cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of an all optical de-multiplexer architecture utilizing bevel design for spatially multiplexed optical fiber communication systems

Spatial domain multiplexing (SDM) is a system that allows multiple channels of light to traverse a single fiber, utilizing separate spatial regions inside the carrier fiber, thereby applying a new degree of photon freedom for optical fiber communications. These channels follow a helical pattern, the screen projection of which is viewable as concentric rings at the output end of the system. The MIMO nature of the SDM system implies that a typical pin-diode or APD will be unable to distinguish between these channels, as the diode will interpret the combination of the SDM signals from all channels as a single signal. As such, spatial de-multiplexing methods must be introduced to properly detect the SDM based MIMO signals. One such method utilizes a fiber consisting of multiple, concentric, hollow core fibers to route each channel independently and thereby de-mux the signals into separate fibers or detectors. These de-mux fibers consist of hollow core cylindrical structures with beveled edges on one side that gradually taper to route the circular, ring type, output energy patterns into a spot with the highest possible efficiency. This paper analyzes the beveled edge by varying its length and analyzing the total output power for each predetermined length allowing us to simulate ideal bevel length to minimize both system losses as well as total de-mux footprint. OptiBPM simulation engine is employed for these analyses.
Reducing the Legal Consequences of a Felony Conviction: A National Survey of State Statutes

Offenders convicted of a felony are restricted from exercising a number of civil rights. This paper surveys the statutes for each state in order to determine the available legal methods for restoring a convicted individual's civil rights. Specifically, the methods investigated in the statutes were pardon, expungement of conviction, and the automatic restoration of civil rights upon the completion of sentence. While the number of restoration procedures varied by state, the southern region of the nation had the fewest opportunities for offenders to restore their civil rights.
Discrete-basis-function approach to electron-molecule scattering

The authors discuss two discrete-basis-function approaches to the solution of the T-matrix equations for the scattering of electrons by atoms or molecules. Both methods, one of which is based on the Schwinger variational principle, have major advantages over the previously proposed T-matrix methods and do not require large-basis-set expansions. Results are reported for s- and p-wave scattering for helium.
Closed-loop identification of unstable systems using noncausal FIR models

Motivated by the potential advantages of FIR model structures, the present paper considers the applicability of FIR models to closed-loop identification of open-loop-unstable plants. We show that FIR models can be used effectively for closed-loop identification of open-loop-unstable plants. The key insight in this regard is to realize that a noncausal FIR model can serve as a truncated Laurent expansion inside the annulus between the asymptotically stable pole of largest modulus and the unstable pole of smallest modulus. The key to identifying the noncausal plant model is to delay the measured output relative to the measured input. With this techniques, the identified FIR model is precisely a noncausal approximation of the unstable plant, that is, an approximation of the Laurent expansion of the plant inside the annulus of analyticity lying between the disk of stable poles and the punctured plane of unstable poles.
Rat granulosa cells produce a novel trypsin-like protease in response to gonadotropin treatment.

Rat ovaries produce a novel ovarian trypsin-like protease that is regulated during follicular development. The protease extracted from the ovaries of immature gonadotropin-treated female rats was unstable to denaturation, but was recoverable after non-denaturing electrophoresis. The activity was inhibited by synthetic serine protease inhibitors but not by aprotinin or soybean trypsin inhibitor, thus distinguishing the enzyme from pancreatic trypsin. Treatment with pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) significantly increased the levels of enzyme in the ovarian granulosa cells (Control, 0.0027 units/10 6 cells; PMSG-treated, 0.0062 units/10 6 cells) which was also secreted by these cells. The novel enzyme described here may be important for matrix remodelling during follicular growth.
History of sexual abuse in incarcerated adolescents with gonorrhea or syphilis

From July 1983 to June 1984, 2521 adolescents were medically screened at entry into a detention facility in New York City. A medical history, physical examination, serology for syphilis, and culture for gonorrhea were obtained from each entrant. A retrospective chart review was conducted for 136 persons with gonorrhea and/or syphilis (79 boys and 57 girls) and 136 sex-matched infection-negative controls. Several characteristics were compared including age, age at first sexual intercourse, sexual abuse history, contraceptive use, and pregnancy status. Among infected cases, 8% of males and 32% of females reported a history of sexual abuse, whereas among controls, no males and 14% of females reported abuse. A history of sexual abuse was strongly associated with gonorrhea or syphilis (odds ratio = 3.4; 95% confidence intervals, 1.5-8.0). These data suggest an association between sexual abuse and subsequent high-risk sexual behavior manifested by a gonorrhea or syphilis infection.
Pattern redundancy and detection in very short-term memory

