cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transient scattering by a circular cylinder

Abstract The scattering of transient plane waves by a circular cylinder is studied by using the Kirchhoff time-retarded potential boundary integral equation method. Two distinct problems are solved: (i) surface velocity potentials (or pressures) are found for rigid cylinders scattering ramp, ramp-step and Gaussian incident potential (or pressure) waves and (ii) surface velocities are found for free boundary (pressure release) cylinders scattering ramp, ramp-step and Gaussian incident velocity waves. The numerical schemes for both boundary conditions are very similar; since the same influence coefficients are used they differ only by a sign in the final formulation. Numerical results are readily obtained for the first few transit times. This approach is complementary to the usual modal approach in that it is best suited to early time values where the modal solutions converge most slowly.
Soft connections: addressing the hardware-design modularity problem

Hardware-design languages typically impose a rigid communication hierarchy that follows module instantiation. This leads to an undesirable side-effect where changes to a child's interface result in changes to the parents. Soft connections address this problem by allowing the user to specify connection endpoints that are automatically connected at compilation time, rather than by the user.
Methods for In Vitro Percutaneous Absorption Studies VII: Use of Excised Human Skin

Water permeability constants (Kp) were determined with skin from human cadavers. No difference was seen in Kp values from unfrozen skin or from skin frozen for a few days. Human skin could usually be stored at -20 degrees C for up to a year with no change in water permeability, but in some cases apparent deterioration of the barrier was observed. A rapid procedure was developed for checking barrier integrity of skin in diffusion cells before a penetration study. The percent of the water dose absorbed after 20-min contact with skin correlated with water Kp values. Changes in water permeation through human skin agreed with changes in the absorption of seven test compounds of varying solubility properties (acetylsalicylic acid, benzo(a)pyrene, cortisone, DDT, nicotinic acid, propylene glycol, and testosterone). Water permeation is therefore considered to be a good indicator of potential changes in the barrier integrity of human skin. No correlation was observed in Kp values and other characteristics of the donor skin samples such as age, sex, race, and length of time before skin harvest.
Butcher & Oemler cluster A 2111: A head-on merger at z = 0.23

We present ROSAT PSPC and HRI observations of A2111, the richest galaxy cluster photometrically surveyed by Butcher & Oemler (1984). The cluster contains a distinct comet-shaped X-ray subcomponent, which appears hotter than the rest of the cluster. The galaxy and X-ray surface brightness distributions of the cluster show a similarly elongated morphology. These results suggest that the cluster is undergoing a head-on subcluster merger. This merger may also be responsible for the high fraction of gas-rich blue galaxies observed in the cluster. We have further detected a poor cluster along the merging axis and at a projected distance of about 5 Mpc from A2111.
Isolation of glucocorticoid-unresponsive rat hepatoma cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting

We have used a mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-infected rat hepatoma cell line as a model system for studying glucocorticoid action. These cells induce tyrosine aminotransferase and MMTV in response to the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone. The major viral antigen, a glycoprotein of 52,000 daltons (gp52), appears on the surface of infected cells in amounts which reflect the cytoplasmic content of viral RNA. Using an anti-gp52 antiserum and a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS), we have selected variants which display low levels of pg52 in the presence of the hormone. Multiple cycles of enrichment for cells that fluoresce weakly in the presence of hormone have generated a population which fails to produce a detectable increase in cell surface gp52 in response to dexamethasone. This population of nonresponders and a number of independent clones derived from this population were analyzed for their ability to induce gp52 and TAT and for these presence of glucocorticoid receptors. All nonresponder clones exhibited little or no induction of either glucocorticoid-inducible marker. Two of the clones contained reduced levels of glucocrticoid receptor, while the remainder of the clones showed no detectable specific hormone binding. These results provide genetic evidence that a single class of glucocorticoid receptors is involved in the induction of both MMTV and TAT in HTC cells.
Optimal channel utilization ratio in ad hoc wireless networks

In this paper, we investigate the impact of the channel utilization ratio (CUR) on the performance of ad hoc wireless networks. Given that a node can hold a multi-hop route for a time interval defined as the reserved channel utilization interval (RCUI), we assume that the node effectively utilizes the reserved route for an interval defined as the effective channel utilization interval (ECUI), the duration of which corresponds to the duration of the message to be transmitted. This models a realistic scenario, where a node may use the shared radio medium for only a portion of the reservation interval. Defining the CUR as the ratio between the RCUI duration and the ECUI duration, we develop an analytical framework which leads to the evaluation of the "optimal" CUR for the maximization of the effective transport capacity, a concept recently introduced by the authors and representing the actual bandwidth-distance product carried by the network.
Cross-Clade Inhibition of Recombinant Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1), HIV-2, and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVcpz Reverse Transcriptases by RNA Pseudoknot Aptamers

