonic days 10.5 to 11.5. As the retina matured, BDNF expression was restricted to retinal ganglion cells and a subset of cells in the inner nuclear layer (INL), whereas NT-3 expression was confined to a small subset of cells in the INL and ganglion cell layer. Both neurotrophins were expressed within the developing retinal pigment epithelium. In the anterior segment, BDNF and NT-3 were expressed at high levels in the developing and mature ciliary epithelium. In the lens and cornea, however, these neurotrophins displayed distinct patterns of expression during development and adulthood. BDNF expression was found in the lens epithelium, immature trabecular meshwork, corneal endothelium, and corneal epithelium, whereas NT-3 expression was confined to the corneal epithelium. CONCLUSIONS. BDNF and NT-3 exhibit different, yet overlapping, patterns of expression during the development and differentiation of the mouse eye. In addition to the neuroretina, the spatiotemporal expression of BDNF and NT-3 may play an important role in the development and maintenance of the lens, ciliary body, trabecular meshwork, and cornea. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1999; 40:2996 ‐3005)
Breath carbonyl compounds as biomarkers of lung cancer.

Abstract Objective Lung cancer dysregulations impart oxidative stress which results in important metabolic products in the form of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in exhaled breath. The objective of this work is to use statistical classification models to determine specific carbonyl VOCs in exhaled breath as biomarkers for detection of lung cancer. Materials and methods Exhaled breath samples from 85 patients with untreated lung cancer, 34 patients with benign pulmonary nodules and 85 healthy controls were collected. Carbonyl compounds in exhaled breath were captured by silicon microreactors and analyzed by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS). The concentrations of carbonyl compounds were analyzed using a variety of statistical classification models to determine which compounds best differentiated between the patient sub-populations. Predictive accuracy of each of the models was assessed on a separate test data set. Results Six carbonyl compounds (C4H8O, C5H10O, C2H4O2, C4H8O2, C6H10O2, C9H16O2) had significantly elevated concentrations in lung cancer patients vs. controls. A model based on counting the number of elevated compounds out of these six achieved an overall classification accuracy on the test data of 97% (95% CI 92%–100%), 95% (95% CI 88%–100%), and 89% (95% CI 79%–99%) for classifying lung cancer patients vs. non-smokers, current smokers, and patients with benign nodules, respectively. These results were comparable to benchmarking based on established statistical and machine-learning methods. The sensitivity in each case was 96% or higher, with specificity ranging from 64% for benign nodule patients to 86% for smokers and 100% for non-smokers. Conclusion A model based on elevated levels of the six carbonyl VOCs effectively discriminates lung cancer patients from healthy controls as well as patients with benign pulmonary nodules.
Systems analysis of non-parenchymal cell modulation of liver repair across multiple regeneration modes

A hallmark of chronic liver disease is the impairment of the liver’s innate regenerative ability. In this work we use a computational approach to unravel the principles underlying control of liver repair following an acute physiological challenge. We used a mathematical model of inter- and intra-cellular interactions during liver regeneration to infer key molecular factors underlying the dysregulation of multiple regeneration modes, including delayed, suppressed, and enhanced regeneration. We used model analysis techniques to identify organizational principles governing the cellular regulation of liver regeneration. We fit our model to several published data sets of deficient regeneration in rats and healthy regeneration in humans, rats, and mice to predict differences in molecular regulation in disease states and across species. Analysis of the computational model pointed to an important balance involving inflammatory signals and growth factors, largely produced by Kupffer cells and hepatic stellate cells, respectively. Our model analysis results also indicated an organizational principle of molecular regulation whereby production rate of molecules acted to induce coarse-grained control of signaling levels while degradation rate acted to induce fine-tuning control. We used this computational framework to investigate hypotheses concerning molecular regulation of regeneration across species and in several chronic disease states in rats, including fructose-induced steatohepatitis, alcoholic steatohepatitis, toxin-induced cirrhosis, and toxin-induced diabetes. Our results indicate that altered non-parenchymal cell activation is sufficient to explain deficient regeneration caused by multiple disease states. We also investigated liver regeneration across mammalian species. Our results suggest that non-invasive measures of liver regeneration taken at 30 days following resection could differentiate between several hypotheses about how human liver regeneration differs from rat regeneration. Overall, our results provide a new computational platform integrating a wide range of experimental information, with broader utility in exploring the dynamic patterns of liver regeneration across species and over multiple chronic diseases.
Non-reciprocal space-time gratings