A tachistoscopically presented target letter is detected better in a background of redundant items than in nonredundant material. The present experiment extended this finding by showing that detection rate increased systematically across three levels of background letter redundancy. A conclusion based on the earlier findings was that a serial process of letters in memory could not account for the effects of background redundancy on detection accuracy. Contrary to this conclusion, the present analysis showed that detection for semiredundant displays was successfully predicted by two variants of a serial process model. One model assumed that the scan of a letter is faster when the letter is the same as any prior letter scanned in the matrix. The other model assumes that nonredundant letters are processed serially and that redundant letters are processed all at once, i.e., in parallel.
X-ray Dosimetry and Contact Microradiography with Color Film

The effect of x-rays at various voltages and intensities, with monochromatic and polychromatic beams, on Ektachrome daylight and artificial-light film was investigated. The colors were rated according to the Munsell color system and ranged over all the spectrum except red. The color in terms of hue, value, saturation, and chroma was a function of wavelength as well as intensity, and thus the method may be useful in dosimetry as well as in radiography. Microradiographs of metals and wood were remarkable in showing detail not obtainable with conventional black-and-white photographic emulsions.
Circuit-level model of semiconductor photodetectors

In this paper, we present a circuit-level model of semiconductor photodetectors which accounts for photocurrent, dark current, junction capacitance, and other parasitic effects. We have implemented the model within a standard circuit-level simulation environment While parasitic elements will typically place the ultimate limit on high-speed device performance, in some cases the transit-time limited impulse response of the photocurrent can also be important. In order to properly account for this effect, prior circuit-level modeling efforts have been based on the modification of existing simulation code to account for the numerical convolution of an optical input signal with the impulse response. We, on the other hand, will demonstrate how existing linear component models can be used to describe the impulse response, thereby greatly simplifying the implementation of our model by circumventing the need to modify the simulator. Additional linear and nonlinear elements are added to account for dc and parasitic effects. These include the intrinsic current-voltage characteristics of the device, series resistance, and junction capacitance. After discussing the theory and implementation of our model, we demonstrate its ability to simulate device behavior during dc, small-signal, and transient operation.
Integrated poly-SiGe nanomechanical resonators for wireless sensor nodes

Wireless Sensor Nodes are basic building blocks for future ubiquitous networks. These nodes have to be able to gather and transmit information to their neighbors in complete autonomy. This means that with no battery, they rely on scavenging the energy necessary to operate directly from their environment, like conversion of solar or vibration based energy. This stringent requirement drastically limits the power budget of those devices to a level below 100μW. From the architecture prospective, work on reducing the complexity of the transceiver is mandatory, in order to reduce both size and power consumption. The simplest approach relies on the on/off modulation of a GHz range carrier frequency signal in a transmit channel, which is then directly selected and demodulated in the receiving path. For these particular functionalities, i.e. frequency generation and filtering, nano-mechanical resonators present a strong advantage of scalability that helps to integrate them into dense arrays directly on top of CMOS. This avoids package parasitic, allows for MEMS/circuitry co-design, and eventually leads to size shrinkage and power saving.
AVAILABILITY, INTEGRABILITY, AND DEPENDABILITY – WHAT ARE THE LIMITS IN PRODUCTION AND LOGISTICS?

Abstract Augmentation of production and logistics by effective, collaborative e-Work requires understanding the human and organizational augmentation needs and abilities. Collaborative control theory (CCT) and design principles are discussed, and key performance measures for emerging e-Production and e-Logistics systems are described and illustrated in this article. Then, the achievable limits based on these measures in e-Production and e-Logistics are studied as a guide for designers of such systems and for future researchers aspiring to extend these limits.
Reaction Kinetics and Mechanism: Model Studies on Metal Single Crystals [P.H. Emmett Award Address, 1983]

Abstract In the past decade remarkable progress has been made in the surface science of catalysis. Studies on both small single crystal metal particles on supporting materials and on large (bulk) single crystals point toward a more refined understanding of the fundamental processes underlying catalytic chemistry and, hopefully, toward a rational design of catalytic materials. It seems clear that concepts gleaned from studies on single crystal surfaces will strongly influence the research with supported metal catalysts and ultimately affect the nature of the materials used as practical catalysts.
A simplified method for numerical simulation of gas grilling of non-intact beef steaks to eliminate Escherichia coli O157:H7

Abstract The objective of this work was to develop a numerical simulation method to study the heat transfer process and inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 during gas grilling of non-intact beef steaks (NIBS). A finite difference and optimization algorithm was developed to determine the effective heat transfer parameters during grilling. After validation, these parameters were used in a finite element method to simulate the temperature profiles at various locations of NIBS (2.54 cm in thickness). The computer simulation results showed that E. coli O157:H7 may survive the heating processes if normal grilling conditions for intact beef steaks were used. Computer simulation results also suggested that E. coli O157:H7 might be effectively inactivated if NIBS (2.54 cm) were evenly flipped (every 4 min) and cooked for 16 min during cooking. The result of this study may help the food service industry to develop more adequate grilling methods and conditions to cook NIBS.
Designing communities of learners for asynchronous distance education