Reverse transcriptase (RT) remains a primary target in therapies directed at human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). RNA aptamers that bind RT from HIV-1 subtype B have been shown to protect human cells from infection and to reduce viral infectivity, but little is known about the sensitivity of the inhibition to amino sequence variations of the RT target. Therefore, we assembled a panel of 10 recombinant RTs from phylogenetically diverse lentiviral isolates (including strains of HIV-1, simian immunodeficiency virus SIVcpz, and HIV-2). After validating the panel by measuring enzymatic activities and inhibition by small-molecule drugs, dose-response curves for each enzyme were established for four pseudoknot RNA aptamers representing two structural subfamilies. All four aptamers potently inhibited RTs from multiple HIV-1 subtypes. For aptamers carrying family 1 pseudoknots, natural resistance was essentially all-or-none and correlated with the identity of the amino acid at position 277. In contrast, natural resistance to aptamers carrying the family 2 pseudoknots was much more heterogeneous, both in degree (gradation of 50% inhibitory concentrations) and in distribution across clades. Site-directed and subunit-specific mutagenesis identified a common R/K polymorphism within the p66 subunit as a primary determinant of resistance to family 1, but not family 2, pseudoknot aptamers. RNA structural diversity therefore translates into a nonoverlapping spectrum of mutations that confer resistance, likely due to differences in atomic-level contacts with RT.
THE REALIZATION OF MIND

When I began investigating the relationship between brain function and behavior I was sure that this sort of research would eliminate mentalism from psychology, much as biochemistry had eliminated vitalism from biology. Today, the experimental results that accrued have eroded this assurance to a point where a somewhat different position has evolved. I want to share with philosophers my current views, in part to stimulate discussion, in part to find out what if any major approach to the problem I am ignoring. Thus this paper. Let me for the sake of simplicity and clarity claim that essentially there are currently two major theoretical approaches to the mind-brain problem, though many different and subtle modifications of each has been proposed. These approaches can be codified as (1) an identity stance which in one sophisticated form encompasses the pluralistic 'multiple aspect' view popular with critical philosophers, and (2) the dualistic stance derived from Descartes. Each position is logically defensible and sheds some light on the problem. I will maintain here, however, that each is incomplete and propose an alternative, different in its content and aim. I will call this alternative the Biologist View on the problem. But first let me briefly review some of the arguments for the classical theories as I conceive them. Identity theory holds that mental phenomena and physical (usually brain processes) are identical. Many philosophers in the Anglo-American tradition espouse this position. They point out that the language we use to describe events may be derived' from physiological or behavioral observation or from social communication about introspective evidence. Each language, however, deals with the same basic 'event-structure' but comes at it from its own aspect. A plurality of aspects can thus be conceived to portray the basic identity. Although philosophers who espouse this view would perhaps never directly admit to this, the identity
Testing vs. Teaching: The Perceived Impact of Assessment Demands on Middle Grades Instructional Practices.

As a result of the pressures of educational reform and high-stakes assessment, some schools run the risk of foregoing active, student-centered learning activities for building test-taking skills and the memorization of discrete facts (Gredler, 1999; Jackson & Davis, 2000). Coupled with the additional pressure to fulfill the expectations of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), educators may feel the need to abandon the tenets of the middle school philosophy for more teacher-centered instructional approaches. Since the enactment of the Kentucky Education Reform Act (KERA) in 1990, schools and teachers have been accountable for the achievement of students and implementation of the state’s assessment standards. Using the responses of 216 educators from 17 middle schools in Northern Kentucky, this descriptive study explores middle grade teachers’ perceptions of how high-stakes testing and state accountability standards influence instructional strategies utilized in the classroom. Results indicate that though teachers acknowledge the importance of including active and student-centered strategies on a consistent basis, the state tests seem to drive the curriculum and warrant more teacher-focused instructional methods—lecture, worksheets, and whole-class discussion. In addition, recommendations are offered to improve instructional practice, enhance middle grades teacher preparation programs, and guide future research.
Tissue Factor encryption and decryption: Facts and controversies

Abstract Tissue factor (TF)-initiated coagulation plays a critical role in both hemostatsis and thrombosis. It is generally believed that most of the tissue factor expressed on cell surfaces is maintained in a cryptic, i.e., coagulantly inactive state and an activation step (decryption) is required for the expression of maximum TF procoagulant activity. However, what exactly constitutes cryptic or procoagulant TF, molecular differences between these two forms and mechanisms that are responsible for transformation from one to the other form are not entirely clear and remain highly controversial, thus are a matter of ongoing debate. This brief review discusses pertinent literature on TF encryption/decryption with specific emphasis on the role of membrane phospholipids and reduction/oxidation of the TF Cys186-Cys209 disulfide bond in regulating TF activity at cell surfaces.
A New Micro Injector and an Optical Sensor

