cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transcriptome characterization and detection of gene expression differences in aspen (Populus tremuloides)

Aspen (Populus tremuloides) is a temperate North American tree species with a geographical distribution more extensive than any other tree species on the continent. Because it is economically important for pulp and paper industries and ecologically important for its role as a foundation species in forest ecosystems, the decline of aspen in large portions of its range is of serious concern. The availability and annotation of the black cottonwood (Populus trichocarpa) genome enables a range of high throughput sequencing approaches that can be used to understand rangewide patterns of genetic variation, adaptation, and responses to environmental challenges in other Populus species, including aspen. Gene expression studies are particularly useful for understanding the molecular basis of ecological responses, but are limited by the availability of transcriptome data. We explored the aspen transcriptome through the use of high-throughput sequencing with two main goals: (1) characterization of the expressed portion of the P. tremuloides genome in leaves and (2) assessment of variation in gene expression among genets collected from distinct latitudes but reared in a common garden. We also report a large single nucleotide polymorphism dataset that provides the groundwork for future studies of aspen evolution and ecology, and we identify a set of differentially expressed genes across individuals and population boundaries for the leaf transcriptome of P. tremuloides.
A Fully Parallel Nonbinary LDPC Decoder With Fine-Grained Dynamic Clock Gating

Nonbinary LDPC (NB-LDPC) codes, defined over Galois field, offer better coding gain and a lower error floor than binary LDPC codes. However, the complex decoding and large memory requirement have prevented any practical chip implementations. We present a 1.22 Gb/s fully parallel decoder of a GF(64) (160, 80) regular-(2, 4) NB-LDPC code in 65 nm CMOS. The reduced number of edges in NB-LDPC code's factor graph permits a low wiring overhead in the fully parallel architecture. The throughput is further improved by a one-step look-ahead check node design that increases the clock frequency to 700 MHz, and the interleaving of variable node and check node operations that shortens one decoding iteration to 47 clock cycles. We allow each processing node to detect its own convergence and apply dynamic clock gating to save power. When all processing nodes have been clock gated, the decoder terminates and continues with the next input to increase the throughput to 1.22 Gb/s. The dynamic clock gating and decoder termination improve the energy efficiency to 3.03 nJ/b, or 259 pJ/b/iteration, at 1.0 V and 700 MHz. Voltage scaling to 675 mV improves the energy efficiency to 89 pJ/b/iteration for a throughput of 698 Mb/s at 400 MHz.
Effects of humidity on the weathering of glass

Abstract The weathering of 26 glass compositions was investigated under static conditions of 30%, 50%, 75%, 90% and 98% relative humidity (RH) at 50°C and a cycling condition between 77% and 98% RH at 50°C. The cycling condition was found to be less severe than static 98% RH. The effect of humidity level on weathering was studied and showed that water adsorption increases with time and humidity, whereas alkali generation increases with time, but not always with humidity. Significant weathering occurs for some glasses at 30% RH with the quantitative effect being almost as great as at 90% RH. Visual weathering was observed for some glasses when the level of generated alkali was less than 0.5 μg/cm 2 . Various techniques for evaluating the weathering of glass under humid conditions were investigated. Visual appearance was judged to be the best evaluation method for routine weathering tests. It represents the effect of most concern and is sufficiently precise. Electron microscopy, measurement of sorbed water and alkali generated are principally used for research studies. Weight change and haze measurement lack sensitivity and reproducibility. A standard test was defined. The conditions are 98% RH at 50°C for 12 weeks. The visual ranking system is used. The glasses were generally ranked in the same order by the various evaluation techniques.
Nonsubtractive spiral phase contrast velocity imaging.

Phase contrast velocity imaging is a standard method for accurate in vivo flow measurement. One drawback, however, is that it lengthens the scan time (or reduces the achievable temporal resolution) because one has to acquire two or more images with different flow sensitivities and subtract their phases to produce the final velocity image. Without this step, non-flow-related phase variations will give rise to an erroneous, spatially varying background velocity. In this paper, we introduce a novel phase contrast velocity imaging technique that requires the acquisition of only a single image. The idea is to estimate the background phase variation from the flow-encoded image itself and then have it removed, leaving only the flow-related phase to generate a corrected flow image. This technique is sensitive to flow in one direction and requires 50% less scan time than conventional phase contrast velocity imaging. Phantom and in vivo results were obtained and compared with those of the conventional method, demonstrating the new method's effectiveness in measuring flow in various vessels of the body. Magn Reson Med 42:704–713, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Combining Encryption and Compression in Wireless Sensor Networks

