cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Distributed Bragg Reflectors

We propose and demonstrate a novel method to characterize the coupling coefficient and loss coefficient of a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR). The method is based on a coupled-mode analysis of periodic structures, and involves the linewidth comparison of a pair of DBR Fabry-Perot resonators. The method is shown to be independent of coupling efficiency and wavelength dependence of the DBR parameters.
The luminosity performance of CESR

Abstract Accelerator measurements and numerical simulation studies were undertaken in order to understand the luminosity performance of the Cornell Electron Storage Ring (CESR). Computer simulation predictions of luminosity near normal CESR operating conditions agreed quantitatively with measurements. The sensitivity of luminosity to such parameters as betatron tunes, chromaticities, and sextupole strength distribution was explored. The inclusion of single beam synchrobetatron coupling was necessary to achieve qualitative agreement between CESR and simulation data when the vertical betatron tune was lowered to near the vertical integer resonance. Results are interpreted within the framework of incoherent tune shift limitations by single two-dimensional coupling resonances.
The 2'-phosphate of NADP is critical for optimum productive binding to 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase from Candida utilis.

Abstract Initial velocity studies obtained with alternative dinucleotide substrates for the 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase reaction suggest that the 2′-phosphate is critical for the optimum productive binding of the dinucleotide substrate. Initial velocity patterns obtained by varying 6-phosphogluconate at different fixed levels of NAD are nearly parallel with apparent competitive substrate inhibition by 6-phosphogluconate at pH 7 and below but intersect to the left of the ordinate at pH 8 and above. Dead-end inhibition studies indicate that the mechanism is random at all pH values. Data are interpreted in terms of a random mechanism with marked antagonism in the binding of NAD and 6-phosphogluconate at low pH. Deuterium isotope effects on V and V / K for either substrate are equal at pH 8, indicating that the kinetic mechanism is rapid equilibrium random. A decrease in the pH and the subsequent protonation of the active site general base or some other enzyme residue with a similar p K apparently results in the ineffective binding of NAD. The latter suggests either a link between the protonation state of this group and the conformation of the dinucleotide binding site or an interaction between the two.
Evolution of responses to relative homozygosity

ACCORDING to the theory of kin selection first elaborated by Hamilton1,2, all individual behaviour is selected to maximise the increment to inclusive fitness ΔWi + ΣΔWjrij, where ΔWi is the effect of an act on the fitness of the actor, ΔWj is the effect of the same act on the fitness of a conspecific, and rij is the coefficient of relationship between the actor and the conspecific. Acts that lower an individual's direct fitness can thus be favoured by natural selection if, by conferring benefits on relatives of the actor, they cause a positive increment to the actor's inclusive fitness3,4. Since the average rij between an individual and the targets of its behaviour varies because of fluctuations in local population structure, an individual is most likely to secure a positive increment if its behaviour is conditioned on as accurate an estimate as possible of the particular local distribution of rij. I describe here a mechanism by which this estimate could be improved on the basis of information derived from the relative homozygosity of the individual's own genotype, in species with certain kinds of life histories.
Xenopus research: metamorphosed by genetics and genomics

Research using Xenopus takes advantage of large, abundant eggs and readily manipulated embryos in addition to conserved cellular, developmental and genomic organization with mammals. Research on Xenopus has defined key principles of gene regulation and signal transduction, embryonic induction, morphogenesis and patterning as well as cell cycle regulation. Genomic and genetic advances in this system, including the development of Xenopus tropicalis as a genetically tractable complement to the widely used Xenopus laevis, capitalize on the classical strengths and wealth of achievements. These attributes provide the tools to tackle the complex biological problems of the new century, including cellular reprogramming, organogenesis, regeneration, gene regulatory networks and protein interactions controlling growth and development, all of which provide insights into a multitude of human diseases and their potential treatments.
Environmental benchmarking of the largest fossil-fueled electricity generating plants in the U.S.