A novel micro injector and a non-contact sensor to monitor its movements are presented in this paper. Extremely thin glass pipettes are driven by these microinjectors in biological cells. The process is commonly used in various cellular injection applications, from in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to cloning. A rotationally oscillating micro injector (Ros-drillcopy) is introduced in this paper. The physics of the underlying cellular piercing process, however, is quite complex and presently not fully understood. This is primarily due the inexistence of appropriate motion sensors. A high- sensitivity non-contact sensor is needed to study this delicate micro-dynamics. We report here on an optical micro-device, which is developed for this objective. In the principle of sensing, properly positioned four photodiodes receive the light, which originates from the target being monitored. The light intensity readings of these four diodes create the sense of position. Appropriate electronics and sensitivity enhancement techniques are also utilized. The experimental results are presented from a preliminary test study over a prototype setup.
A DSP-based mixed-signal waveform generator

As it currently stands, waveform generators are being employed in many diverse areas, such as radar applications, communication systems, simulation, and testing. There is considerable interest in exploring the beacon of opportunity posed by using digital signal processor (DSP)-based systems to replace costly and inadequate conventional waveform generators. The availability of high performance DSPs allows for the design of highly flexible equipment capable of real-time processing. The arbitrary waveform generator introduced in this paper consists of a DSP, a FIFO memory, a video palette, and a PC interface. A program running on the PC creates a digital representation of a waveform according to user parameters and sends it to the DSP's RAM. The DSP algorithmically converts the digital representation to a point-by-point representation of the desired analog signal. The data points are sent to the FIFO buffer, which latches the data to a video palette that serves a three-channel digital-to-analog converter. The system employs a high-speed serial port interface to communicate with a PC, to allow for readily programmed signals. In addition to the production of traditional signals, such as sinusoids and squarewaves, a mathematical tool known as splines is employed to aid in the development of customized arbitrary waveforms. Finally, a picture of our new device is presented in the paper.
The OspE-Related Proteins Inhibit Complement Deposition and Enhance Serum Resistance of Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme Disease Spirochete

Borrelia burgdorferi, the Lyme disease spirochete, binds the host complement inhibitors factor H (FH) and FH-like protein 1 (FHL-1). Binding of FH/FHL-1 by the B. burgdorferi proteins CspA and the OspE-related proteins is thought to enhance resistance to serum-mediated killing. While previous reports have shown that CspA confers serum resistance in B. burgdorferi, it is unclear whether the OspE-related proteins are relevant in B. burgdorferi serum resistance when OspE is expressed on the borrelial surface. To assess the role of the OspE-related proteins, we overexpressed them in a serum-sensitive CspA mutant strain. OspE overexpression enhanced serum resistance of the CspA-deficient organisms. Furthermore, FH was more efficiently bound to the B. burgdorferi surface when OspE was overexpressed. Deposition of complement components C3 and C5b-9 (the membrane attack complex), however, was reduced on the surface of the OspE-overexpressing strain compared to that on the CspA mutant strain. These data demonstrate that OspE proteins expressed on the surface of B. burgdorferi bind FH and protect the organism from complement deposition and subsequent serum-mediated destruction.
Heart rate: from risk marker to risk factor

Several risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease and related mortality have been identified to facilitate detection of patients at high risk and to guide prevention of the disease and its sequelae. This presentation will suggest that heart rate, easily measured clinically, is evolving from its demonstrated status as a risk marker of mortality and morbidity in various populations, to become a risk factor in patients with established coronary artery disease. Substantial epidemiological data support the predictive value of resting heart rate for total mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Indeed, this relationship was found in the general population and in hypertensive patients as well as in patients with clinically evident coronary artery disease (including those with stable angina and prior myocardial infarction). Several criteria commonly used to assess the validity of epidemiological associations (such as those involving blood cholesterol concentrations and development of coronary artery disease) have been applied to resting heart rate. The relationships between resting heart rate and the development of coronary artery disease, as well as all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, were found to be strong, graded and independent of other factors such as blood pressure and physical activity. The ongoing BEAUTIFUL and SHIFT trials will assess the therapeutic value of pure heart rate reduction in populations with coronary artery disease with and without heart failure (as well, in SHIFT, in patients with heart failure in the absence of coronary disease), thus providing the necessary evidence to support risk factor status for heart rate in this population.
Saturn Telemetry Antennas

The size and complexity of the Saturn vehicle influences telemetry antenna design in several respects. This paper describes the problems associated with size and shape of the vehicle body, bandwidth and power requirements, spurious frequency generation, and exhaust flame effects. Signal strength measurements recorded during the first Saturn flight are presented and compared with precalculated values.
Novel small molecule therapeutics in rheumatoid arthritis