More and more, wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are making their way out of the laboratory and into real-world deployments where they must be concerned with issues of security. These networks of motes are also being tasked with sensing and monitoring duties that often require high-fidelity data to be delivered from individual nodes, a situation which precludes the use of data aggregation and other techniques to reduce the volume of sensing data by condensing it within the network. This paper makes a case for why continued research in the area of joint compression and encryption is relevant to the field of wireless sensor networks and presents an approach based on the LZW algorithm combined with cryptographically strong pseudo-random number generators.
Fabrication of dome-shaped PZT-epoxy actuator using modified solvent and spin coating technique

Thick film two phase, 0–3 composite PZT-epoxy dome-shaped structures have been fabricated for the first time using a modified solvent and spin coating technique, where a PZT and ethanol solution was dispersed in an epoxy matrix, combined with a hardener, spin coated onto stainless steel sheets, and poled at ~2.2 kV/mm. The electro-mechanical performances of the films were investigated as a function of volume fraction of PZT. The volume fraction of PZT was varied from 0.1 to 0.7 and the piezoelectric coefficients d 31 and d 33 , and the capacitance, C, were measured, and used to calculate the effective dielectric constants. The values for d33, d31, C and dielectric constant were 1.06 pC/N, 0.74 pC/N, 6.0 pF and 76.1 respectively, at 70 % volume fraction of PZT. The surface topography and morphology were examined via AFM and SEM. The piezoelectric strain coefficients, capacitance and effective dielectric constant increased with increasing PZT content, in addition to the surface roughness. Agglomeration of PZT particles and surface crevices were observed on sample surfaces, which are most likely due to surface tension and air bubbles formed during the mixing process.
Hydrodynamic modeling of fishing nets

Design of efficient fish nets by means of small scale hydrodynamic models is of fairly recent origin in the United States. While investigators have developed basic equations for modeling flow around fish nets by considering the inertia and gravity forces as primary forces, they assume that the elastic deformations of twines and ropes in the net are negligible. However, the shape of the fish net and therefore the forces acting on it are affected by the elongation of twines and ropes under load. In order to allow the correct numerical transfer of model observations to the prototype, it is necessary to establish special hydrodynamic model laws which take the stress-strain characteristics of the model and prototype net materials into consideration. This paper outlines the establishment of such laws and their verification by full scale ocean tests and by laboratory tests. It is also shown how distortion of mesh and twine size prevents a relatively too high influence of viscous forces in the models.
Rejuvenation of the brow and midface

The upper face is often inadequately addressed when evaluating surgical rejuvenation for the aging face. Failure to diagnose and treat the upper face appropriately leads to facial disharmony. To successfully treat the aging upper face, the surgeon must have a knowledge of anatomy, brow aesthetics, the different surgical techniques with advantages and disadvantages of each, indications for surgery and patient selection, and potential complications. This article discusses all of these factors plus a detailed operative technique for endoscopic forehead midface lift.
Listen to What You Cannot Hear, Observe What You Cannot See: An Introduction to Evidence-Based Methods for Evaluating and Enhancing the User Experience in Distance Library Services.

Distance librarians often do not have the opportunity to engage face-to-face with users of library services. Without this personal interaction, it can be difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of library services in meeting the needs of the distance learners. Distance librarians may not realize it, but most have a wealth of information at their fingertips. In particular, data can be extracted and behavior use patterns discerned through Web analytics, transaction log analysis, and qualitative analysis of virtual reference transcripts. In lieu of interpersonal communication, distance librarians can listen to and observe user behavior through these evaluation methods. This paper offers an introductory perspective of these methods for the purpose of measuring the effectiveness of various service points and planning a course of action for enhancing the user experience in distance library services.
Anther carotenoids and the synthesis of sporopollenin.

SHAW et al.1–3 are at present carrying out valuable new work on the chemistry of resistant spore wall materials of the general class of sporopollenins following the pioneer studies of Zetzsche's group in the 1930s4. Shaw and Yeadon1,2 have concluded, from observations on the pollen of Pinus sylvestris and Lycopodium clavatum, that sporopollenin contains a lignin-like fraction of 10–25 per cent and a lipid fraction of 75–90 per cent. They have explained the lack of reactivity of the lignin component by the suggestion that it is masked by the lipid moiety, or present in some unusual combination. Brooks and Shaw3 have proposed that the precursors of sporopollenin in the anthers of Lilium henryi are carotenoids, and that the exine is formed by oxidative polymerization of the mixture of carotenoids and carotenoid esters contained in the anther material.
Conservation of human Y chromosome sequences among male great apes: implications for the evolution of Y chromosomes.