Environmental management, to be effective, requires performance evaluation and process improvement. This is especially the case in fossil-fueled electricity generating plants. Although eco-efficient management of these types of organizations are critical to local, national and global environmental issues, few studies have focused on performance measurement and eco-efficiency improvements in this industry. This study evaluates the eco-efficiencies of the top 100 major U.S. fossil-fueled electricity generating plants from 1998 data. Using a multi-criteria non-parametric productivity model (data envelopment analysis) efficiency scores are determined. These efficiency scores are treated by a clustering method in identifying benchmarks for improving poorly performing plants. Efficiency measures are based on three resource input measures including boiler generating capacity, total fuel heat used, and total generator capacity, and four output measures including actual energy generated, SO2, NOx, and CO2 emissions. The purpose of this paper is two-fold, to introduce the methodology"s application to eco-efficiency performance measurement and show some characteristics of the benchmarked plants and groups.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Increased superoxide dismutase and Down's syndrome.

The enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a constitutive enzyme coded by a gene located in Chromosome 21 (21q22.1). Thus, the tissues from patients with trisomy 21 contain 50% more SOD activity. It is often suggested that the increased SOD content in the cells of Down's syndrome patients is responsible for many of the neurological symptoms of this disease. This hypothesis is not supported by most of the available data. In this paper we discuss why the increased SOD activity should not influence neuronal function and propose, instead, that the main problem may be an overexpression of other genes also located in chromosome 21 such as the beta amyloid precursor, as well as oncogenes and other Down's syndrome-related genes. We also propose that the increased SOD may be, instead, responsible for the increased incidence of Down's syndrome in children of older women. The augmented antioxidant protection resulting from an extra copy of chromosome 21 may, with time, selectively protect human oocytes from apoptosis, increasing their proportion with age, explaining the higher incidence of this disease.
A MODEL FOR THE TAXOL (PACLITAXEL)/EPOTHILONE PHARMACOPHORE

Abstract Epothilone is a recently discovered compound that appears to bind at the same microtubule-binding site as the anticancer agent taxol. A model for the pharmacophore common to these structurally dissimilar compounds is presented.
Evolution of switch-on and switch-off shocks in a gas of finite electrical conductivity

The evolution of plane switch-on and switch-off shocks in the presence of small normal disturbances is examined. (Normal disturbances are those in which the perturbed quantities are functions only of time and the distance from the plane of the shock wave.) In the situation under discussion the magnetic diffusivity of the ambient gas is much greater than each of the viscous diffusivities and the thermal diffusivity. It is shown that small normal disturbances can eventually cause appreciable changes in the flow pattern around either switch-on or switch-off shocks. Numerical computations are carried out for both a specific null switch-on and a specific null switch-off shock, in the presence of a known disturbance. The results of each of these computations, for large times, are in agreement with analytic, asymptotic solutions which are obtained. A mechanism is suggested whereby switch-on and switch-off shocks, across which an appreciable deflexion of the direction of the magnetic field lines takes place, can adjust themselves to small normal disturbances.
Opposing Effects of Proteasomes and Lysosomes on LIFR: Modulation by TNF

The blood-brain barrier (BBB), a communicating interface for inflammation, transports cytokines through its endothelial cells. This study shows how tumor necrosis factor α (TNF) regulates the expression of the leukemia inhibitor factor receptor (LIFR) gp190 in RBE4 cells. The high expression of LIFR was rapidly downregulated by the proinflammatory agents lipopolysaccharide, TNF, and LIF. Downregulation by TNF affected LIFR endocytosis and lysosomal degradation, preceding decreased LIFR mRNA. Lysosomal inhibitors reversed the rapid disappearance of LIFR, whereas inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway did not. Rather, blockade of proteasome activity, as well as inhibition of NFκB activation, reduced the basal expression of LIFR. Thus, NFκB activity and proteasome degradation of IκB stabilized LIFR and prevented its rapid lysosomal degradation. By a non-NFκB-mediated mechanism, TNF facilitated LIFR degradation and reduced LIFR activation indicated by pStat3. The novel opposite effects of proteasomes and lysosomes in controlling receptor expression shows the functional implications and interactions of circulating inflammatory cytokines in acutely modulating BBB activity.
Pharmacokinetics of Gentamicin and Kanamycin During Hemodialysis