A new wave of emerging therapies for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases is under development. These therapies interrupt intracellular signalling through kinase inhibition. By interrupting one or more kinases it is possible to modulate the function of cellular structures such as surface receptors, signalling proteins and transcription of nuclear proteins and thus influence the behaviour of the cell types targeted. With these advances comes the significant potential to develop highly effective orally bioavailable therapeutics. The targets generating the greatest enthusiasm at this time for the treatment of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases include Janus-associated kinase, spleen tyrosine kinase, phosphodiesterase-4, Bruton's tyrosine kinase and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase. Ultimately human trials will help us understand the potential risks and benefits of these novel approaches across a number of diseases.
Influence of Chemical Compositions on Lower Ferrite-Austenite Transformation Temperatures in 9% Cr Steels

Computational thermodynamics approach was used to predict the ranges of the lower ferrite-austenite transformation temperatures, A1 ’s, in three 9% Cr steels. The predicted A1 ranges were: 766–856 °C for SA387 Grade 91, 775–863 °C for SA213 Grade T92, and 676–862 °C for the weld metal SFA-5.23 B9 (2004). For Grade 91 and Grade T92 using the highest tempering temperature permitted by ASME Code, 800 °C, would permit certain alloys conforming to the chemical composition specification to be tempered above their A1 , thereby risking the formation of untempered martensite. Similar circumstances exist for weld metal conforming to the SFA-5.23 B9 specification. Linear regression analyses were performed to develop simplified expressions capable of representing the thermodynamically predicted relationships between chemical compositions and A1 ’s. These are, Grade 91/SFA-5.23 B9 (2004): 805 °C + 2.5(%Cr) + 18.1(%Mo) + 19.1(%Si)+ 37.1(%V) + 19.2(%Nb) − 63.7(%C) − 130.6(%N) − 60.5(%Mn) − 72.3(%Ni) Grade T92:778°C + 4.9(%Cr) + 22.6(%Mo) + 10.8(%W) + 22.9(%Si) + 43.6(%V) + 20.2(%Nb) − 80.6(%C) − 150.7(%N) − 55.1(%Mn) − 68.0(%Ni).
Purinergic responses of chondrogenic stem cells to dynamic loading

In habitually loaded tissues, dynamic loading can trigger ATP (ade- nosine-5ʹ-triphosphate) release to the extracellular environment, and result in calcium signaling via ATP binding to purine P2 receptors. 1 In the current study, the purinergic responses (ATP release) of two types of cells: bovine chondrocytes (bCHs) and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) that were encapsulated in agarose and subjected to dynamic loading were compared. Both cell types were cultured under chondrogenic conditions, and their res- ponses to loading were evaluated by an ATP release assay in combination with a connexin (Cx)-sensitive fluorescent dye (lucifer yellow - LY) and a Cx- - hemichannel blocker (flufenamic acid - FFA). In response to dynamic load- ing, the chondrogenic hMSCs released significantly higher amounts of ATP (5-fold) in comparison to the bCHs early in culture (day 2). The triggering of LY uptake in the bCHs and hMSCs by dynamic loading implies opening of the Cx-hemichannels. However, the number of LY-positive cells in the hMSC- -constructs was 2.5-fold lower compared to the loaded bCH-constructs, sug- gesting utilization of additional mechanisms of ATP release. Cx-reactive sites were detected in both the bCHs and hMSCs-constructs. FFA application led to reduced ATP release in both the bCHs and hMSCs, which confirmed the invol- vement of connexin hemichannels, with more prominent effects in the bCHs than in the hMSCs, further implying the existence of additional mechanisms of ATP release in chondrogenic hMSCs. Taken together, these results indicate a stronger purinergic response to dynamic loading of the chondrogenic hMSCs than that of primary chondrocytes, by activation of connexin hemichannels and additional mechanisms of ATP release.
JavaBean-based simulation with a decision making bean

In this paper a methodology is introduced to ease Web-based simulation development: component-based development with a decision making bean. Component-based development, which permits use of drag and drop development, can reduce development time significantly since it requires no coding. Also, a decision making bean simplifies definition of logical relationships among components. This paper introduces the JavaBeans Discrete Simulation (JBDS) system which contains a library of basic components for simulation models with a decision making bean. With JBDS, a user can easily perform "what-if" analysis by changing a component's attributes or relationships among components, since a user can visually change bean attributes in a bean builder tool.
High-voltage pulse testing of cables on Hawk