Nine newly described single-copy and lowcopy-number genomic DNA sequences isolated from a flow-sorted human Y chromosome library were mapped to regions of the human Y chromosome and were hybridized to Southern blots of male and female great ape genomic DNAs (Gorilla gorilla, Pan troglodytes, Pongo pygmaeus). Eight of the nine sequences mapped to the euchromatic Y long arm (Yq) in humans, and the ninth mapped to the short arm or pericentromeric region. All nine of the newly identified sequences and two additional human Yq sequences hybridized to restriction fragments in male but not female genomic DNA from the great apes, indicating Y chromosome localization. Seven of these 11 human Yq sequences hybridized to similarly-sized restriction endonuclease fragments in all the great ape species analyzed. The five human sequences that mapped to the most distal subregion of Yq (deletion of which region is associated with spermatogenic failure in humans) were hybridized to Southern blots generated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. These sequences define a region of approximately 1 Mb on human Yq in which HpaII tiny fragment (HTF) islands appear to be absent. The conservation of these human Yq sequences on great ape Y chromosomes indicates a greater stability in this region of the Y than has been previously described for most anonymous human Y chromosomal sequences. The stability of these sequences on great ape Y chromosomes seems remarkable given that this region of the Y does not undergo meiotic recombination and the sequences do not appear to encode genes for which positive selection might occur.
Accuracy of vertical air motions from nadir-viewing Doppler airborne radars

This paper presents an analysis of the uncertainties expected in vertical velocities using a vertically pointing airborne Doppler radar which has a nadir or zenith-pointing beam. To examine the expected uncertainty, the Doppler velocity equation for a moving platform is derived and it is applied to cases of nadir-fixed and stabilized beams. The main emphasis of the paper is on the effect of platform stability on the deduced vertical air motions and it is shown that the antenna must be stabilized to obtain desired accuracy in the vertical velocity measurements.
Pseudocyst of the pancreas with mediastinal extension: an ultrasonographic demonstration.

A pseudocyst of the pancreas with mediastinal extension was demonstrated by ultrasound as a cystic structure dissecting between the aorta and inferior vena cava.
THE ONTARIO SHORT RUN MILK SUPPLY CURVE1

This article reviews the idea and usefulness of a short run supply schedule for an agricultural commodity and goes on to explain the method used in the case of commercially produced milk in Ontario for the calendar year 1959. The results are compared with those from other studies, and their economic significance is discussed, particularly the relation between excess capacity, income distribution under multiple-price-quota systems, and technical progress in the Ontario dairy producers' industry.
Polyimide based neural implants with stiffness improvement

Abstract A novel structure for chronically implantable cortical electrodes using polyimide bio-polymer was devised, which provides both flexibility for micro-motion compliance between brain tissues and the skull and at the brain/implant interface, and enough stiffness for successful surgical implantation into the brain tissue. A 5–10 μm thick silicon backbone layer was attached to the tip of the electrode to enhance the structural stiffness. This stiff segment was then followed by a 1 mm flexible segment without a silicon backbone layer. The fabricated implants have three shanks with five recording sites ( 20 μm ×20 μm) and two via holes ( 40 μm ×40 μm) to promote tissue attachment on each shank. Each recording site was connected to the external circuitry via a 15-channel connector, which is especially designed to facilitate processing of neural signals to the external circuitry. In vitro cytotoxicity tests of prototype implants revealed no adverse toxic effects on cultured cells. The implant with a silicon backbone layer of 5–10 μm was robust enough to penetrate the rat’s pia without buckling, a major drawback with polymer. The averaged impedance value at 1 KHz was ∼2 MΩ.
Naloxone decreases consumption of liquid and solid sucrose in vagotomized rats

Abstract Intraperitoneal injections of the opiate antagonist naloxone decreased food intake in both vagotomized and shamvagotomized rats. Consumption of liquid and solid sucrose, which were used in order to equate baseline intake, was equally suppressed in both groups under food-deprivation and appetitively-motivated conditions at all doses of naloxone (1, 2, 4, and 8 mg/kg). It is concluded that, in contrast to previous findings, the vagus nerve does not mediate the suppressive effects of naloxone on feeding behavior.
Health behaviours of school children in northwestern Poland in 2000

The 3568 final class primary school in northwestern Poland were investigated between January and June 2000.
A retrieved context account of spacing and repetition effects in free recall.

Repeating an item in a list benefits recall performance, and this benefit increases when the repetitions are spaced apart (Madigan, 1969; Melton, 1970). Retrieved context theory incorporates two mechanisms that account for these effects: contextual variability and study-phase retrieval. Specifically, if an item presented at position i is repeated at position j, this leads to retrieval of its context from its initial presentation at i (study-phase retrieval) and this retrieved context will be used to update the current state of context (contextual variability). Here we consider predictions of a computational model that embodies retrieved context theory, the context maintenance and retrieval model (CMR; Polyn, Norman, & Kahana, 2009). CMR makes the novel prediction that subjects are more likely to successively recall items that follow a shared repeated item (e.g. i + 1, j + 1) because both items are associated with the context of the repeated item presented at i and j. CMR also predicts that the probability of recalling at least one of two studied items should increase with the items’ spacing (Lohnas, Polyn, & Kahana, 2011). We tested these predictions in a new experiment and CMR’s predictions were upheld. These findings suggest that retrieved context theory offers an integrated explanation for repetition and spacing effects in free recall tasks.
Discovery of agriculture data using federated catalogue service