Asynchronous distance education can replicate traditional face-to-face training or education; but, why should it do so? Asynchronous distance education provides an opportunity to create meaningful learning which is not feasible in a traditional classroom, provided that communities of learners that encourage knowledge building and social reinforcement are specifically created. This article describes the need for learning communities within the context of asynchronous distance education. Asynchronous learning communities are specifically relevant for training environments, given the need for instant and constant training with employees who are located in an ever-expanding national and international workplace. Specifically, three types of communities are described: academic, intellectual and interpersonal.
A Late Quaternary diatom record of tropical climatic history from Lake Titicaca (Peru and Bolivia)

Abstract A composite high-resolution diatom stratigraphy from three piston cores and one box-core in the deep sub-basin of Lake Titicaca reveals large moisture variations during the past 30 kyr in the Altiplano region. Diatom sequences indicate orbital and millennial-scale variability in water level and salinity. The pelagic freshwater diatom species Cyclotella andina and Cyclotella stelligera dominate Glacial-age sediments, suggesting that the lake was above its present outlet. Generally, wet conditions continued until 11 000 cal yr BP, as indicated by high percentages of freshwater planktonic diatoms. Large pulses of benthic diatom species between about 11 000 and 10 000 cal yr BP suggest brief intervals of large-amplitude declines in lake level. During the early Holocene (10 000–8500 cal yr BP), a freshwater diatom assemblage suggests overflowing conditions. Pelagic freshwater diatoms are replaced ca. 8500 cal yr BP by the salinity-indifferent species Cyclotella meneghiniana and by benthic taxa, indicating the beginning of lake regression. During the mid-Holocene (6000–3500 cal yr BP), the abundance of the saline taxon Chaetoceros muelleri , coupled with high abundances of epiphytic and epipelic diatoms, indicates maximum salinity and lowest lake levels in the entire 30 000 year record. Lake transgression began ca. 4000 cal yr BP, and the lake achieved modern levels by about 1500 cal yr BP. These water-level changes imply changes in effective moisture, most likely resulting from large precipitation changes. Precipitation was high throughout the Last Glacial Maximum (21 000–18 000 cal yr BP), likely due to an enhanced South American Summer Monsoon during peak summer insolation in the Southern Hemisphere. In contrast, the mid-Holocene transition was dryer than today in association with an austral summer insolation minimum and the subsequent weakening of the summer monsoon.
Extracting dynamics from collision data. I, Analysis of integral angular momentum

Collision data in forms currently available from experimental sources are reduced by quadratures and algebraic transformations to dynamical parameters. The reduction hinges on suitable normalizations and utilization of sum rules and removes the influence of experimental geometries. The dynamical parameters, labeled by angular momenta restricted to a modest range, appear more suited to comparison with theory than the original experimental data. Our analytical developments are simplified by certain restrictions, whose removal is discussed in a final section.
Effects of caffeine on germination and differentiation in spores of the fern, Onoclea sensibilis

During spore germination in the fern, Onoclea sensibilis L., the nucleus moves from a central position to one end, and an asymmetrical cell division partitions the spore into two cells of greatly unequal size. The smaller cell differentiates directly into a rhizoid, whereas the larger cell and its derivatives give rise to the prothallus. In the presence of 5 mM caffeine, the nuclei of most of the spores undergo mitotic replication, whereas cell wall formation is blocked. Multinucleate single cells are produced, which are capable of growth, but no rhizoid differentiation occurs. In some cases a partial cell wall is produced, but the nucleus moves through the discontinuity back to the center of the spore, and the enucleate, incompletely partitioned small “cell” fails to differentiate into a rhizoid. In less than 1% of the spores a broad protuberance, whose wall is yellow-brown, is formed in a multinucleate single cell. The color, staining reaction to ruthenium red, and ultrastructural appearance of the protuberance resemble that of the rhizoid wall. It appears that infrequently in the caffeine-treated spores, a feature which is characteristic of rhizoids is expressed, in the absence of asymmetric cell division, in a cell which otherwise is unable to produce a rhizoid. The results are interpreted to mean that the spore has a highly localized, persistent differentiated region. For rhizoid differentiation to occur, a nucleus must be confined in that region – a confinement which normally is accomplished by the geometrically asymmetric first cell division of germination.
Computer simulation of microclusters, surfaces, and interfaces

Abstract The structure and thermodynamics of condensed–phase microclusters, the planar liquid surface, and the liquid‐solid interface are of special interest in several fields broadly related to the general discipline of chemical physics. Until recently, we have been able to say with confidence very little about the microscopic (or molecular) properties of these systems and have resorted to the application of macroscopic thermodynamics or heuristic models of a simplistic nature. The heuristic approach requires a successful choice of a suitable model for the problem at hand which (1) reasonably well represents the system of interest and (2) provides a relatively simple formalism from which numerical quantities can be obtained. While these models provide insight into the origins of certain features of a particular microcluster or interface, they cannot serve to elucidate the molecular structure since this is assumed in one way or another. For example, in a real sense clusters of a few tens of atoms are “all...
Hematopoietic stem cell antigen-1 (Sca-1) expression in different lymphoid tissues of female mice treated with GnRH agonist.