Reciprocity is a desired property in many wave applications. Nevertheless, sometimes we would like to be able to violate reciprocity, and in the extreme case design devices such as isolators or circulators. This ability is rather mature at radio-frequencies, where one usually utilizes the gyrotropic property of rare-earth materials in order to break reciprocity. Unfortunately, an extension of such techniques into the optical regime is challenging if not impossible due to changes in the properties of gyrotropic materials at these frequencies. Therefore, a different methodology should be followed. According to Lorentz reciprocity theorem, a structure is reciprocal if it is linear, time-invariant structure and if it is made of symmetric materials (∈ = ∈T, μ = μT). Thus, in order to break reciprocity, except for using gyrotropic materials, one may use either non-linear or time dependent materials.
Ca2+ Pools and Cell Growth: Arachidonic Acid Induces Recovery of Cells Growth-arrested by Ca2+ Pool Depletion

The intracellular Ca2+ pump blocker, thapsigargin, induces emptying of Ca2+ pools and entry of DDT1MF-2 smooth muscle cells into a quiescent G0-like growth state. Although thapsigargin blocks pumps essentially irreversibly, high serum (20%) induces appearance of new pump protein, return of functional pools, and reentry of cells into the cell cycle (Waldron, R. T., Short, A. D., Meadows, J. J., Ghosh, T. K., and Gill, D. L.(1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 11927-11933). Through analysis of the effects of defined serum components and growth supplements, we reveal here that the factors in serum responsible for inducing recovery of Ca2+ pools and growth in thapsigargin-arrested DDT1MF-2 cells are exactly mimicked by the three essential fatty acids, arachidonic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids. The EC50 values for arachidonic and linoleic acids on growth induction of thapsigargin-arrested cells were the same, approximately 5 μM. Nonessential fatty acids, including myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic, and arachidic acids, were without any effect. Although not proven to be the active component of serum, levels of arachidonic and linoleic acids in serum were sufficient to explain serum-induced growth recovery. Significantly, arachidonic or linoleic acids induced complete recovery of bradykinin-sensitive Ca2+ pools within 6 h of treatment of thapsigargin-arrested cells. Protein synthesis inhibitors (cycloheximide or puromycin) completely blocked the appearance of serum-induced or arachidonic acid-induced agonist-sensitive pools. The sensitivity and fatty acid specificity of Ca2+ pool recovery in thapsigargin-arrested cells were almost identical to that for growth recovery. No pool or growth recovery was observed with 5,8,11,14-eicosatetraynoic acid, the nonmetabolizable analogue of arachidonic acid, suggesting that conversion to eicosanoids underlies the pool and growth recovery induced by essential fatty acids. The results provide not only further information on the link between Ca2+ pools and cell growth but also evidence for a potentially important signaling pathway involved in inducing transition from a stationary to a proliferative growth state.
A normal cell protein cross-reactive to the major Abelson murine leukaemia virus gene product

Abelson murine leukaemia virus (A-MuLV) is a replication-defective retrovirus capable of rapid in vivo and in vitro transformation of bone marrow lymphoid target cells. A-MuLV was isolated from a steroid treated BALB/c mouse inoculated with the replication competent Moloney-MuLV (M-MuLV)1–4. The A-MuLV genome (5.5 kilobases) retains regions of precise homology to M-MuLV at its 5′ end (1,320 bases) and 3′ end (730 bases). The centre of the A-MuLV genome (3,500 bases) is non-homologous to M-MuLV and presumably represents unique sequences derived from the mouse genome by a recombinational event5. The only known protein encoded by the A-MuLV genome is one of MW 120,000, called P120 (refs 6, 7). About one-quarter of this protein is encoded by the 5′-terminal M-MuL V-related sequences and the rest is encoded by the A-MuLV unique sequences. P120 has been found in all cell lines transformed by the strain of A-MuLV that originally derived from ANN-1 cells2, including transformed non-producer cells. P120 can be translated in vitro using A-MuLV genomic RNA as messenger RNA. P120 is a phosphoprotein but there is no evidence for glycosylation6,8,9. We have used an anti-A-MuLV syngeneic tumour regressor serum with defined specificities to search for cross-reacting normal cellular proteins. We have identified a protein of MW 150,000 (NCP150) in metabolically labelled thymus and other lymphoid organs. NCP150 by absorption and competition analysis is closely related to the unique region of the A-MuLV P120 protein.
Optimal space-time constellations from groups