Abstract The pharmacokinetics of gentamicin, kanamycin, and creatinine were studied in patients undergoing hemodialysis. After intravenous injection of single doses of the drugs, 50 to 60% of the doses of both antibiotics were cleared from the body during a 6-h period; this occurred almost entirely by the hemodialysis process. No correlation was found between the dialysance of the aminoglycosides and creatinine. The pharmacokinetic data were used to make dosage regimen recommendations for treatment of hemodialysis patients with these antibiotics.
E.S.R. and ENDOR studies of X-irradiated 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide single crystals

A radical identified as C6H5NHCS[Ndot]NH2 has been studied with E.S.R. and ENDOR spectroscopy in X-irradiated 4-phenyl-3-thiosemicarbazide single crystals. The ENDOR measurements reveal interactions between the unpaired electron and two hydrogen nuclei with the principal values These interactions are of NH α-type and arise from the amino hydrogens. The E.S.R. indicates additional interaction between the unpaired electron and three nitrogen nuclei. These interactions are all axially symmetric about the direction of intermediate hydrogen coupling and have principal values estimated to be From these results and those from the hydrogen interactions, the nitrogen interaction labelled N2 is assigned to the amino nitrogen.
Chiral strain and reentrancy in blue-phase transitions.

We have studied the effect of chiral strain on phase transitions in a chiral material by examining the cholesteric (Ch) blue-phase (BP) liquid-crystal system in the Cano-wedge configuration. We observe both Ch and BP Cano rings whose positions are explained by Ch elastic theory. In the phase-transition region, chiral strain causes the positions of the Ch-BP coexistence rings to be temperature dependent and to exhibit reentrancy with respect to chiral strain. A free-energy model is presented which explains the gross features of the positions of the coexistence rings.
Research on the 3D Model’s Setup of Diamond Manufacturing Center with Fifteen Shafts

This paper describes the 3D model’s setup of diamond manufacturing center with fifteen shafts. It firstly introduces the concept of virtual design and virtual prototype, and common steps for building virtual prototype based on solidworks. Then it introduces the detailed steps of the diamond manufacturing center with fifteen shafts’ 3D model setup which includes parts and assembly. The paper also introduces the analysis of the diamond machine’s movement process. Finally, it gives the conclusion and further research. The research adopts the bottom to top principle and the top to bottom principle.
Multiuser channel estimation from higher-order statistical matrix pencil

This paper presents a new statistical approach to the blind estimation of linear multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channels with finite impulse response. A matrix pencil is constructed from a set of fourth-order cumulant matrices of the channel output signals. The MIMO channel impulse responses can then be efficiently estimated from the generalized eigendecomposition of this cumulant matrix pencil. Random weighting is applied in the matrix pencil construction to improve the reliability of the algorithm. The proposed new method requires a relaxed channel identifiability condition and is robust in the sense that it does not require the exact knowledge of the MIMO channel order.
Corpus luteum dysfunction and the epidemiology of breast cancer: a reconsideration.

Many of the epidemiologic risk factors for the development of breast cancer are related to major events in the female reproductive experience. Several years ago, in an attempt to synthesize these observations, we proposed a theory that focused on abnormal corpus luteum function as a major endocrine determinant of breast cancer risk. This review summarizes the work that has been done attempting to substantiate or refute that hypothesis and reconsiders it in the light of more recent information.
Peak bone mass, bone loss and risk of fracture

Both peak bone mass and bone loss contribute to subsequent fracture risk. Other variables such as architectural abnormalities, microdamage, geometric properties, and trauma probably contribute as well. Until the contribution of these other potentially important risk factors can be quantified, it will be difficult to determine precisely the relative importance of peak bone mass and subsequent bone loss in the etiology of fractures.
Asymmetrische Synthese von Bryostatin 2

Die als Antitumormittel hochwirksamen Bryostatine werden derzeit klinisch (Phase II) fur die Behandlung zahlreicher Krebsformen getestet. Aldolreaktionen und gerichtete Reduktionen sind die wesentlichen Schritte beim Aufbau der Fragmente A–C in der Totalsynthese der Titelverbindung. Den Kupplungen dieser Fragmente via Sulfon-Olefinierung und Alkylierung folgte eine Makrolactonisierung und die Einfuhrung der Methoxycarbonylmethylidenreste an den Ringen B und C. LG=Abgangsgruppe; PMB=p-Methoxybenzyl.
KEYNOTE: Development of Hot-Pressed and Chemical-Vapor-Deposited Zinc Sulfide and Zinc Selenide in the United States for Optical Windows