Summary form only given, as follows. The Hawk facility at NRL was used to pulse test Dielectric Sciences 2158 cables to voltages in excess of 900 kV. The motivation for the testing was to assess the utility of these cables to connect elements in a high-impedance inductive voltage adder system. A high voltage pulse was launched at both ends of a long length of cable to obtain high voltage by wave adding in the middle of the cable while limiting high-voltage complications at the power feeds to the cables. The pulse width was controlled with a point-plane electron-beam diode. The cables tested were approximately 160' long, with a one-way transit time of 240-ns. A pulse with a risetime less than 240-ns launched into both ends of the cable would add to double the voltage in the middle portion of the cable. The cables were connected to the output of one sub-Marx of the Hawk Marx bank, inside the oil tank. A resistive voltage divider was used to monitor the voltage input to the cable, and Rogowski coils to monitor the current input to each cable end. A point-plane electron-beam diode was also connected to the Marx output. The gap closure associated with this diode was used as timed closing switch to terminate the high voltage portion of the pulse. The stored energy of the Marx was dissipated in the damping resistors that were installed between the Marx and the cable, and the cable and the diode. Four lengths of cable were tested. The cable is designed for use as 69 kV AC power cable. Three of the four cables survived pulses in excess of 900 kV before failing, and the fourth cable failed at over 700 kV. Extensive results of the tests on the 2158 cables are presented.
The B1-Immunoreactive Proteins of the Perinatal Submandibular Gland: Similarity to the Major Parotid Gland Protein, RPSP

The B1-immunoreactive proteins of type III cells of the perinatal rat submandibular gland are immunologically cross-reactive with proteins of both the sublingual and parotid glands; in particular, protein SMG-A appears similar to a major parotid protein. We isolated SMG-A and the parotid protein (known as M1 or leucine-rich protein), prepared polyclonal antibodies to them, and compared their biochemical properties and immunological reactivities. They were identical in their molecular weight on SDS-PAGE (23.5 kDa), tenacious binding to Affi-gel Blue, isoelectric point (pH 4.53), and proteolysis to a 14 kDa peptide: Antibodies to SMG-A showed reactivity with protein SMG-C, a product of the neonatal type I cells, as well as with proteins SMG-B1 and SMG-B2, contrasted with the absence of reactivity of anti-M1 IgG with these proteins. Anti-M1 reacted with the "parotid secretory protein" (PSP) of the mouse, and M1 appears to be the homologue, in the rat, of mouse PSP.
Maternal Infection and Adverse Fetal and Neonatal Outcomes

Adverse pregnancy outcomes can follow direct placental, fetal, or neonatal infection, or preterm birth associated with vaginal, cervical, intrauterine, or even nonpelvic infections. These latter infections appear to be associated with the majority of very early preterm births, and may explain some of the long-term neurologic damage associated with preterm birth. Bacterial vaginosis and its associated intrauterine infections likely contribute far more to the overall burden of adverse pregnancy outcomes than the more classical perinatal infections such as rubella and syphilis.
Quantitative thickness estimates from the spectral response of AVO measurements

This study is motivated by the necessity to quantitatively characterize subtuned reservoirs. The conventional autocorrelation-based spectral-decomposition technique uses frequency notches to calculate vertical traveltime thickness of a layer of dipole reflectivity. Those notches tend to move outside the usable frequency band of the seismic data as the layer exceeds the tuning threshold of the wavelet. Assuming wavelet stationarity and nondipole reflectivity, a similar analysis performed on a crosscorrelation between an intercept and gradient trace extends the resolution limits to one-half the tuning threshold. That is a major improvement; however, many economic reservoirs still do not meet the half-tuning requirement. Such thin reservoirs led to the development of an optimization scheme. This approach, which does not require any wavelet stationarity or reflectivity assumptions, theoretically is not limited by the thickness of the target interval. The optimization scheme was applied successfully to a marine seismic survey in an attempt to estimate the traveltime thickness of a chalk reservoir.
Obesity surgery: a gastroenterologist's perspective.

Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate. Approximately 25% of adult women and 20% of adult men in the United States are obese. Obesity is increasing even more rapidly in children. The incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and liver disease is significantly increased in obese persons. Traditional methods of diet, exercise, drugs, and behavior modification are unsuccessful in the treatment of patients who are morbidly obese and have a body mass index of 40 kg/m2 or a body mass index of 35 kg/m2 with comorbidity. Multiple surgical alternatives to the traditional treatments are available and have been successful. Considerable weight loss may be achieved and maintained. Each procedure is associated with a variety of side effects and complications. The selection of patients for bariatric surgery requires a careful evaluation of their medical condition in addition to multiple psychological and social factors. Postoperative care entails careful medical follow-up and long-term suppor...
Phenformin stimulation of insulin binding to human cultured lymphocytes

The effects of the oral hypoglycemic agent, phenformin, were studied on the binding of 125I-insulin to its receptors in IM-9 human cultured lymphocytes. Three h after the addition of 5 microgram/ml of phenformin to these cells there was detectable stimulation of 125I-insulin binding; maximal effects were seen after 18 h. A detectable effect of phenformin was seen at 1 microgram/ml and maximal effects were seen at 5 microgram/ml. These studies demonstrate therefore than phenformin increases the binding of 125I-insulin to human cultured lymphocytes, and raise the possibility that phenformin could act in vivo to regulate insulin receptors.
Validation of the CERES/TRMM ERBE-like monthly mean clear-sky longwave dataset and the effects of the 1998 ENSO event