We consider the design of space-time constellations based on group codes for fading channels with multiple transmit and receive antennas. These codes can be viewed as multiantenna extensions of phase-shift keying (PSK), in the sense that all codewords have equal energy, all are rotations of a fixed codeword, and there is a simple differential transmission rule that allows data to be sent without channel estimates at the transmitter or receiver. For coherent detection, we show that all optimal full-rank space-time group codes are unitary (each code matrix has equal-energy, orthogonal rows). This leads to a simpler code design criterion and suggests that unitary codes may play an important role in coherent as well as noncoherent communication. For any number of transmit antennas t, we then use the design criterion to characterize all full-rank unitary space-time group codes of minimum block length (also t) which have 2/sup p/ codewords. These results allow us to characterize all optimal 2/sup p/-ary unitary group codes with square code matrices. This restricted class of block codes matches the class proposed for differential modulation by Hughes (see IEEE Trans. Inform. Theory, vol.46, p.2567-78, Nov. 2000), and by Hochwald and Sweldens (see IEEE Trans. Commun., vol.48, p.2041-2052, Dec. 2000).
Moment-Based Analysis of Transient Response Catalytic Studies (TAP Experiment)

A new moment-based theoretical approach for the analysis of TAP (temporal analysis of products) pulse-response data is described. The distinguishing feature of this approach is that the variables of the set of ordinary differential equations that comprise the model are moments instead of concentrations. The moments are functions of the reactor axial coordinate, whereas concentrations are functions of space and time. The theoretical framework for the extraction of kinetic parameters using this approach is developed, and is used to determine kinetic parameters for CO oxidation over platinum powder. A new phenomenon, called “TAP equilibrium” is described. This phenomenon is governed by the interplay between reaction and Knudsen diffusion.
Power in tourism research: the tourist gaze as metonym

This manuscript offers an updated review of publications citing Urry’s work on the tourist gaze. The primary purpose is to assess whether the gaze continues to be useful as a research window through which tourism may be observed and analysed. The paper offers evidence that the tourist gaze continues to hold significant interest for researchers who seek to understand the complexities of a power-ridden network of tourism system components engaging in performative relationships across time and space. The enduring value of the tourist gaze depends on recognising the inherent utility of the gaze as a metonym for a comprehensive multisensory negotiation of power and meaning in the tourist space, rather than literally interpreting the gaze as the tourist’s physical act of seeing and the stereotypes that result.
Neutrino-12C scattering in the Ab initio shell model with a realistic three-body interaction.

We investigate cross sections for neutrino-12C exclusive scattering and for muon capture on 12C using wave functions obtained in the ab initio no-core shell model. In our parameter-free calculations with basis spaces up to the 6 variant Planck's over 2pi Omega we show that realistic nucleon-nucleon interactions, like, e.g., the CD-Bonn, underpredict the experimental cross sections by more than a factor of 2. By including a realistic three-body interaction, Tucson-Melbourne TM'(99), the cross sections are enhanced significantly and a much better agreement with experiment is achieved. At the same time, the TM'(99) interaction improves the calculated level ordering in 12C. The comparison between the CD-Bonn and the three-body calculations provides strong confirmation for the need to include a realistic three-body interaction to account for the spin-orbit strength in p-shell nuclei.
Drug use patterns of adult crack users in street versus residential treatment samples.

Abstract Studies of treatment samples have long been the primary source of generalizations about drug users, especially for drugs with very low prevalence rates in the general population, such as heroin and crack. Sample selection bias is briefly discussed, and a 1988–1990 study of 699 cocaine users in Miami is described. The drug patterns of the 387 adult crack users interviewed in that study are compared by sample type—residential treatment versus street, controlling for gender. Some similarities between sample types were found, but differences were more numerous. Notably, street respondents started cocaine at a younger age; had used crack regularly for a longer period of time; were more likely to have used pills, heroin, and freebase cocaine; were much more likely to be using crack (but only crack) on a daily basis: and were more likely to obtain crack by being paid in it, especially for drug dealing. Treatment respondents were more likely to use multiple forms of cocaine, to me use cocaine in a binge ...
Friction Force Measurements Using the Instantaneous IMEP Method and Comparison With RINGPAK Simulations

Even though many researchers have measured the piston/ring assembly friction force over the last several decades, accurate measurement of the piston/ring assembly friction force is a still challenging problem. The floating liner method is not widely used, in spite of its accuracy, due to the substantial modifications required to the engine. On the other extreme, bench tests of the piston/ring assembly cannot completely simulate the real firing condition although bench tests are rapid, consistent, and cost effective. In this study, friction forces of the piston/ring assembly were measured using the instantaneous IMEP method and compared with modeling results using Ricardo’s RINGPAK software. In this research, a flexible flat cable was used to connect the connecting rod strain gage signal to the analysis system instead of using a grasshopper linkage. Therefore, the piston/ring assembly friction force was measured with the minimum change to the engine hardware.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Induction of cytochrome P450 1B1 and catechol estrogen metabolism in ACHN human renal adenocarcinoma cells