With the widespread application of Agriculture GIS, an increasing requirement for discovering various agriculture data from multiple distributed data center has brought challenge to scientists. Data users need to interact with different data center to retrieve data of interest, and also have to solve the heterogeneity of both query interface and metadata model. For example, users need interact with NASA Reverb or other web portal to get MODIS data, for AVHRR data, users have to execute the query through NOAA CLASS system. As geospatial catalogues service are becoming accessible online through public query interfaces, building a standard-compliant web service to discover multi-source agriculture data is also becoming necessary for most data users. Since NOAA and NASA archived many Earth Observation data for agriculture research, this study investigates the feasibility of federating two distinct data center to discover agriculture data: NOAA Comprehensive Large Array-data Stewardship System (CLASS) and NASA Earth Observing System (EOS) Clearinghouse (ECHO). To implement federated catalogue, the OpenGIS Catalogue Service for web (CSW) is adopted to define the public query interfaces for data users. ISO profile and Core profile of CSW are implemented for define the metadata model for CSW response. The paper addresses two issues for implementing federated catalogue service: mapping querying interface and mapping metadata model. For query interface, a mapping relationship between OGC CSW core query predicate and target data center need to be established. This mapping table will translate the query parameters encoded in the request of CSW to the dedicated query language defined by back-end's data center. As to the mapping relationship from native metadata model to the public model used in federated CSW. The attributes returned from distinct data center will be converted to OGC Core returnable elements and ISO elements. By implementing federated catalogue service, data users only need to interface with public query language and metadata, which make it easy to find data from multiple data center by hiding the complicated low level details. Moreover, by using CSW-compliant web service, data users could integrate data discovering operation in more complex workflow.
Flicker (1/f) noise in tunnel junction DC SQUIDS

We have measured the spectral density of the 1/f voltage noise in current-biased resistively shunted Josephson tunnel junctions and dc SQUIDs. A theory in which fluctuations in the temperature give rise to fluctuations in the critical current and hence in the voltage predicts the magnitude of the noise quite accurately for junctions with areas of about 2 x 10/sup 4/ ..mu..m/sup 2/, but significantly overestimates the noise for junctions with areas of about 6 ..mu..m/sup 2/. DC SQUIDs fabricated from these two types of junctions exhibit substantially more 1/f voltage noise than would be predicted from a model in which the noise arises from critical current fluctuations in the junctions. This result was confirmed by an experiment involving two different bias current and flux modulation schemes, which demonstrated that the predominant 1/f voltage noise arises not from critical current fluctuations, but from some unknown source that can be regarded as an apparent 1/f flux noise. Measurements on five different configurations of dc SQUIDs fabricated with thin-film tunnel junctions and with widely varying areas, inductances, and junction capacitances show that the spectral density of the 1/f equivalent flux noise is roughtly constant, within a factor of three of (10/sup -10//f)phi/sup 2//submore » 0/Hz/sup -1/. It is emphasized that 1/f flux noise may not be the predominant source of 1/f noise in SQUIDS fabricated with other technologies.« less
Improvements in laser welding of chicken bone tibias in vitro

Techniques are being developed to `tack weld' broken bones together with the help of a laser. These techniques would, in some instances, allow doctors to avoid the use of foreign fixation devices such as metal plates and pins for the repair of small bones as in the delicate maxillofacial and nasal bones. Successful laser `welding' of chicken tibias in vitro was reported by the authors last year. Since that time, parameters affecting the strength of the weld have been examined. Several different compositions have been tested as possible `solders' for the welding process. These include substances such as reagent grade gelatin and a hydroxyapatite-based cement. The bones welded with the gelatin mix and subsequently refrigerated have been consistently stronger than those welded without gelatin. The hydroxyapatite-based cement did not increase weld strength. The effect of the concentration of a demineralization solution, hydrochloric acid, has also been examined. Lower pH values correspond to stronger welds. The tensile strength of the weld has also been shown to depend on the extent of hydration during the 24 hours after laser welding.
Renal artery angioplasty and stent placement: Predictors of a favorable outcome ☆ ☆☆