This talk traces the development of zinc sulfide and zinc selenide as infrared windows. The path leads from hot pressed Kodak material to Raytheon’s chemical vapor deposition to commercialization at CVD, Inc. and II-VI, Inc.
A coopetition perspective of global competition

Abstract This article elucidates an increasingly prevalent facet of global competition: simultaneous competition and cooperation between global rivals (i.e., coopetition ). In order to develop an overall framework to analyze coopetition, this article explains why coopetition occurs, discusses situations in which cooperation or competition increases or decreases in a coopetition scheme, and presents a typology for understanding the intensity and diversity of coopetition with major global rivals. The typology of the intensity of coopetition identifies four situations (contending, isolating, partnering, and adapting) to describe the varying degrees of cooperation and competition between a pair of global rivals. To capture the diversity of coopetition, this article also identifies four positions (dispersing, concentrating, connecting, and networking), depending on the number of global rivals and the number of international markets the firm involves in coopetition. The article provides several broad guidelines for building coopetition relationships.
Atlanto-axial rotatory fixation caused by spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage in a child.

Atlanto-axial rotatory fixation is rare in children and usually associated with upper respiratory tract infection or trauma. We present a patient who developed the condition acutely as a consequence of rapidly evolving hemiplegia secondary to intracerebral haemorrhage. A previously well 12-year-old boy suddenly developed left hemiparesis within 30 min. Soon after, he developed painful torticollis. On examination, a dense left hemiplegia was associated with left facial and hypoglossal weakness. On computerised tomography (CT) scan there was an intracerebral haemorrhage in the deep aspect of the right frontal lobe in the corona radiata, with extension in the ventricular system. The plain radiographs of the cervical spine, and CT scan later, confirmed the presence of C1–C2 rotatory subluxation. The haematoma was aspirated stereotactically through a burr hole, and at the same session, the subluxation was reduced by manipulation and traction of the cervical spine. The patient was treated with a hard collar. The torticollis did not recur. The hemiparesis resolved within 6 months. A subsequent magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography scan indicated possible arterio-venous malformation (AVM) at the site of the haemorrhage, which was confirmed with digital subtraction angiography. The AVM was surgically excised 1 year from the original haemorrhage. In the absence of any other predisposing factor, it is postulated that the acute atlanto-axial rotatory subluxation was secondary to the acute loss of muscular tone due to the acute hemiparesis. This explains that the subluxation has not recurred a year after, while the hemiparesis has completely resolved.
Cage antennas optimised for bandwidth

Cage antennas are optimised via a genetic algorithm (GA) for operation over a wide band with low voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). Numerical results are compared with those of other dual band and broadband antennas. Measured results for one cage antenna are presented.
Incorporation of experimentally-derived fiber orientation into a structural constitutive model for planar collagenous tissues

Structural constitutive models integrate information on tissue composition and structure, avoiding ambiguities in material characterization. However, critical structural information (such as fiber orientation) must be modeled using assumed statistical distributions, with the distribution parameters estimated from fits to the mechanical test data. Thus, full realization of structural approaches continues to be limited without direct quantitative structural information for direct implementation or to validate model predictions. In the present study, fiber orientation information obtained using small angle light scattering (SALS) was directly incorporated into a structural constitutive model based on work by Lanir (J. Biomech., v. 16, pp. 1-12, 1983). Demonstration of the model was performed using existing biaxial mechanical and fiber orientation data for native bovine pericardium (Sacks and Chuong, ABME, v.26, pp. 892-902, 1998). The structural constitutive model accurately predicted the complete measured biaxial mechanical response. An important aspect of this approach is that only a single equibiaxial test to determine the effective fiber stress-strain response and the SALS-derived fiber orientation distribution were required to determine the complete planar biaxial mechanical response. Changes in collagen fiber crimp under equibiaxial strain suggest that, at the meso-scale, fiber deformations follow the global tissue strains. This result supports the assumption of affine strain to estimate the fiber strains. However, future evaluations will have to be performed for tissue subjected to a wider range of strain to more fully validate the current approach.
Regulation of mouse liver microsomal esterases by clofibrate and sexual hormones