PROBLEM : Our earlier studies have demonstrated a general suppression of leukocyte maturation upon GnRH agonist treatment in mice and suggested a potential effect at an early stem cell stage of leukocyte development. METHOD : Three-week old Balb/c and C57BL/6 female mice received 50 μg injections of Lupron depot or placebo. Sequential changes in Sca-1 + cells in the bone marrow, thymus, blood and spleen were studied by flow cytometry. RESULTS : In bone marrow, the absolute numbers of Sca-1 + cells were significantly decreased at 2 weeks in C57BL/6 mice whereas a decreasing trend was noted in Balb/c mice following agonist administration. Concomitantly, thymocytes expressing Sca-1 + cells were significantly increased at 2 weeks in C57BL/6 mice, but were significantly decreased in Balb/c mice. Significant decreases in Sca-1 + cells were also observed in spleen and blood in Balb/c mice whereas no significant differences were observed in C57BL/6 mice. CONCLUSIONS : These data suggest GnRH agonists affect hematopoietic stem cell development in mice. The effects observed vary with different genetic backgrounds. In Balb/c mice these effects are more pronounced, and appear to result in the inhibition of stem cell maturation. In contrast, GnRH agonist enhances stem cell maturation in C57BL/6 mice.
Diffusion-flame extinction on a rotating porous-disk burner

Abstract Flames advected by swirling flows are subject to large strain rates that may cause local extinction. In this investigation, a porous-disk burner is spun at a constant angular velocity in an otherwise quiescent oxidizing atmosphere. Gaseous methane is injected through the disk pores and burns in a flat diffusion flame adjacent to the disk, resulting in a variety of nonpremixed flame patterns for different combinations of the angular velocity and fuel flow rate. The method of activation-energy asymptotics is employed to address the transition from conditions under which a diffusion flame envelops the entire disk to conditions under which diffusion flames are present over only part of the disk, leading to the presence of edge flames. An expression for the extinction Damkohler number as a function of the fuel flow rate and angular velocity is derived and compared with experiments. Agreement is favorable when parameters for a one-step model of methane combustion are employed.
Toxic Air Contaminants in Porto Alegre, Brazil

Information on ambient levels of toxic air contaminants is a critical component of programs aimed at regulating air emissions to protect public health. Yet, this information is not available in many countries. Toxic air contaminants have been measured near a busy highway in downtown Porto Alegre, Brazil, from 3/20/96 to 4/16/97. Of the 42 compounds listed in US EPA Method TO-14, 21 were not detected (concentrations < 0.1 ppb), 3 were detected in only a few samples (CHCl[sub 3], HClC[double bond]CCl[sub 2], and p-dichlorobenzene), and 3 were present at concentrations typical of background locations (CH[sub 3]Cl, CH[sub 3]CCl[sub 3], and CFC-113). Comparisons of urban/background location concentration ratios and of urban concentrations vs those of CO indicate no local emissions for CCl[sub 4], small and variable sources for CFC-11 and CFC-12, local sources other than vehicles for CH[sub 2]Cl[sub 2] and Cl[sub 2]C[double bond]CCl[sub 2], and vehicles as the major source of 1,3-butadiene, styrene, and aromatic hydrocarbons. Ambient concentrations of 1,3-butadiene and aromatic hydrocarbons were well correlated to those of benzene (R = 0.92--0.98) and those of CO (R = 0.88--0.97). These correlations are used to estimate mid-1996 vehicle emission rates, e.g., (197 [+-] 50) [times] 10[sup 3] kg/year for 1,3-butadiene.more » A comprehensive comparison is made of the results (halogenated compounds measured in Porto Alegre, halogenated compounds not detected in Porto Alegre, and aromatic hydrocarbons with focus on the toluene/benzene, (m + p)-xylene/benzene, and (m + p)-xylene/toluene ratios) with literature data for background and urban locations.« less
Spectroscopy Of The HCO Radical And Its Relation To The Photodissociation Of Aliphatic Aldehydes.

Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) and multiphoton ionization (MPI) spectroscopic tech-niques have been used to investigate the HCO radical produced in the UV photolysis of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde. The LIF study has yielded vibrational and rotational information on the ground and first excited electronic states. The MPI experiment has enabled the rotational energy distribution of HCO to be examined under collision-free conditions.
Fluorocarbon emulsions as blood replacement fluid: influence on the omental microcirculation.