The catechol estrogen metabolites of 17beta-estradiol (E2), 2-hydroxyestradiol (OHE2) and 4-OHE2, differ in hormonal properties and carcinogenic potential. In Syrian hamster kidney, 4-OHE2 induces clear-cell carcinoma whereas 2-OHE2 does not, and an E2 4-hydroxylase appears to be involved in E2-induced carcinogenesis in these animals. Specific E2 4-hydroxylase activity has been observed in extrahepatic tissues from several species. In humans, cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) appears to be an extrahepatic E2 4-hydroxylase under the regulatory control of the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). As an initial approach to investigating CYP1B1 expression and E2 4-hydroxylase activity in human kidney, we used the ACHN cell line, derived from a human renal adenocarcinoma. In untreated ACHN cells, a very low level of CYP1B1 mRNA expression was observed and CYP1B1 protein could not be detected; however, in ACHN cells exposed to the high-affinity AhR ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), CYP1B1 mRNA levels were elevated 28-fold, and the CYP1B1 protein was detected by immunoblot analysis. Exposure of ACHN cells to TCDD resulted in minimal induction of the CYP1A1 mRNA, and the CYP1A1 protein was not detectable prior to or after exposure to TCDD. E2 hydroxylase activity could not be detected with microsomes from untreated ACHN cells, although activities at C-4 and, to a lesser extent, at C-2 of E2 were observed with microsomes from TCDD-treated ACHN cells. In experiments with intact ACHN cells, elevated rates of formation of 4-methoxyestradiol (MeOE2) and 2-MeOE2 were observed in response to treatment with TCDD. The EC50 for induction of the CYP1B1 mRNA was 1.5 nM TCDD; EC50s for the stimulation of 2- and 4-MeOE2 formation were 0.68 and 1.1 nM TCDD. These results indicate that the ACHN cell line may be a useful in vitro model system to study the regulation of CYP1B1 expression and the cytotoxic effects associated with E2 4-hydroxylation.
Multi-agent team cooperation: A game theory approach

The main goal of this work is to design a team of agents that can accomplish consensus over a common value for the agents' output using cooperative game theory approach. A semi-decentralized optimal control strategy that was recently introduced by the authors is utilized that is based on minimization of individual cost using local information. Cooperative game theory is then used to ensure team cooperation by considering a combination of individual cost as a team cost function. Minimization of this cost function results in a set of Pareto-efficient solutions. Among the Pareto-efficient solutions the Nash-bargaining solution is chosen. The Nash-bargaining solution is obtained by maximizing the product of the difference between the costs achieved through the optimal control strategy and the one obtained through the Pareto-efficient solution. The latter solution results in a lower cost for each agent at the expense of requiring full information set. To avoid this drawback some constraints are added to the structure of the controller that is suggested for the entire team using the linear matrix inequality (LMI) formulation of the minimization problem. Consequently, although the controller is designed to minimize a unique team cost function, it only uses the available information set for each agent. A comparison between the average cost that is obtained by using the above two methods is conducted to illustrate the performance capabilities of our proposed solutions.
Nitramine deflagration - Reduced chemical mechanism for primary flame facilitating simplified asymptotic analysis

It is proposed that nitramines burn by staged combustion in which most of the energy is released in a secondary flame that is convective-re active in character and that has a negligible influence on the deflagration velocity. A nearly adiabatic condition is then achieved at the end of the primary gas-phase flame that precedes this secondary flame, the flame temperature 7} at the adiabatic point lying between about 1200-1500 K. The detailed gas-phase chemical kinetics for this primary flame are addressed here. The chemistry is reasoned to involve initially a set of elementary steps that result in HONO, HCN, H2CO, and N2O as decomposition products obtained hi an overall endothermic manner at temperatures in the vicinity of 1000 K, followed by steps that exothermically produce NO, N2, CO2, H2O, and HOCN at a rate found through systematic reduction of the chemistry to be that of bimolecular HONO decomposition. Systematic reduction of the chemistry of the initial process enables the ratio of HCN to H 2CO to be determined as a function of pressure, thereby predicting the pressure dependence of 7} and showing that this primary flame temperature decreases gradually with increasing pressure. Because of the activation energy of HONO decomposition, this decrease causes the effective pressure exponent of the exothermic reduced step to be less than two, and thereby reproduces the experimentally observed pressure exponent of about 0.8 for the deflagration velocity. Excellent agreement is obtained with measured deflagration velocities of cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine.
Prosthetic Vascular Graft Infections: A Contemporary Approach to Diagnosis and Management