Carboxylesterase activity was measured using six different substrates in microsomal preparations from female and ovariectomized female mice in order to evaluate the effects of female sex hormones on esterase expression. With three of the substrates (alpha-naphthyl acetate and esters 2 and 3), esterase activity was the same in both groups; however, with the others (rho-nitrophenyl acetate and esters 1 and 4), there was a small increase in activity in ovariectomized females, compared with intact females. Castration of males followed by treatment with testosterone caused only transient increases in activity for four of the substrates (alpha-naphthyl acetate and esters 1, 2, and 3) and no change in activity for the other two (rho-nitrophenyl acetate and ester 4). Treatment of male and female mice with the peroxisome proliferator clofibrate, with or without testosterone, resulted in increased hydrolysis of alpha-naphthyl acetate and rho-nitrophenyl acetate, but little change for the other substrates. Clofibrate also induced alpha-naphthyl acetate and rho-nitrophenyl acetate hydrolysis in castrated males, but clofibrate and testosterone administrated together resulted in significant increases of activity with all substrates, which were greater than the additive effects of the two compounds administered separately. These results indicate that clofibrate causes significant alterations in the regulation of esterase activity, whereas sex hormones only cause small changes. However, it would seem that testosterone can synergize the effect of clofibrate in castrated males, resulting in higher levels of activity than with clofibrate alone. Finally, an overall increase in esterase activity might be due to a large increase in the activity of a few esterases or to a small increase in many esterases. Enzyme staining of native polyacrylamide gels reveals that the latter is true, with the majority of esterases present in mouse liver microsomes being induced to a small degree by clofibrate.
Higher-order criteria for nonclassical effects in photon statistics

Based on inequalities derived from the partial ordering by majorization, some higher-order criteria for the existence of nonclassical effects in photon statistics are introduced. These generalize the well-known concept of two-photon antibunching to many-photon antibunching. The photon-number distribution of the famous two-photon coherent state is used to illustrate these new criteria.
Fast atom bombardment of metal-pyochelin complexes: metastable analysis at constant B/E of zinc-pyochelin

Fast atom bombardment (FAB) mass spectrometry was used to characterize the pyochelin complexes of iron and zinc. Ferripyochelin readily forms the [M + H]+ and [2M + H]+ ions in a glycerol matrix. The molecular ion was 2.5 fold more abundant when acetic acid was present. Iron was shown to be present in the iron-pyochelin complex as the ferric ion by wet chemical methods. Differentiation between ferric and ferrous ions by FAB was not successful owing to the FAB reducing environment. Ferric ions were reduced by FAB to ferrous ions in the following model salts—ferric chloride, ferric nitrate and ferric sulfate—when dissolved in either glycerol, thioglycerol or the magic bullet matrix. Ferric and ferrous chloride salts gave virtually identical spectra with a glycerol/acetic acid matrix. Zinc-pyochelin readily forms the [M + H]+ and [2M + H]+ ions, but only when acetic acid was present in the glycerol matrix. The FAB mass spectrum of zinc-pyochelin exhibited various fragmentations which can be used in structural analysis. Linked-scan at constant B/E and accurate mass data were used to characterize the fragmentations of the zinc-pyochelin complex. Metastable analysis allowed the fragmentation pathway of zinc-pyochelin to be determined.
Evidence for Phenylalanine Zipper-Mediated Dimerization in the X-ray Crystal Structure of a Magainin 2 Analogue

High-resolution structure elucidation has been challenging for the large group of host-defense peptides that form helices on or within membranes but do not manifest a strong folding propensity in aqueous solution. Here we report the crystal structure of an analogue of the widely studied host-defense peptide magainin 2. Magainin 2 (S8A, G13A, G18A) is a designed variant that displays enhanced antibacterial activity relative to the natural peptide. The crystal structure of magainin 2 (S8A, G13A, G18A), obtained for the racemic form, features a dimerization mode that has previously been proposed to play a role in the antibacterial activity of magainin 2 and related peptides.
Performance Analysis of Direct Heuristic Dynamic Programming using Control-Theoretic Measures