Abstract Background Renal artery stenosis is a common disorder and is an established cause of hypertension and renal insufficiency. Although treatment with renal artery stents has been shown to improve blood pressure and renal function for some patients, the patient population most likely to benefit is unknown. The current study was designed to determine which factors are predictive of improved blood pressure and renal function when patients with renal artery stenosis are treated with renal artery angioplasty and stent placement. Methods In a prospective evaluation 127 consecutively enrolled patients with renal artery stenosis in 171 vessels were treated with angioplasty and intravascular stents. Blood pressure and serum creatinine concentration were measured before stent placement and during the follow-up period. Results The mean length of the follow-up period was 15 ± 14 months. Mean systolic blood pressure improved among patients with hypertension (from 177 ± 26 mm Hg before stent placement to 151 ± 24 mm Hg 6 months after stent placement ( P Conclusions Renal artery angioplasty and stent placement produced a significantly greater reduction in systolic blood pressure among patients with the highest baseline systolic blood pressure. Other examined variables were not predictive of a significant improvement in blood pressure. No examined variable was predictive of improved renal function. We concluded that management of renal artery stenosis with renal artery angioplasty and stent placement is most likely to result in significant improvement in systolic blood pressure among patients with the highest baseline systolic blood pressure. (Am Heart J 2000;139:64-71.)
Forecasting the market diffusion of disruptive and discontinuous innovation

This paper builds on existing knowledge of diffusion forecasting and integrates it with the disruptive and discontinuous innovation literature. Thus, a model is developed for forecasting discontinuous and disruptive innovations. This model takes into account the multiple markets served by discontinuous and disruptive innovation. The role of learning curve effects is also considered. Guidelines, based on the existing literature, are offered for the application of this methodology to forecasting the market diffusion of discontinuous and disruptive innovation. The ability to better forecast the market diffusion of disruptive and discontinuous innovation is especially important now since the convergence of many fields and advances in other areas are creating unprecedented amounts of disruptive and discontinuous innovation.
MARM Processes Part II: The Empirically-Based Subclass

MARM (Multivariate Autoregressive Modular) processes constitute a versatile class of multidimensional stochastic sequences which can exactly fit arbitrary multi-dimensional empirical histograms and approximately fit the leading empirical autocorrelations and cross-correlations. A companion paper (Part I) presented the general theory of MARM processes. This paper (Part II) proposes practical MARM modeling and forecasting methodologies of considerable generality, suitable for implementation on a computer. The purpose of Part II is twofold: (1) to specialize the general class of MARM processes to a practical subclass, called Empirically-Based MARM (EB-MARM) processes, suitable for modeling of empirical vector-valued time series, and devise the corresponding fitting and forecasting algorithms; and (2) to illustrate the efficacy of the EB-MARM fitting and forecasting algorithms. Specifically, we shall consider MARM processes with iid step-function innovation densities and distortions based on an empirical multi-dimensional histogram, as well as empirical autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions. Finally, we illustrate the efficacy of these methodologies with an example of a three-dimension time series vector, using a software environment, called MultiArmLab, which supports MARM modeling and forecasting.
Information Technology and Supply Chain Collaboration: Examining the Contingent Role of Environmental Uncertainty

The utilization of advanced information technologies IT in interfirm collaboration has been thematic in current literature. Although conventional wisdom perceives that IT systems facilitate supply chain collaboration, this research provides an alternative perspective. Drawing on resource-based view and contingency 'fit' theory, the study investigates a model of relationships that specify how environmental uncertainty factors influence the nature of the association of two critical but distinctive IT capabilities with collaboration. Findings corroborate the positive association between collaboration and B2B e-commerce and IT analytic capability. However, demand unpredictability enhances the IT analytic capability-collaboration relationship while detracting from the B2B e-commerce-collaboration association. Notably, the study did not find any moderating influence of another critical uncertainty factor, technological turbulence. The findings reveal the complex nature of IT-collaboration relationships and provide managers a framework for understanding the uncertainty contexts under which specific information technologies with various functionalities may be more appropriately leveraged to derive benefits.
Individual urinary 17-ketosteroids of healthy persons determined by gas chromatography: biochemical and clinical considerations.

ABSTRACT The 6 major individual 17-ketosteroids contained in 24-hr urine specimens from individuals 2—87 yr old were measured by gas chromatography. For both C19O2 and C19O3 compounds the values were very low during infancy. Both gradually increased until the late teens. From then until old age the C19O3 level did not change appreciably, supporting the concept that production of corticosteroids and their reduction to C19O3 ketosteroids was maintained. C19O2 compounds, on the other hand, continued to increase and highest values were reached between the ages of 20 and 30 yr, with a gradual decline thereafter. Higher values for men than women became apparent in the middle teens. Dehydroepiandrosterone was not detected in the urine until after the age of 7 yr. From then on it was present in some persons in gradually increasing quantities. It was found in greatest amount in some subjects between the ages of 20 and 30 yr. In men it varied from none to 12.8 mg/day; in women from none to 3.8 mg. The coefficient o...
γγ PHYSICS WITH VIRTUAL BREMSSTRAHLUNG

Collisions of virtual photons will be a useful source of luminosity for two-photon physics before the availability of backscattered laser beams, and are also required for physics that depend on one or both of the photons being off their mass shell.
Simultaneous recording of calcium transients in skeletal muscle using high- and low-affinity calcium indicators