Abstract The Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) is a new National Aeronautics and Space Administration space-borne measurement project for monitoring the radiation environment of the earth–atmosphere system. The first CERES instrument was launched into space on board the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite on 27 November 1997. The purpose of this paper is 1) to describe the initial validation of the new CERES/TRMM Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE)–like monthly mean clear-sky longwave (CLW) dataset and 2) to demonstrate the scientific benefit of this new dataset through a data application study on the 1998 El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) episode. The initial validation of the CERES CLW data is carried out based on comparisons with both historical ERBE observations and radiative transfer simulations. While the observed CERES CLWs are initially larger than the historical ERBE record during the first part of the 1998 ENSO event, these differences are diminished by...
“Certainly forbidden” subjects: Race, migration, and the vanishing points of post-imperial British security

This article examines the post-imperial migration and racial anxieties that underwrite fantasies of national security in postwar British fiction. Focusing on the autocratic educational institutions featured in Muriel Spark’s The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961) and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (2005), the article identifies the school as a fraught ideological site wherein conceptions of national insularity collide with the complex pressures of British globalization. Spark’s Marcia Blaine School and Ishiguro’s Hailsham masquerade as microcosms of a homogeneous British nation only through a rigorous process of racial redaction. By adapting Joseph Slaughter’s concept of the “vanishing point”, the article traces two nonwhite immigrant characters whose brief, silent appearances unsettle the novels’ optics of power, thereby intimating a vast history of racial violence disavowed in the name of bodily, cultural, and political security. Connecting the novels’ vanishing acts to the discursive lacunae perpetuate...
Technology transitions within telecommunications networks

This article examines why recent telecommunications policy outcomes are diverging between the U.S. and Canada, notwithstanding the similarities in their common law and statutory law histories. The consequences of this divergence are profound. As technology transitions within the public switched telecommunications network proceed, the U.S. imposes fewer obligations on broadband and Internet service providers and provides a much-diminished level of consumer protection relative to that in Canada. The role of differing administrative procedures and policymaking forums is an important factor contributing to recent policy divergence. Historical analysis also reveals the importance of the role of path dependence from some early differences in U.S. and Canadian policy choices made in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These differences in early policy choices emerged from (1) differences in federalism structures between the U.S. and Canada; (2) negation of Bell patents in Canada that triggered an earlier era of telephony competition as well as both federal and provincial policy experimentation; and (3) AT&T?s unique public relations campaign of regulated monopoly developed in the U.S. in response to this earlier policy experimentation in Canada. AT&T?s public relations campaign has induced a false memory in the U.S. - not found in Canada - as to the origins of regulated monopoly for telephony. This false memory has contributed to the efficacy of telecommunications carriers? false monopoly theory argument - that their historical duties have been based on the existence of monopoly, and thus are not applicable in a competitive environment - which has and continues to distort telecommunications policy development in the U.S. including the network neutrality debate. Yet, telecommunications carriers? dual status as common carriers and public utilities under the common law has created confusion in both the U.S. and Canada. This confusion has created a tendency to misattribute the duty to serve to the existence of monopoly, providing a different - although still historically flawed - basis for asserting a monopoly theory argument for the purpose of eliminating regulation. This confusion, however, is more easily corrected in Canada where there was no comparable public relations campaign of regulated monopoly for proponents of deregulation to leverage. The resonance of early policy differences between the U.S. and Canada illustrates the complexity of pursuing telecommunications policy debates within multi-jurisdictional legal frameworks - a challenge that the European Union currently faces in developing a Telecommunications Single Market.
Settlements of Bearing Plates on Collapsible Loessial Soils

Reliable information for foundation design can be obtained from plate load tests. This includes soil parameters such as deformation moduli and proportionality limits, which can be determined from bearing plate load-settlement curves. Plate load tests performed on collapsible soils are influenced by many factors: plate dimensions/configuration, testing technique, site conditions, soil properties, etc. The paper presents results of collapsible loessial soil testing with 5,000-cm 2 -area round rigid plates. All field load tests were performed within a relatively small and uniform, from a geomorphologic point of view, area located in southwestern Ukraine (CIS–former USSR). Results of more than 140 tests performed at depths of 1.8 to 9.0 m were analysed. The analytical expression for plate settlements has been presented as a function of an applied load, mechanical properties of tested soil, a thickness of a deformation zone and plate dimensions. The validity of empirical coefficients obtained as a result of performed analyses has been verified.
U.S. Poultry Processing Employment and Hourly Earnings