Approximate dynamic programming (ADP) has been widely studied from several important perspectives: algorithm development, learning efficiency measured by success or failure statistics, convergence rate, and learning error bounds. Given that many learning benchmarks used in ADP or reinforcement learning studies are control problems, it is important and necessary to examine the learning controllers from a control-theoretic perspective. This paper makes use of direct heuristic dynamic programming (direct HDP) and several benchmark examples to introduce a unique analytical framework that can be extended to other learning control paradigms and other complex control problems. The sensitivity analysis and the linear quadratic regulator (LQR) design are used in the paper for two purposes: to gauge direct HDP performance characteristics and to provide guidance toward designing better learning controllers. This gauge however does not limit the direct HDP to be effective only as a linear controller. Toward this end, applications of the direct HDP for nonlinear control problems beyond sensitivity analysis and the confines of LQR have been developed and compared with LQR design for command following and internal system parameter changes.
Purification of the glial fibrillary acidic protein by anion-exchange chromatography

Abstract A procedure for the isolation of assembly-competent glial fibrillary acidic (GFA) protein from 2 m urea extracts of bovine spinal cord by anion-exchange chromatography is reported. The tissue was previously extracted with low-ionic-strength buffer. The procedure allowed the separation of nondegraded GFA protein from GFA protein comprising degraded species. As previously reported for neurofilament preparations obtained from porcine spinal cord (N. Geisler and K. Weber, J. Mol. Biol. , 151 , 565–571 (1981)), the procedure also allowed the simultaneous separation of the three neurofilament polypeptides (200,000; 150,000; and 70,000 daltons) contained in the 2 m urea extract. Brain filament proteins sequentially eluted at increasing salt concentration (25–200 m m NaCl) according to their isoelectric point. Proteins with higher p I eluted first. Tubulin eluted between the 200,000- and 150,000-dalton neurofilament polypeptides.
Another perspective: An interview with David Smith

This chapter offers insights related to the value of involving evaluation early in the program development process and helping funders understand the benefits of evaluation.
Experimental exploration of the scaling theory in 2D

Abstract From previously published data experimental β e = βγ = - Δ ln g Δ ln T versus g curves are compared to theoretical curves. Agreement between experimental data from two radically different 2D systems is better than the agreement between experimental and theoretical curves.
The Role of Hedgehog Signaling in Fibrogenic Liver Repair

Repair of adult liver, like many tissues, involves the coordinated response of a number of different cell types. In adult livers, fibroblastic cells, ductular cells, inflammatory cells, and progenitor cells contribute to this process. Our studies demonstrate that the fates of such cells are dictated, at least in part, by Hedgehog, a fetal morphogenic pathway that was once thought to be active mainly during embryogenesis. Studies of injured adult human and rodent livers demonstrate that injury-related activation of the Hedgehog pathway modulates several important aspects of repair, including the growth of hepatic progenitor populations, hepatic accumulation of myofibroblasts, repair-related inflammatory responses, vascular remodeling, liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis. These findings identify the Hedgehog pathway as a potentially important target for biomarker development and therapeutic manipulation, and emphasize the need for further research to advance knowledge about how this pathway is regulated by and interacts with other signals that regulate adult liver repair.
Evidence for degeneration of retinal W cells following early visual cortical removal in cats.

Size and distribution of ganglion cells surviving unilateral visual cortical removal at 5–7 days of age were examined in domestic cats. Such lesions were expected to result in a substantial loss of X
Expression of connexins during development and following manipulation of afferent input in the rat locus coeruleus