To monitor cytosolic [Ca2+] over a wide range of concentrations in functioning skeletal muscle cells, we have used simultaneously the rapid but relatively low affinity calcium indicator antipyrylazo III (AP III) and the slower but higher affinity indicator fura-2 in single frog twitch fibers cut at both ends and voltage clamped with a double vaseline gap system. When both dyes were added to the end pool solution the cytosolic fura-2 concentration reached a steady level equal to the end pool concentration within approximately 2.5 h, a time when the AP III concentration was still increasing. For depolarizing pulses of increasing amplitude, the fura-2 fluorescence signal approached saturation when the simultaneously recorded AP III absorbance change was far from saturation. Comparison of simultaneously recorded fura-2 and AP III signals indicated that the mean values of the on and off rate constants for calcium binding to fura-2 in 18 muscle fibers were 1.49 x 10(8) M-1 s-1 and 11.9 s-1, respectively (mean KD = 89 nM), if all AP III in the fiber is assumed to behave as in calibrating solution and to be in instantaneous equilibrium with [Ca2+]. [Ca2+] transients calculated from the fura-2 signals using these rate constants were consistent with the [Ca2+] transients calculated from the AP III signals. Resting [Ca2+] or small changes in [Ca2+] which could not be reliably monitored with AP III could be monitored with fura-2 with little or no interference from changes in [Mg2+] or from intrinsic signals. The fura-2 signal was also less sensitive to movement artifacts than the AP III signal. After a [Ca2+] transient the fura-2 signal demonstrated a relatively small elevation of [Ca2+] that was maintained for many seconds.
Tangential Injection from Overlaid Slots into a Supersonic Stream

The results of an experimental study of tangential supersonic slot injection into a supersonic airstream with tangential subsonic injection through an additional slot above the main slot is presented. Such a  ow is of interest for at least two propulsion-related applications. First, one can simulate a near-separation boundary-layer pro le by subsonic injection through the upper slot, which is then to be re-energized by supersonic injection through the lower slot. Second, this  ow is also of interest for application to fuel/ oxidizer/pilot injection from multiple overlaid slots. The experiments were performed in an intermittent, vacuum wind tunnel at a freestream Mach number of 2.85. The supersonic injectant had a Mach number of 2.00, and the subsonic injection was at Mach numbers of 0.26 and 0.72. The results are presented in the form of spark schlieren photographs, interferograms, and wall-static pressure measurements. Density pro les at several axial locations determined from the interferograms are presented, as well as streamwise and spanwise static pressure distributions. The major conclusions drawn from the tandem injection results, are  rst, that a near-separation boundary-layer pro le can be simulated in this way. Next, tandemly injected subsonic and supersonic  ow can be divided into separate components that closely resemble the respective individual injections into an undisturbed freestream. Also, the effects of the subsonic injection were completely mixed out at a downstream location of six slot heights. Therefore, adverse-pressuregradient-inducing devices should be positioned at least six slot heights downstream of the supersonic injection station if the effects of supersonic injection into a near-separation boundary layer for the purpose of re-energizing it are to be studied.
Commitment: Functions, Formation, and the Securing of Romantic Attachment

In this theoretical article, we review central concepts in the psychological literature on relationship commitment to provide a foundation to discuss two themes related to long-term romantic relationships and marriages. First, we describe and discuss the role that commitment plays in stabilizing romantic attachment. Second, we use empirical research on cohabitation to highlight how what are now common trajectories of couple development can undermine the formation of commitment. The first topic underscores an increasingly important role for commitment in an age of companionate marriage. The second topic draws attention to dynamics that can affect the strength of romantic commitments, especially in marriage.
P120 catenin is required for thickening of Schwann cell myelin.

Abstract Schwann cell myelin is comprised of compacted membrane regions and cytoplasmic regions with non-compacted membrane. While adherens junctions (AJ) are abundant in non-compact regions, their role in the myelination process is largely undefined. To explore this issue, a small inhibitory hairpin RNA directed against p120ctn has been delivered using adenovirus infection of Schwann cells at early stages of myelination in vivo. With strong and specific reduction in p120ctn levels for over 2 months, (a) the adherens junctions of the infected cells were reduced in size and immature with respect to recruitment of α-catenin; and (b) the formation of Schmidt–Lanterman incisures was prevented and there was a marked reduction in the thickness of the myelin sheath without a change in internodal length. These data show that p120ctn is necessary in the myelinating Schwann cell for the formation of mature adherens junctions and a normal myelin sheath.
Thermal expansion and conductivity of magnetite flakes taken from the Oconee-2 steam generator