Improvements in manufacturing and implantation techniques, coupled with an increasing prevalence of atherosclerosis in an aging population, have led to increased utilization of prosthetic vascular grafts. The infection rates of vascular grafts are low. However, when they do occur, high rates of morbidity and mortality can be expected. The purpose of this article is to review the published literature regarding epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations of prosthetic vascular graft infections. Moreover, we provide a practical approach to the diagnosis and management of these complicated infections based on empirically grounded evidence.
Numerical simulation of laser ignition of an isolated carbon particle in quiescent environment

Abstract A one-dimensional, fully transient numerical model is used to simulate combustion experiments performed on isolated carbon particles (≈ 200 μm in diameter) ignited by laser irradiation. The model incorporates a well established comprehensive gas-phase kinetic mechanism, a detailed transport model, and a five-step semiglobal heterogeneous reaction mechanism. When the ambient gas is at room temperature, the numerical results show that ignition by heating the particle is possible only in an oxygen-enriched environment. The ignition of the particle corresponds to the initiation of gas-phase CO oxidation in the boundary layer. The subsequent rapid burning is transient throughout the particle lifetime. Transiency is produced by the interactions between the gas-phase boundary layer (temperature and species) and the heterogeneous reactions at the particle surface. In contrast to typical effects of gas-phase accumulation observed in liquid droplet combustion problems, this chemically reactive boundary layer is contiguous to the particle surface and interacts with the heterogeneous system through transport of heat, and both stable and radical gas-phase species. This interaction changes the relative rates of the heterogeneous surface reactions in gasifying the particle and the overall gasification rate as well. The model also predicts a finite extinction diameter which increases with decreasing ambient oxygen mass fraction. The simulated temporal variation of the surface temperature and the aforementioned trend of extinction diameter agree with experimental observations. Quantitative agreement with experimental results can be obtained by using a single multiplying factor on the particle surface area to account for (as a first approximation) the effects of porosity. Thus, this model can be used in engineering practice, for instance, to estimate the ignition criteria, and burning time of carbon particles for known ambient conditions.
Stem cells and their niche: an inseparable relationship.

A recent Keystone symposium on `Stem Cell Interactions with their Microenvironmental Niche9 was organized by David T. Scadden and Allan C. Spradling. The meeting was held in conjunction with another Keystone symposium, `Stem Cells and Cancer9, at Keystone, Colorado. Among the work that was presented at this meeting, scientists presented data that advances our understanding of the contribution that the niche makes to stem cell maintenance. Novel types of stem cells and niches were also reported and new findings that clarify our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate and maintain stem cells were presented.
Magnetic Properties of Yttrium‐Gadolinium‐Aluminum‐Iron Garnets

The magnetic and microwave properties of polycrystalline garnets of the Gd3−x Y x Fe5−y Al y O12 type were investigated. Compositions of low magnetization (~600 gauss) and narrow linewidth (~125 oe) were found which are suitable for operation in devices where temperature compensation is required.
UV laser irradiation of IR laser generated particles ablated from nitrobenzyl alcohol

Abstract Particles generated by 2.94 μm pulsed IR laser ablation of liquid 3-nitrobenzyl alcohol were irradiated with a 351 nm UV laser 3.5 mm above and parallel to the sample target. The size and concentration of the ablated particles were measured with a light scattering particle sizer. The application of the UV laser resulted in a reduction in the average particle size by one-half and an increase in the total particle concentration by a factor of nine. The optimum delay between the IR and UV lasers was between 16 and 26 μs and was dependent on the fluence of the IR laser: higher fluence led to a more rapid appearance of particulate. The ejection velocity of the particle plume, as determined by the delay time corresponding to the maximum two-laser particle concentration signal, was 130 m/s at 1600 J/m2 IR laser fluence and increased to 220 m/s at 2700 J/m2. The emission of particles extended for several ms. The observations are consistent with a rapid phase change and emission of particulate, followed by an extended emission of particles ablated from the target surface.
A MIXER VISCOMETRY APPROACH FOR BLENDING DEVICES