Abstract The results of this microvascular in vivo study indicate that, at the present, the tested fluorocarbon emulsions cannot be considered as a blood substitute for clinical applications because these solutions caused the deterioration of microhemodynamic function and caused damage to both endothelial wall and blood cells. This could only be demonstrated by methods currently used for microcirculatory research since the macrohemodynamic parameters measured were not indicative of severe side effects during the experiments. Our findings indicate that the major effect of fluorocarbon emulsions on the microcirculation is due to pharmacological action which causes arteriolar constriction, vessel wall damage, and blood cell aggregation. These effects do not appear to be a consequence of the elevated oncotic pressure. Similarly, particle size associated with a 15% emulsion could not be demonstrated to be the primary cause for the observed microhemodynamic changes. We conclude that emulsions with comparatively higher concentrations of fluorocarbon could only be utilized if their pharmacological activity on the microcirculation can be controlled.
Quantum Monte Carlo calculations of the energy-level alignment at hybrid interfaces: Role of many-body effects

An approach is presented for obtaining a highly accurate description of the energy-level alignment at hybrid interfaces, using quantum Monte Carlo calculations to include many-body effects as a correction to the standard single-particle picture. For a representative interface between an organic molecule and an inorganic slab, we illustrate the crucial role of many-body effects for correctly describing the energy-level alignment, leading to qualitatively different optoelectronic properties from the prediction within the single-particle description. Further, the heterojunction behavior as a function of quantum confinement in the slab is predicted to be qualitatively different upon inclusion of many-body effects.
The structure of liquid crystalline copolyester fibers prepared from p-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2,6-dihydroxy naphthalene, and terephthalic acid

Abstract X-ray methods are being used to investigate the physical structure of high strength melt-spun liquid crystalline aromatic copolyester fibres prepared from the following monomers: p-hydroxybenzoic acid (B), 2,6-dihydroxy naphthalene (N), and terephthalic acid (P). The X-ray data for fibres prepared for B/N/P ratios of 60/20/20, 50/25/25, and 40/30/30 show variations in the positions and intensities of the maxima suggestive of a truly random copolymer structure rather than extensive block copolymer character. We have predicted the intensity distribution on the meridian of the X-ray patterns by modelling random chains by a linear sequence of points separated by distances corresponding to the lengths of the B, N and P residues. The positions of the maxima in the averaged squared Fourier transforms of random monomer sequences are in good agreement with those for the three observed strong meridional intensities, and the calculations reproduce the observed shifts in the positions of these meridionals as the monomer ratio is varied.
Nitric oxide measurements in a flame by laser fluorescence

Laser fluorescence measurements have been performed to detect nitric oxide in a CH4–O2–N2 flame at atmospheric pressure. For these measurements a frequency-doubled tunable dye laser was used to excite the UV γ-bands of nitric oxide. Sensitivities were adequate to detect naturally occurring levels of nitric oxide that were in the 20–30-ppm range. Higher sensitivities can be achieved using other currently available lasers having greater output intensities.
Synthesis of Coenzymes I and II

DURING the past year, two biological methods for the determination of coenzymes I and II in blood have been reported1,2. Kohn and Klein, using the method described by Kohn, have reported recently the in vitro synthesis of the pyridine coenzymes I and II by human erythrocytes3. In their study, “fresh defibrinated blood was incubated in tightly stoppered flasks, or tubes, for 18–24 hours at 29°–35°"; apparently a mixture of red cells, white cells and serum was used. In the presence of added nicotinic acid amide or nicotinic acid, the in vitro synthesis of these coenzymes by defibrinated blood had also been observed in this laboratory, but from our experiments it seemed that the red cells stored and carried the enzymes instead of performing the synthesis. Accordingly, we took duplicate samples of venous blood from five normal persons, two patients with myelogenous leukaemia, and one patient with lymphatic leukaemia, and by repeated washing separated the red blood cells, the white blood cells and the serum. In each case, 1 c.c. of venous blood, or its haematocrit equivalent of washed cells, was incubated 18 hours with an equal volume of saline which contained 0·25 mgm. of nicotinic acid amide per cubic centimetre. The control tubes contained no nicotinic acid amide and were incubated the same length of time with an equal volume of saline.
56. Erythrophilic IgG-globulin coat in severe neonatal jaundice

The crythrophilic IgG-globulin coat (IgG E-C) circnlates in plasma; it coats red blood cells at low ionic strenth medium (Thomaidis, N.: Biochemistry, 6 3378, 1967). A method for quantitating IgG E-C, devised in our laboratory and consisting of (a) elution of IgG E-C and (b) determination of IgG in the eluate by circular immunodiffusion was applied to 83 newborns with sevre jaundice. The mean value of IgG E-C in the ABO isoimmunization group (65.6 ±12.1 mg) was higher than that in healthy newborns (44.3 ± 13.6 p <0.001), in ABO set-up, or jaundice of unknown etiology. In the Rh iso-immunization group (IgG E-C was not increased 46.3 ± 11.7). It is concluded that this increase in the ABO isoimmunization group probably represents univalent and incomplete immune isohemagglutinins which are easily eluted. leaving the red cells naked and producing a negative Coomm's test. Investigations aiming at clucidating the pathogenesis of ABO isoimmunization should be diverted to the IgG E-C of neonatal erythroeytes rather than the materna serum. Unfortunately it cannot be used as an absolute diagnostic test in ABO isoimmunation because of overlapping of velues.
Comparison of substrate specificities of the human placental NAD- and NADP-linked 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenases.