Abstract Various governmental information sources show sizeable differences in total employment in the poultry processing industry. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment estimates for some years are more than 20% larger than corresponding values reported by the Census of Manufacturers/Annual Survey of Manufacturers or County Business Patterns. The publicly available sources of information give more consistent reports on average hourly earning of production workers in the poultry processing industry than on total employment in the industry. Although nominal hourly earnings have increased over time, deflating these figures with different measures of relative price changes can result in varying trends in real hourly earnings. Deflating earnings by the Consumer Price Index produces a negative trend in hourly earnings between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Deflating by the price index for nondurable component of personal expenditure component of GNP, however, result in a generally upward, but not continuous, trend in real hourly earnings after 1974. Such variations among sources of information and methods of analysis account for confusion and differences of opinion about total employment and hourly earnings in the poultry processing industry.
A Tentative Interpretation of Mental Health Criterion with Chinese traditional Cultural

Chinese traditional culture is rich in mental health integrants, the article interpreted mental health criteria with Chinese traditional culture, and put forward "Knowing yourself and others, Adequate reaction, Reality and Harmony, Positive acceptance and Striving" as mental health criterion based on Chinese cultural background.
A Tentative Technique for Measuring Industrial Marketing Productivity

Although manufacturing productivity has been studied quite extensively over the past several decades, there has been little attention paid to marketing productivity. This paper proposes a tentative technique for measuring marketing productivity for industrial companies by using market share and profitablility as the two major variables for productivity measurement. One of the intents is to generate further discussion and investigation regarding marketing productivity.
Mitochondrial Signaling and Neurodegeneration

The endosymbiosis of mitochondria and the resulting increase in energy supply thus conferred upon the eukaryotic cell enabled the evolution of multicellular organisms and complex organs, such as the brain. As a result, the brain and other organs with high energy demands, depend heavily upon mitochondrial metabolism for normal function, and as a consequence, defects in mitochondrial function lead to neurodegenerative disorders. However, the mechanisms linking mitochondrial defects to hallmarks of neurodegeneration, such as the protein aggregates are also extracellular epigenetic alterations, abnormal gene expression, systemic inflammation, and protein aggregates, remain unclear.
Hindlimb perfusion induces GLUT-1 and immediate early gene expression in skeletal muscle

The purpose of the present study was to test the suitability of the rat hindlimb perfusion technique for studying the acute regulation of the GLUT-1 and GLUT-4 glucose transporter genes in adult skeletal muscle. To further examine the stability of the technique, we also monitored the transcription rate and mRNA content of selected immediate early genes. Nuclei and total RNA were isolated from red and white hindlimb muscle from perfused (2 h) and nonperfused control animals. Although GLUT-4 transcription and mRNA content remained stable, perfusion elicited a marked 3.5-fold increase in GLUT-1 mRNA in red and 2.2-fold increase in white skeletal muscle in the absence of any detectable change in transcription. In contrast to both GLUT-1 and GLUT-4, transcription originating from the c-fos and c-myc immediate early genes increased from 2.0- to 2.7-fold with perfusion in both red and white skeletal muscle, whereas transcription of the beta-actin gene decreased by 40-60%. Both c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels also increased with perfusion, whereas beta-actin mRNA remained unchanged. These findings clearly demonstrate that the current method of performing the hindlimb perfusion technique rapidly and dramatically alters the regulation of selected genes in skeletal muscle.
Making My Future Work Evaluation of a New College and Career Readiness Curriculum

The college and career readiness movement figures prominently in the nation’s educational reform and policies, including strategies to increase graduation rates among disadvantaged students in urba...
High Optical Access Trap 2.0.

The High Optical Access (HOA) trap was designed in collaboration with the Modular Universal Scalable Ion-trap Quantum Computer (MUSIQC) team, funded along with Sandia National Laboratories through IARPA's Multi Qubit Coherent Operations (MQCO) program. The design of version 1 of the HOA trap was completed in September 2012 and initial devices were completed and packaged in February 2013. The second version of the High Optical Access Trap (HOA-2) was completed in September 2014 and is available at IARPA's disposal.
Impaired Interferon-Gamma Production as a Consequence of Profound STAT4 Deficiency in Lymphocytes of Lymphoma Patients after Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation.