The Matching Stress Method is a mixer viscometry technique used to estimate mixer constants and viscosity using systems of complex geometry. Three Newtonian standards and three hydroxy-propyl-methyl-cellulose (HPMC) solutions were used as model systems. To determine the mixer constants, a counter-rotating, twin-rotor blender was modified with a torque transducer and speed sensor installed between a drive shaft and a 0. 75 hp (559.3 W) electrical motor. Mixer constants were determined using a concentric cylinder approximation of shear stress in an effort to match this approximation with shear stress measurements determined from a bench top rheometer. Mixer constants for the model systems ranged between 2.01 and 2. 87rad -1 with an average value of 2.57 rad -1 for all fluids. The results demonstrate a successful technique for providing accurate viscometric data during mixing processes. Such efforts could be followed to implement real time, quality control strategies and power estimation in scale-up procedures.
Adaptive automata based on Darwinian selection

Abstract The principle of natural selection is general, and it is natural to assess its implications for achieving automata with desired dynamical or structural properties. The following issues arise: 1) Appropriate definition of the analogue of “genotype” and “phenotype”. 2) Definition of the ensemble of “possible” automata in which mutational search for desired properties is occurring. 3) Kinematic properties of the “fitness landscape” in the ensemble governing the statistical features of connected walks through fitter variants. 4) Optimal mutation selection strategies given a particular fitness landscape. We assess these questions in two ensembles of automata under selection for one attractor which matches a predetermined “target pattern”. The results are: 1) The continuity of desired dynamical properties differs in the two ensembles. 2) When the best automaton seeds each generation, selection follows a characteristic curve, and asymptotes at automata which approach but fail to achieve the desired attractors. 3) Designation of a subset of the variables as hidden from fitness estimation as part of the target pattern does not improve approach to the target pattern. We discuss limitations in the capacity of mutation selection procedures, and approaches to overcoming them.
District Effectiveness: A Study of Investment Strategies in New York City Public Schools and Districts:

Educational reform over the past two decades has focused primarily on schools as the critical units of change, often ignoring the role of districts and their effect on schools' performance. Although national reform efforts such as the recently reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (the No Child Left BehindAct), are directed primarily at schools, local school districts are responsible for a number of functions critical to schooling effectiveness (e.g., hiring, collective bargaining, curriculum development, assessment, fiscal operations, and ancillary functions). Refocusing attention on districts and their effect on schools, this study found differences between high- and low performing community school districts, or administrative subunits, within the New York City school system in terms of educational goals, instructional focus, leadership development, teacher recruitment and retention, and professional development.
Pro-inflammatory endothelial cell dysfunction is associated with intersectin-1s down-regulation

Background The response of lung microvascular endothelial cells (ECs) to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is central to the pathogenesis of lung injury. It is dual in nature, with one facet that is pro-inflammatory and another that is cyto-protective. In previous work, overexpression of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-XL rescued ECs from apoptosis triggered by siRNA knockdown of intersectin-1s (ITSN-1s), a pro-survival protein crucial for ECs function. Here we further characterized the cyto-protective EC response to LPS and pro-inflammatory dysfunction.
The impact of vocational education on productivity in the United States

Abstract This paper examines the impact of vocational education on productivity in the United States. By using a cross-correlation test for directional causality, it is shown that vocational education has led to improvements in human capital that in turn increase productivity as measured by real private domestic product per worker hour in nonfarm business. The reverse is not true: that is, changes in productivity do not have a statistically identifiable impact on vocational education. Moreover, the time it takes for significant cross-correlations to appear suggests that the total effect of any vocational educational change takes at least 10 to 20 years to exhaust itself. When the manufacturing sector is studied separately, such positive results are not obtained. Only two out of seven vocational education measures appear to have a significant effect on productivity. For these two measures, the time for an identifiable impact to occur is also fairly long.
Importance of interstitial, overlying water and whole sediment exposures to bioaccumulation by marine bivalves

During the performance of contaminated sediment studies using nonpolar pollutants, like polyclorinated biphenyls (PCBs), with marine organisms, the routes of exposure can include whole sediment, overlying waters and interstitial waters (assuming no feeding). These routes can be further subdivided into particulate, colloidal and dissolved aquatic phases. Currently, the dissolved phase is believed to be the primary bioavailable exposure phase. In this investigation, two (i.e. interstitial water) and three phase (i.e. whole sediment) exposures were performed to determine the relative importance of each phase to the accumulation of PCBs from environmentally contaminated sediments. PCB concentrations in each exposure were separated into dissolved, colloidal and particulate phases, quantified and compared to concentrations accumulated by two exposed bivalve species: the filter-feeder Mulinia lateralis and the deposit-feeder Yoldia limatula. Identifying specific sources of bioavailable PCBs was hampered by the high level of correlation amongst all phases. However, differences between species were apparent, possibly reflecting bivalve-specific behavioral strategies. Also, overlying water contaminant distributions were often better correlated to organism accumulation than interstitial water dissolved phase contaminant distributions. ©
19F NMR studies of the Diels-Alder adduct of N-pentafluorophenylmaleimide with phencyclone. Hindered rotation about a N-6F5 bond