Synchronous activity of locus coeruleus (LC) neurons during early postnatal development is regulated, in part, by electrotonic coupling. Connexin (Cx) proteins that make up gap junction channels are localized to both neurons and glia in the LC during this period. In adult rats, however, synchrony exists only under certain experimental conditions. The expression of Cx proteins was examined using western blot analysis at several developmental time points. Immunoblot analysis revealed little to no expression of Cx26 while Cx32, Cx43 and Cx36 were present at all time points examined. A progressive increase in Cx43 was identified from the first postnatal week through adulthood. Immunocytochemical detection of Cx36 and Cx43 in adult LC showed that Cx36 was associated with neuronal processes while Cx43 was localized to glia. In adult LC, in vitro intracellular recordings combined with neurobiotin injections confirmed the presence of gap junctional communication albeit to a lesser extent than in early postnatal periods. The degree to which synaptic inputs to LC neurons impact on Cx protein expression was also evaluated. Samples of the LC from rats that received an electrolytic lesion of the amygdala were processed for western blot analysis of Cx36 and Cx43. The predominantly neuronal Cx36 exhibited an increase in expression while the glial Cx43 was unchanged. The present results indicate that, despite subtype-specific changes during development, several Cx proteins are expressed in the adult LC. In addition, manipulating afferent input to the LC, in adult rats, results in increases in neuronal Cx protein levels but not in glial Cx levels suggesting that altering synaptic inputs to the LC may alter synchronous activity in noradrenergic neurons.
Endothelial bound lipases and lipoprotein metabolism in disease and drug development

Current awareness of the role of lipoproteins in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis has focused attention on their metabolic aspects. Lipoproteins originate in both the gut and the liver. They undergo important metabolic conversions when they interact with the endothelial surfaces of the vascular compartment. Endothelial bound triglyceride lipase activities (i.e., lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase) are central to the metabolism and interconversion of the lipoprotein classes. Fatty acids released during lipase mediated hydrolysis equilibrate with the endothelial surfaces prior to their transport to the underlying parenchymal tissue for storage or utilization. These underlying tissues are the sites of synthesis of the lipolytic enzymes, which must in turn travel to the lumenal endothelial surfaces. Thus an intricate interplay exists between the outer lining and substrata of the vessel wall. The interaction of endothelium and parenchymal cell has profound consequences for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and represents an important focus for drug development. We are studying the expression of lipoprotein lipase and hepatic triglyceride lipase activities in a mouse model in which a single autosomal recessive mutation, cld, produces a combined deficiency of these lipase activities. Our recent work suggests that the cld mutation affects postsynthetic cellular processes by which these lipolytic enzymes gain functional expression of the vascular endothelial surface. The plasma lipolytic activities regulate the levels of the atherogenic and antiatherogenic lipoproteins. Understanding the detailed cellular mechanisms that regulate these crucial functions can provide a rationale for the development of agents that may be effective against cardiovascular disease.
A New Approach to Anonymous Multicast Routing in Ad Hoc Networks

Anonymity in ad hoc network routing came as a means to hide the identification information of nodes, traffic, paths and network topology, which is an effective counter-attack measure to a number of attacks such as traffic analysis, spoofing and denial of services. In this paper, we propose AMUR, an anonymous multicast routing protocol, for ad hoc networks. AMUR uses Bloom filters to encode source multicast tree in each multicast packet to provide anonymity of nodes, links, routing tables, and source routing trees for multicast purposes. We specify the AMUR protocols, and investigate its robustness against network mobility and various attacks.
Two concepts of utopia

L'A. cherche a determiner dans quelle mesure le liberalisme est un terrain favorable a l'elaboration d'utopies, de theories d'une vie bonne et juste. Il discute la these de la fin de l'histoire de Fukuyama et la vision de Rorty des utopies, qu'il attribue aussi a Rawls et qui incorpore le fait du pluralisme. Enfin, l'A. s'interroge sur l'avenir du liberalisme en considerant les critiques de Sandel et MacIntyre, qui pronent une conception differente du bien
Principal components analysis of regional bone density in black and white women: relationship to body size and composition.