Flakes consisting primarily of iron oxides (magnetite) have been discovered in the spaces between tubes and support plates in steam generators, increasing flow resistance and causing abnormal increases in water levels. To aid in the determination of the effects of tube scale on steam generators, Duke Power Company and MPR Associates, Inc. arranged for the author to measure the thermal expansion and thermal conductivity of tube scale specimens from the steam generator of the Oconee-2 pressurized water reactor. The study measured the thermal expansion of the flakes directly, using miniaturized specimens, rather than deriving these data from X-ray powder diffractometry as in past studies. The flakes are composed of multiple layers, each of which exhibits different thermal behaviour. Thermal expansion was higher than that for Fe3O4. The average thermal conductivity for two- and three-layered flakes is 0.026 J sec−1 cm−1 ° C−1. The thermal conductivity for a singlelayered flake is 0.060 J sec−1 cm−1 ° C−1.
First-principles determination of the effects of boron and sulfur on the ideal cleavage fracture in Ni 3 Al

The effects of boron and sulfur impurities on the ideal cleavage fracture properties of ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{3}$Al under tensile stress are investigated using the full-potential linear-muffin-tin-orbital total-energy method, with a repeated slab arrangement of atoms simulating an isolated cleavage plane. Results for the stress-strain relationship, ideal cleavage energies, ideal yield stress and strains with and without impurities are presented, and the electronic mechanism underlying the contrasting effects of boron and sulfur impurities on the ideal cleavage of ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{3}$Al is elucidated. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Enhanced neurotrophic activity in Alzheimer's disease cortex is not associated with down-regulation of metallothionein-III (GIF)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder for which the pathogenic mechanisms are not well understood. Previous studies demonstrated that extracts prepared from AD brains could increase the survival of rat cortical neurons in vitro. Additional studies indicated that this enhanced neurotrophic activity of AD brain was due to a reduction of a growth inhibitory factor (GIF) that was subsequently shown to be a new member of the metallothionein (MT) gene family, and designated MT-III. The study presented here examined the association between neurotrophic activity and MT-III expression in frontal cortices from eight AD and five control brains, and further characterized the inhibitory activity of MT-III. On average, AD extracts stimulated the survival of approximately 2-fold more rat cortical neurons than control extracts, demonstrating that AD brain possesses elevated neurotrophic activity. When recombinant MTs were added to cultures grown in the presence of brain extract, MT-III but not MT-I had an inhibitory effect on neuron survival, confirming that MT-III is a specific inhibitory factor in this assay. However, in contrast to previous reports, neither MT-III mRNA nor MT-III protein levels were significantly decreased in the AD group. Therefore, the difference in neurotrophic activity between the AD and control brain samples examined in this study is probably not directly mediated by MT-III. These results suggest that MT-III down-regulation is not an important pathogenic event in some cases of AD.
Determination of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in urine and dextrose by inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopy

Abstract The determination of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) in human urine and in commercial dextrose solution is performed by induclively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy after selective preconcentration of the chromium species at different pH values by poly(dithiocarbamate) and poly(acrylamidoxime) chelating resins. The chelating properties of these resins with chromium, including the kinetics of uptake and removal of Cr(III), and the influence of matrix concentrations were evaluated. Chromium in human urine was found to exist exclusively as Cr(III).
Role of AMP-activated protein kinase in the glycolysis of postmortem muscle

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a newly identified kinase controlling energy metabolism in vivo. The objective of this study was to show the role of AMPK in postmortem glycolysis. Rapid and excessive postmortem glycolysis is directly related to the incidence of PSE (pale, soft and exudative) meat in pork, chicken and turkey, while insufficient glycolysis leads to dark cutters in beef and lamb, which causes significant loss to the meat industry. A total of 24 two-month-old C57BL/6J mice were assigned to three treatments: (1) wild-type mice without pre-slaughter treatment; (2) wild-type mice with a 2 min swim before slaughter; and (3) wild-type mice intraperitoneally injected with AICAr (50 mg kg−1), a specific activator of AMPK, to stimulate the activity of AMPK. In addition, 16 two-month-old C57BL/6J mice with AMPK knockout were assigned to two treatments: (4) AMPK knockout mice without pre-slaughter treatment; and (5) AMPK knockout mice with a 2 min swim before slaughter. The longissimus dorsi muscle was sampled at 0, 1 and 24 h postmortem for pH and enzyme activity measurements. Results showed that AMPK activity had a major role in determining the ultimate muscle pH. Pre-slaughter stress induced by swimming significantly accelerated the glycogenolysis in postmortem muscle through activating glycogen phosphorylase. AMPK is important for maintaining the activity of glycogen phosphorylase and pyruvate kinase, and glycogenolysis/glycolysis in postmortem muscle. Thus, AMPK has an important role in the control of postmortem glycolysis and is crucial for a lower ultimate pH in postmortem muscle. However, the activation of AMPK cannot fully account for the initial rapid glycogenolysis/glycolysis induced by stress and another mechanism must exist for the accelerated glycolysis induced by pre-slaughter stress. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry
Changing the concepts of immune‐mediated glomerular diseases through proteomics