Abstract A study of the relative activity of the purified placental NAD- and NADP-linked 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenases with various prostaglandins and thromboxane B 2 (TxB 2 ) suggests that most, if not all, oxidation in the placenta of the 15-hydroxyl group of prostaglandins of the A, E, and F series as well as PGI 2 (prostacyclin) and 6-keto PGF 1α is catalyzed by the NAD-linked enzyme. Prostaglandin B 1 is an excellent substrate for the NADP-linked enzyme. Despite the conformational similarities between PGB 1 and PGI 2 , the latter molecule is a poor substrate for the NADP-linked enzyme. Thromboxane B 2 is not oxidized by the NAD-linked enzyme and is oxidized slowly by the NADP-linked enzyme.
Rapid Measurement of Protein Osmotic Second Virial Coefficients by Self-Interaction Chromatography

Weak protein interactions are often characterized in terms of the osmotic second virial coefficient (B(22)), which has been shown to correlate with protein phase behavior, such as crystallization. Traditional methods for measuring B(22), such as static light scattering, are too expensive in terms of both time and protein to allow extensive exploration of the effects of solution conditions on B(22). In this work we have measured protein interactions using self-interaction chromatography, in which protein is immobilized on chromatographic particles and the retention of the same protein is measured in isocratic elution. The relative retention of the protein reflects the average protein interactions, which we have related to the second virial coefficient via statistical mechanics. We obtain quantitative agreement between virial coefficients measured by self-interaction chromatography and traditional characterization methods for both lysozyme and chymotrypsinogen over a wide range of pH and ionic strengths, yet self-interaction chromatography requires at least an order of magnitude less time and protein than other methods. The method thus holds significant promise for the characterization of protein interactions requiring only commonly available laboratory equipment, little specialized expertise, and relatively small investments of both time and protein.
Guided Self-Assembly via Designed Strain Field

We apply an elastic field to the substrate to guide the self-assembly of domain patterns on its surface. The effect of arbitrary three dimensional external loading is found to be characterized by a single two dimensional parameter—a surface stain field of the substrate. A non-uniform strain field significantly influences the size, shape and orientation of self-assembled features, and may induce the formation of pattern colonies. It is shown that a pattern orientates normal to the strain gradient direction. An applied load anchors the position of a self-assembled pattern relative to the substrate, where a colony boundary resides on the strain gradient region. The work suggests a method of strain field design to make various monolayer patterns for nanofabrication.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
After the Paris Declaration: Taking on the Issue of Power

The new approach to assisting developing countries inspired by the Paris Declaration emphasises greater recipient control over the funds provided, thus confining donors’influence to upstream points in the policy process, where political aspects of development co-operation become more important. Understanding better the role that power plays in the aid relationship will be critical to the implementation of the Declaration. This article shows how the political science literature can inform this set of issues. It argues that an understanding of aspects of power illuminates the challenges involved in transforming relations between donors and recipient governments as well as between governments and civil society organisations.
Effects of the humeral tray component positioning for onlay reverse shoulder arthroplasty design: a biomechanical analysis.

Background Recent shoulder prostheses have introduced a concept of a universal humeral stem component platform that has an onlay humeral tray for the reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA). No studies have reported how humeral tray positioning can affect the biomechanics of RTSA. Materials and methods The Newcastle Shoulder Model was used to investigate the biomechanical effect of humeral tray positioning in the Biomet Comprehensive Total Shoulder System (Biomet, Warsaw, IN, USA) RTSA. Five humeral tray configuration positions were tested: no offset, and 5 mm offset in the anterior, posterior, medial, and lateral positions. Superior and inferior impingement were evaluated for abduction, scapular plane elevation, forward flexion, and external/internal rotation with the elbow at the side (adduction) and at 90° of shoulder abduction. Muscle lengths and moment arms (elevating and rotational) were calculated for the deltoid, the infraspinatus, the teres minor, and the subscapularis. Results Inferior impingement was not affected by the humeral tray position. There was less superior impingement during abduction, scapular plane elevation, and rotation with the shoulder when the tray was placed laterally or posteriorly. The subscapularis rotational moment arm was increased with a posterior offset, whereas infraspinatus and teres minor rotational moment arms were increased with an anterior offset. Very little change was observed for the deltoid elevating moment arm or for its muscle length. Conclusion Positioning the humeral tray with posterior offset offers a biomechanical advantage for patients needing RTSA by decreasing superior impingement and increasing the internal rotational moment arm of the subscapularis, without creating inferior impingement.
SCINTIGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF SOLID‐PHASE GASTRIC EMPTYING IN THE DOG

A technique for scintigraphically quantitating solid-phase gastric emptying in the dog was developed in a Beagle model. The test meal was determined to empty in a linear fashion, indicating a solid-phase label. The evaluation was performed on a group of dogs presented for gastrointestinal signs that were judged to have normal liquid barium sulfate fluoroscopic and radiographic studies. The results of this study indicate that this technique is valuable for identifying those patients with surgically correctable pyloric obstruction that exhibit normal gastric emptying of liquid barium.
FiOS cost efficiency