Abstract N-pentafluorophenyl maleimide acts as an efficient Diels-Alder dienophile to form an adduct with phencyclone. The adduct was found to exhibit five distinct 19F NMR signals (282 MHz, ambient temperature, CDCl6) consisting of two gross doublets and three gross triplets. We interpret this as consistent with a severely hindered rotation about the N-C6F5 bond in the adduct, leading to a slow exchange limit (SEL) spectrum. The C6F5 group is thought to lie, on average, on the effective mirror plane of the adduct, perpendicular to the pyrrolidinedione ring system, to reduce steric interactions of the ortho fluorines with the imide N(CO)2 carbonyls. 19F-19F COSY45 NMR allowed assignment of vicinal fluorines in the C6F5. Comparative data is presented for the precursors, N-pentafluorophenyl maleamic acid and N-pentafluorophenyl maleimide. Variable temperature 19F NMR results for the maleamic acid are presented.
Ages of eruption of primate teeth: A compendium for aging individuals and comparing life histories

Sixty years ago, Adolph Schultz attempted to collect all available information on the ages at which primates erupt their teeth. His search recovered complete data for only two nonhuman primate species, both macaques (Schultz, 1935). Although dozens of studies of individual primate species have appeared since, many remain scattered in the primary literature. The present study takes another step towards the task that Schultz began by gathering together all data on ages of tooth eruption for every primate species that could be located, from published and unpublished sources. After adding new data, at least one datum on tooth eruption can be described for 46 species representing all primate families. Data for 36 species are presented in an extended format with recommendations to help standardize future data collection and reporting. The compendium makes it possible to describe, for the first time, the basic outline of the eruption of teeth of primates from birth to adulthood. A preliminary analysis finds: many primates are born with teeth already erupted and only great apes and humans typically remain toothless after a month of postnatal life. Eruption of the dentition is tightly integrated overall, but the first few teeth to erupt give unique information about species life history, probably reflecting infant precociality. Mean age of tooth eruption is strongly related to size, measured as mean adult body weight (r = 0.72–0.92) or mean adult brain weight (r = 0.82–0.97). Important gaps remain in our knowledge of great apes, gibbons, colobus monkeys, folivorous cebids, and lorises. For many species, day-of-birth records or brief longitudinal studies extending only weeks or months could provide extremely valuable life-history data. Over-all, eruption of teeth offers an excellent method to gauge both the maturation of individuals and to compare the life histories of species. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Image Sequence Processing For Target Estimation In Forward Looking Infrared (FUR) Imagery

This paper presents a methodology for estimating the silhouette of a target from a time-sequence of forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imagery recorded at video rates. The major problems associated with this type of imagery are noise and frame-to-frame misregistration. We achieve registration and noise smoothing by a combination of spatial and temporal processing. Edge preserving smoothing is applied to individual frames prior to gray level thresholding. A new algorithm for finding the optimum threshold is presented. The resulting sequence of binary image frames is registered by cross-correlating the 1-D x and y projections of each frame. The computationally efficient 1-D registration technique is just as accurate as a much slower 2-D correlation method. Temporal smoothing is realized by using a binary median filter to process frame sequences. We show that binary temporal median filtering is comparable in performance with gray level median processing followed by thresholding. The obvious advantage of binary processing lies in its potential for real time processing.
Relation of adipose tissue to metabolic flexibility

Metabolic flexibility is the capacity for skeletal muscle to shift reliance between lipids and glucose during fasting or in response to insulin. We hypothesized that body fat, adipose tissue characteristics, e.g. larger adipocytes, presence of inflammatory gene markers and impaired suppression of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) during insulin infusion might be related to metabolic flexibility. We measured changes in respiratory quotient (ΔRQ) before and during euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp in healthy young males. Body fat by DXA, laboratory measurements, abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue biopsies and fat cell size (FCS) were obtained after an overnight fast. Gene expression for 17 adipose tissue genes related to lipid synthesis, uptake, oxidation and storage, lipolysis and inflammation were measured. Reduced metabolic flexibility was associated with higher body fat, larger FCS and impaired insulin suppression of NEFAs. Metabolic flexibility was associated with higher serum adiponectin levels. Lower adipose tissue gene expression for inflammation markers was associated with greater NEFA suppression by insulin and metabolic flexibility. Combined, these results indicate that body fat, larger adipocytes, failure of insulin to suppress NEFAs, decreased adiponectin levels and inflammation markers in adipose tissue are associated with decreased insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and oxidation, which is an important component of reduced metabolic flexibility.
Characterization and modeling of direct-write fabrication of microscale polymer fibers