Production of IFN-gamma has been found to be critical for optimal antitumor immunotherapy in several preclinical animal models. IL-12-induced IFN-gamma production is markedly defective in patients with lymphoma who have undergone autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). We have investigated the mechanism of defective IFN-gamma production after AHSCT. Increasing the number of CD4 T cells in IFN-gamma assays did not substantially improve IFN-gamma production by post-transplant patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Thus, the quantitative deficiency in CD4 T cells observed for up to a year after AHSCT was not the primary mechanism of defective IFN-gamma production. Post-transplant patient T cells and NK cells expressed the IL-12 receptor beta1 subunit at significantly higher levels than did control PBMCs. Moreover, IL-12 receptor beta2 was expressed by a higher proportion of NK cells from post-transplant patients as compared to control subjects. Thus, down-regulation of IL-12 receptor subunits did not account for defective IFN-gamma production by post-transplant patient PBMCs. Levels of Jak2 and Tyk2 were comparable in control and post-transplant patient PBMCs. In contrast, IL-12-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT4 was undetectable or barely detectable in post-transplant patient PBMCs, whereas it was readily detectable in control PBMCs. The total levels of STAT4 protein were also markedly decreased (P<0.027) in post-transplant patient PBMCs (3275+/−1692; mean+/−SE by densitometric analysis) as compared to control PBMCs (8644+/−732). This profound STAT4 deficiency persists for at least 6 months following AHSCT. Incubation of post-transplant patient PBMCs with IL-12 and IL-18 in combination partially reversed the defective IFN-gamma production seen after stimulation with IL-12 alone. IFN-gamma production in response to IL-12 plus IL-18 was not associated with increased expression of STAT4 but was dependent on the activity of p38 MAP kinase. These results indicate that defective IFN-gamma production is due to an intrinsic deficiency in STAT4 expression by post-transplant patient lymphocytes and suggest strategies for circumventing this deficiency in post-transplant cancer immunotherapy.
Electronically Activated Organoboron Catalysts for Enantioselective Propargyl Addition to Trifluoromethyl Ketones

A broadly applicable, practical, scalable, efficient and highly α- and enantioselective method for addition of a silyl-protected propargyl moiety to trifluoromethyl ketones has been developed. Reactions, promoted by 2.0 mol % of a catalyst that is derived in situ from a readily accessible aminophenol compound at ambient temperature, were complete after only 15 minutes at room temperature. The desired tertiary alcohols were isolated in up to 97% yield and 98.5:1.5 enantiomeric ratio. Alkyl-, alkenyl-, alkynyl-, aryl- or heteroaryl-substituted trifluoromethyl ketones can be used. Utility is highlighted by application to a transformation that is relevant to enantioselective synthesis of BI 653048, a compound active against rheumatoid arthritis.
Superparasitism Occasionally Predisposes Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to Develop Gregariously in Spodoptera exigua (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Experiments were designed to estimate the incidence of superparasitism of Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) and gregarious development of Cotesia marginiventris (Cresson). Dissections of host larvae revea...
Exploring Alternative Management Options for Multiyear Perennial Ryegrass Seed Production in Northern Minnesota

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is grown as a biennial when produced for seed in Minnesota; however, producers desire multiyear seed production. One approach to achieving multiyear seed production could be through improved management practices. In particular, plant growth regulators (PGRs) and fall residue management could help overcome several obstacles hindering multiyear seed production in northern climates. We assessed the impact of fall residue management practices and various PGRs after first-year harvest on winter survival and second-year seed yield of perennial ryegrass grown in northern Minnesota. The experiment was conducted for three trial years from 2013 to 2016 in second-year perennial ryegrass seed production swards. Three fall residue management treatments and five fall-applied PGR treatments were evaluated in a split-plot design. Fall-applied PGRs had no effect on second-year seed yield and minimal effects on winter survival. Managing residue by open-burning consistently resulted in significantly higher second-year seed yields than in the no residue removal control (1064 vs. 680 kg ha⁻¹, respectively). Open-burning and baling and mowing residue resulted in similar seed yields in 2 out of 3 yr, and both increased yields compared with no residue removal. Winter survival was only moderately affected by residue management, was highly dependent on year, and had an impact on mean seed yields across treatments. This indicates that winter survival and fall residue management are both important in maintaining multiyear seed yield in Minnesota.
Comparison of surgical outcomes between canaloplasty and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C at 2-year follow-up: A longitudinal cohort study

Purpose: To compare operative outcomes of patients after canaloplasty and trabeculectomy with mitomycin C (MMC) through 2-year follow-up. Methods: We included 31 eyes of 31 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) who underwent canaloplasty and 37 eyes of 37 patients with POAG who underwent trabeculectomy with MMC with 24 months of postoperative follow-up. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon between January 2005 and May 2011. Failure was defined as intraocular pressure (IOP >18 or
Model-based estimation and control for off-axis parabolic mirror alignment

This paper propose an model-based estimation and control method for an off-axis parabolic mirror (OAP) alignment. Current studies in automated optical alignment systems typically require additional wavefront sensors. We propose a self-aligning method using only focal plane images captured by the existing camera. Image processing methods and Karhunen-Loeve (K-L) decomposition are used to extract measurements for the observer in closed-loop control system. Our system has linear dynamic in state transition, and a nonlinear mapping from the state to the measurement. An iterative extended Kalman filter (IEKF) is shown to accurately predict the unknown states, and nonlinear observability is discussed. Linear-quadratic regulator (LQR) is applied to correct the misalignments. The method is validated experimentally on the optical bench with a commercial OAP. We conduct 100 tests in the experiment to demonstrate the consistency in between runs.
Abstract 16708: Socioeconomic Status and the Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Whites and African Americans: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

Background: Lower socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) overall. However, the association of SES and atrial fibrillation (AF) has not bee...