As part of FiOS deployment Verizon is constantly looking for opportunities to reduce overall deployment cost. This paper focuses on some of the ways VZ has achieved cost efficiency and ongoing initiatives looking at possible cost reduction in the future FiOS deployments.
Characterization of functional groups of acidic thermal polymers of α-amino acids

Abstract The amino acid contents, C-terminal amino acid contents, carboxyl groups, amide groups, and imide groups of polyaspartic acid, anhydropolyaspartic acid, 2 : 2 : 1-proteinoid, and 2 : 2 : 3-proteinoid have been assayed. By comparisons of these data, the relative abundance of various functional groups have been calculated.
Literacy and numeracy skills and anticoagulation control.

ABSTRACT Background The ability to use printed material to function in society (literacy) and to handle basic numerical concepts (numeracy) may have implications in patients' ability to follow dosing schedules. We examined literacy and numeracy skills among patients on warfarin and explored their association with anticoagulation control. Methods and Results Patients older than 50years attending two anticoagulation management units were prospectively enrolled. We measured literacy, numeracy, and international normalized ratio (INR). During a 3-month follow-up period, we calculated the variability of the INR and the amount of time a patient's INR was within his or her therapeutic range, variables associated with bleeding and effectiveness. Among 143 patients, only 75 (52.4%) were able to read health-related words at the eighth grade level or less. Patients' self-reported grade completed was higher than the measured literacy grade level ( κ =0.21). While 79.0% had completed at least eight grades, only 47.6% had a score at that grade level. Sixty-nine patients answered none or correctly answered fewer than two of the six numeracy questions (48.3%). The INR variability was higher among patients with lower literacy ( P =0.009) and lower numeracy skills ( P =0.004). The time in range was similar among patients at different literacy levels ( P =0.9). Patients with lower numeracy level spent more time above their therapeutic range ( P =0.04) and had a trend of less time spent in range ( P =0.10). Conclusions Low literacy was prevalent among study patients taking warfarin. Low literacy and numeracy were associated with measures of poor anticoagulation control.
Graphical regular representations of free products of groups

If X is a Cayley graph of a group G possessing a normal subgroup N, then there is a quotient graph of X which is a Cayley graph of GN. With the aid of this result, it is shown that the free product of at least two and at most countably many groups, each of which is at most countably generated, admits a graphical regular representation.
Analyzing mediation in dialogic exchanges in a pre-service second language (L2) teacher practicum blog: A sociocultural perspective

Abstract Utilizing Vygotskian sociocultural theory, this article analyzes how an expert teacher educator mediated a pre-service second language (L2) teacher's requests for assistance and expression of emotional dissonance and uncovers the unique characteristics of the teacher educator's mediation. Responding to the recent call to promote the conceptual understanding of L2 teaching on the part of novices, this study focuses on the pedagogical concepts of teaching that were introduced by the teacher educator. Mediating the teacher's learning, the teacher educator introduced the following concepts: promoting students' greater ownership over their learning, making concrete one's instructional paraphrasing, and situating one's instructional activities. Overall, the following characteristics of the teacher educator's mediation were identified: re-framing the teacher's thinking about teaching toward a more expert understanding of teaching, re-naming the novice's conceptions of teaching through expert discourse, and promoting the teacher's conceptual understanding of teaching through the use of the scientific concepts of teaching. While there exists a considerable body of research on the power of engagement in the narration for teacher learning, this study adds to the existing research by also analyzing the teacher educator's mediation in this context. The significance of this study lies in providing new insights for faculty in teacher education programs who are designing and implementing teacher practicums with the use of dialogic blogs and for researchers who seek to understand how pre-service teachers learn through narration and dialogic mediation in the blog.
Postoperative complications and visual outcomes of phacoemulsification in 103 dogs (179 eyes): 2006-2008

Objective To describe the postoperative complications and visual outcome after phacoemulsification in dogs and identify risk factors for complications. Animals studied One hundred and three dogs (179 eyes) that had phacoemulsification with or without intraocular lens (IOL) placement including foldable acrylic IOLs between March 2006 and March 2008 at Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Procedure Medical records were reviewed and occurrence and dates of postoperative complications were tabulated. Visual status at the final recheck during the study period was recorded. Additional information including signalment, diabetes mellitus status, operative complications and factors, presence of prior lens induced uveitis, preoperative retinopexy, and cataract stage was collected. Results The majority of eyes were functionally visual (148 eyes, 82.7%) at the end of the study period. Blindness was seen in 18 eyes (10.0%) with reduced vision in 13 eyes (7.3%) at the final recheck. Postoperative ocular hypertension (22.9%), corneal lipid opacity (19.0%), uveitis (16.2%), intraocular hemorrhage (12.3%), retinal detachment (8.4%), and glaucoma (6.7%) were the most common postoperative complications seen in eyes. The odds of blindness were significantly greater (OR = 290.44) in the eyes of Boston terriers compared with mixed breed dogs and with each year of increasing age (OR = 2.00). Conclusion The prognosis for vision after phacoemulsification with injectable IOL placement is good. Boston terriers were at much higher risk for certain complications.
Direct profiling of environmental microbial populations by thermal dissociation analysis of native rRNAs hybridized to oligonucleotide microarrays.