A new direct-write system for fabricating suspended microscale and sub-microscale polymer fibers has been developed and characterized. This system is capable of generating arrays of precisely-positioned fibers with controllable diameters in three-dimensional space. The driving mechanism behind this process harnesses the surface tension of liquid bridges to promote the controlled thinning of a macroscale polymer solution filament into the desired micro- or sub-microscale fiber. The correlation between fiber diameter and several experimental parameters including solution concentration, drawing rate, and fiber length was characterized using a series of viscous poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) solutions. A dimensional analysis of the physics of the fiber drawing process was used to adapt this data into an empirical relationship describing fiber formation from a generalized polymer solution. This information was subsequently utilized to predict fiber diameter from several other non-PMMA-based polymer solutions with accuracy comparable to the intrinsic variation of the process itself, thereby eliminating the need to perform lengthy characterizations on new polymer solutions.
Ammonium sulfide organosolv pulping

The use of ammonium sulfide in aqueous ethanol and methanol was investigated for pulping of wood. Hemlock chips required 21% ammonium sulfide (equivalent to 19% Na2O) at 180°C to become delignified to the kappa range 35–50. The yields exceeded those of conventional kraft pulps by 14% on dry wood basis. Over 75% of the original glucomannan was recovered in the pulp as the consequence of end group stabilization by ammonium sulfide. The intrinsic viscosity of the pulps, measured in cadoxen was 10.65 dl/g — approximately double the value for softwood kraft pulps. The pulps were readily bleached and possessed higher tensile and burst strengths but lower tear strengths than kraft pulps. Ammonium sulfide pulps from cottonwood were likewise obtained in high yields and with adequate strength properties.
Picturing the Iraq War: Constructing the Image of War in the British and US Press

This study reports the findings of a visual content analysis of 1305 Iraq War-related photographs appearing in the US press, represented by The New York Times, and the British press, represented by...
Cooperativity in Scapharca Dimeric Hemoglobin: Simulation of Binding Intermediates and Elucidation of the Role of Interfacial Water

Cooperative binding of ligands to proteins can serve to increase their efficiency and to regulate their activity. Thus, understanding of the mechanism of cooperativity is one of the central concerns of molecular biology. For the tetrameric human hemoglobin (HbA), the cooperative mechanism involves a reasonably well understood combination of tertiary and quaternary changes that occur during the binding process. The dimeric hemoglobin of Scapharca (HbI), which is composed of subunits with the same fold as in HbA, is also highly cooperative but the structural changes on ligand binding are small. A re-orientation of Phe97 in the binding pocket and changes in the number of interfacial water moleculess have been implicated in the cooperative mechanism. To explore the role of these factors, we have investigated models of partially liganded intermediate states of HbI with molecular dynamics simulation methods. Since, unlike HbA, no structures for intermediates are available, they were constructed by combining subunits from the unliganded and liganded dimers. Two structurally distinct intermediates were examined, and it was shown that the transition between the two intermediates is directly coupled to the number of interfacial water molecules. Further, it was found that there is a well-defined water channel that connects the interface between the subunits to bulk water. The bottleneck (gate) of the channel, which can be open or closed, is made of hydrophilic residues. The implication of the present results for the cooperative mechanism of HbI is discussed.
Investigation of biomechanical characteristics of older adults: Effects of gender and driving status

The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical differences in the ability to generate force between older drivers and non-drivers. The study examined differences in ankle, hip and upper body torque generation between gender and driving groups with respect to driving posture. Twenty-four older adults aged 65 years and older were recruited for participation in this study. Strength and reaction time data were collected using a Biodex Dynamometer. The data was analyzed to report peak torque generation at the ankle, hip, and steering wheel along with peak reaction times and head-neck flexibility. The results indicated a significant decrease in peak torque measurements, and increase in the reaction time in non-drivers as compared to drivers. Gender differences were found in the hip and upper body torque, with females at a lower strength level than males. No significant differences were found between gender and driving status for the head neck flexibility. Language: en
EFFICACY, SAFETY AND PATIENT SATISFACTION OUTCOMES OF THE AMS 700CX INFLATABLE PENILE PROSTHESIS: RESULTS OF A LONG-TERM MULTICENTER STUDY

Purpose: We performed a long-term multicenter study of the AMS 700CX ‡ ‡American Medical Systems, Minnetonka, Minnesota 3-piece inflatable penile prosthesis, focusing on longevity, morbidity and pa...