Standard classification of glomerular diseases is based on histopathologic abnormalities. The recent application of proteomic technologies has resulted in paradigm changes in the understanding and classification of idiopathic membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Those examples provide evidence that proteomics will lead to advances in understanding of the molecular basis of other glomerular diseases, such as lupus nephritis. Proof of principle experiments show that proteomics can be applied to patient renal biopsy specimens. This viewpoint summarizes the advances in immune-mediated glomerular diseases that have relied on proteomics, and potential future applications are discussed.
KGF-induced motility of breast cancer cells is dependent on Grb2 and Erk1,2.

Breast cancer metastasis is directly associated with breast cancer cell motility. Using a cell culture wounding model, we have demonstrated that keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) enhanced the motility of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer cells. However, the mechanisms by which KGF enhanced motility of breast cancer cells are not known. In the present study, we report that KGF-induced motility requires intact tyrosine kinase signaling since genistein, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, led to decreased motility of breast cancer cells mediated by KGF. Using cDNA microarrays, we previously found that KGF increased the expression ofGrb2mRNA by 2-- the involvement of Grb2 in KGF-induced motility. Down-regulation of Grb2 protein expression inhibited KGF-induced motility. Since Grb2 is known to regulate Erk1,2 and Akt kinase activities we determined whether these downstream proteins may be vital to KGF-induced motility. Inhibiting the activation of Erk1,2 by PD98059 suppressed KGF-induced motility whereas inhibiting the activation of Akt by wortmannin did not affect KGF-induced motility. In conclusion, these results indicate that KGF mediated signal transduction employs Grb2 to transduce the tyrosine kinase signals resulting in the activation of Erk1,2 and breast cancer cell motility.
Smell-driven performance analysis for end-user programmers

End-user programmers such as scientists and engineers often adopt a visual domain-specific language due to its easy learnability, but then they later encounter problems when trying to create high-performance programs. In response, they typically have had to resort to learning and using general textual languages such as C or Fortran as a supplement or replacement for the visual language. This paper proposes a technique, called Smell-driven performance analysis, for helping end-user programmers to overcome performance problems without leaving the visual dataflow paradigm. The technique involves statically analyzing programs to heuristically detect areas with potential performance problems (“bad smells”), alerting enduser programmers about problems, and advising on how to fix those problems. We have implemented a prototype for applying this technique and conducted a user study in which end-user programmers diagnosed performance problems. The experiment showed our technique increased participants' success rates at finding problems and decreased the time required for finding solutions. Qualitatively, 92% of participants said our technique was helpful, and they listed numerous specific benefits provided.
Fermi surface and antiferromagnetism in the Kondo lattice: an asymptotically exact solution in d>1 dimensions.

Interest in the heavy fermion metals has motivated us to examine the quantum phases and their Fermi surfaces within the Kondo lattice model. We demonstrate that the model is soluble asymptotically exactly in any dimension $dg1$, when the Kondo coupling is small compared with the RKKY interaction and in the presence of antiferromagnetic ordering. We show that the Kondo coupling is exactly marginal in the renormalization group sense, establishing the stability of an ordered phase with a small Fermi surface ${\mathrm{AF}}_{S}$. Our results have implications for the global phase diagram of the heavy fermion metals, suggesting a Lifshitz transition inside the antiferromagnetic region and providing a new perspective for a Kondo-destroying antiferromagnetic quantum critical point.
Meade on indicative planning: A review of informational problems

Abstract In The Theory of Indicative Planning Meade develops a theoretical model of indicative planning that reduces uncertainty by gathering information from economic agents about their future intentions. Since the purpose of indicative planning is to provide agents with additional information, its effectiveness depends importantly on the accuracy of the information it supplies. Recent developments in the literature on the economics of information and uncertainty suggest that serious informational problems may impair the accuracy of planning forecasts and reduce the effectiveness of the plan.
Self-directed in vivo treatment of an obsessive compulsive checking ritual

Abstract A multiple treatment program including operant reinforcement, disruption of the chain of ritualistic behaviors, systematic desensitization of related fears, and response prevention was successful in the elimination of ritualistic checking in a 63-yr-old man. The program was carried out by the client in vivo with minimal assistance from the therapist. The report correlates the week-by-week changes in checking time with the changes in treatment strategy. The advantage of a multiple treatment approach and the need for consideration of motivational aspects are discussed.
Is the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator the answer for early post-myocardial infarction patients at risk for sudden death?: mind the gap.

In patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in the setting of an acute myocardial infarction (MI), current guidelines recommend implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation only after waiting at least 40 days or 3 months, depending on whether the patient was revascularized or