Oligonucleotide microarrays were used to profile directly extracted rRNA from environmental microbial populations without PCR amplification. In our initial inspection of two distinct estuarine study sites, the hybridization patterns were reproducible and varied between estuarine sediments of differing salinities. The determination of a thermal dissociation curve (i.e., melting profile) for each probe-target duplex provided information on hybridization specificity, which is essential for confirming adequate discrimination between target and nontarget sequences.
Representations of efficient score for coarse data problems based on Neumann series expansion

We derive new representations of the efficient score for the coarse data problems based on Neumann series expansion. The representations can be applied to both ignorable and nonignorable coarse data. Approximations to the new representations may be used for computing locally efficient scores in such problems. We show that many of the successive approximation approaches to the computation of the locally efficient score proposed in the literature for such problems can be derived as special cases of the representations. In addition, the representations lead to new algorithms for computing the locally efficient scores for the coarse data problems.
Innovators, Imitators, and the Evolving Architecture of Social Networks ∗

Scientific progress is driven by innovation — which serves to produce a diversity of ideas — and imitation through a social network — which serves to diffuse these ideas. In this paper, we develop an agent-based computational model of this process, in which the agents in the population are heterogeneous in their abilities to innovate and imitate. The model incorporates three primary forces — the discovery of new ideas by those with superior abilities to innovate, the observation and adoption of these ideas by those with superior abilities to communicate and imitate, and the endogenous development of social networks among heterogeneous agents. The objective is to explore the evolving architecture of social networks and the critical roles that the innovators and imitators play in the process. A central finding is that the emergent social network takes a chainstructure with the innovators as the main source of ideas and the imitators as the connectors between the innovators and the masses. The impact of agent heterogeneity and environmental volatility on the network architecture is also characterized.
Surface and subsurface phosphorus losses from fertilized pasture systems in Ohio

Phosphorus is an essential plant nutrient and critical to agricultural production, but it is also a problem when excessive amounts enter surface waters. Summer rotational grazing and winter feeding beef pasture systems at two fertility levels (56 and 28 kg available P ha 21 ) were studied to evaluate the P losses from these systems via surface runoff and subsurface flow using eight small (0.3–1.1 ha), instrumented watersheds and spring developments. Runoff events from a 14-yr period (1974–1988) were evaluated to determine the relationships between event size in mm, total dissolved reactive phosphorous (TDRP) concentration, and TDRP transport. Most of the TDRP transported was via surface runoff. There were strong correlations (r 2 5 0.45–0.66) between TDRP transport and event size for all watersheds, but no significant (P 5 0.05) correlations between TDRP concentration and event size. Flow-weighted average TDRP concentrations from the pasture watersheds for the 14-yr period ranged from 0.64 to 1.85 mg L 21 with a few individual event concentrations as high as 85.7 mg L 21 . The highest concentrations were in events that occurred soon after P fertilizer application. Average seasonal flow-weighted TDRP concentrations for subsurface flow were ,0.05 mg L 21 . Applying P fertilizer to pastures in response to soil tests should keep TDRP concentrations in subsurface flow at environmentally acceptable levels. Management to reduce runoff and avoidance of P fertilizer application when runoff producing rainfall is anticipated in the next few days will help reduce the surface losses of P.
The World of Atonement: Reparations for Historical Injustices

The April 2003 occupation of Iraq by armed forces predominately of the United States and the United Kingdom was accompanied by the looting of archaeological sites and the Iraqi National Museum. Priceless artifacts dating back 7000 years disappeared. No effort was made by the occupying forces to protect the sites, although a few journalists and military personnel were later arrested when they attempted to smuggle looted objects into the United States. Given that international law has obliged an occupying power to protect cultural property at least since the adoption of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, a new Iraqi government could seek reparations if the occupying powers fail to take widespread and effective action to recover or replace lost objects and restore the museum and sites.
Novel Algorithms for Privacy Preserving Utility Mining

Privacy preserving data mining (PPDM) has become a popular topic in the research community. How to strike a balance between privacy protection and knowledge discovery in the sharing process is an important issue. This study focuses on privacy preserving utility mining (PPUM) and presents two novel algorithms, HHUIF and MSICF, to achieve the goal of hiding sensitive itemsets so that the adversaries can not mine them from the modified database. In addition, we minimize the impact on the sanitized database in the process of hiding sensitive itemsets. The experimental results show that HHUIF achieves the lower miss costs than MSICF does on two synthetic datasets. On the other hand, MSICF generally has the lower difference between the original and sanitized databases than HHUIF does.