Black and white women in the United States differ with respect to bone mass and the risk of developing osteoporosis. It has been suggested that greater body size among U.S. blacks may contribute to greater bone density in this group. It is not known whether the fat or lean component contributes more to this relationship. Bone density was measured at seven sites in 161 normal black and white women using single and dual photon absorptiometry. The first principal component accounted for 73% of the variance in the sample and constitutes an index of skeletal mass. The second principal component added another 10% and contrasts the axial and appendicular sites. Both the regional bone densities and the first principal component showed significantly greater bone densities for blacks; adjustment for body size reduced bone mass differences by approximately 50%. Body composition analysis done on a subset of these women indicated that the fat component of body mass may be the more important factor in its effect on bone mass.
TECHNICAL NOTE: The representation of rainfall drop-size distribution and kinetic energy

Abstract. To relate observed rainfall rates (R) to the kinetic energy flux (E) that affects soil erosion it is necessary to develop relationships between the two. This paper explores theoretical E–R relationships based on gamma distributions of drop size. The relationship is poorly defined unless assumptions are made about changes in the shape of the drop-size distribution (DSD) with rainfall rate. The study suggests that the assumption of an exponential DSD leads to overestimation of kinetic energy flux. Further, incorporation of a horizontal component of kinetic energy allows for a clearer relationship between kinetic energy and rainfall intensity to be defined, but a question remains regarding the most appropriate definition of the horizontal component of drop velocity. Keywords: drop-size distribution, drop kinetic energy, soil erosion
Intercollegiate Athletic Programs Deepening Their Educational Impact

Robert A. Bonfiglio suggests that a more explicit and systematic approach to moral development is necessary for the learning benefits of student participation in sports to match its claims.
Thermoelectric and transport properties of nanostructured Bi2Te3 by spark plasma sintering

N-type Bi2Te3 alloys with different micro structural length scales were prepared by mechanical milling and spark plasma sintering (SPS). The electrical resistivity, thermal conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, carrier concentration, and Hall mobility along and perpendicular to the loading direction were determined and characterized. The SPS sintered bulk disks using nanostructured powder contain high nanoporosity and weak (001) texture along the loading axis, in contrast to those obtained with coarse powder. The influence of nanoporosity and texture on the thermoelectric and transport properties in the n-type Bi2Te3 alloys is discussed in light of the microstructural characteristics at different length scales.
Effect of process variables on the single-feed semibatch precipitation of barium sulphate

An experimental study on the single-feed semibatch precipitation of barium sulphate was conducted. The effect on the crystal size distribution of a number of process variables including the volume ratio of reacting solutions, mean initial reactant concentration, stoichiometric ratio of reactants, impeller speed and feed location was investigated. Additional experiments were carried out to assess the effect of backmixing in the feed pipe and mesomixing near the feeding point on the crystallization process. The experimental results can be interpreted on the basis of the mixing scales existing in the precipitation tank and their impact on the relative magnitude of the rates of nucleation (heterogeneous or homogeneous) and crystal growth.
Determinants of fundraising efficiency of nonprofit organizations: evidence from US public charitable organizations

Using a translog stochastic production frontier and maximum likelihood estimation method, we estimate fundraising efficiency and examine the determinants of fundraising efficiency in public charitable organizations in the United States. Our study shows that organizational size has a positive impact on fundraising efficiency and government grants have a negative impact on fundraising efficiency. We also show that charities that allocate more resources on fundraising related labor, as compared with fundraising-related materials and equipments, are more efficient in fundraising. These findings provide important managerial implications for public charities. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multivariable State-Space Identification in the Delta and Shift Operators: Algorithms and Experimental Results

This paper develops algorithms for multivariable state-space identification which can be used to estimate models in any operator of interest i.e., delta-rule, shift, Laplace s, etc. The approach is based on the State-Space from Frequency Data (SSFD) algorithm which was designed specifically to eliminate distortions from windowing effects. An important aspect of the approach is the use of overparametrization. A theoretical result is proved which demonstrates that the extra dynamics introduced from overparametrizing in the shift operator are stable, while the extra dynamics introduced from overparametrizing in the Laplace s and delta operators are generically unstable. This leads to certain modifications of the Laplace and delta operators to ensure stability under overparametrization. The usefulness of the identification algorithm is demonstrated on data taken from a 4-input/3-output flexible structure experiment, resulting in an identified state-space model with 100 states accurate over a 100 Hertz bandwidth.
Intracranial arteriovenous malformation: contralateral steal phenomena.

Sixty-two patients with radiographically proven intracranial arteriovenous malformations underwent preoperative regional cerebral blood flow measurement with 133Xe single-photon emission computed tomography. Contralateral regions of hypoperfusion were detected in all cases. Steal severity was assessed according to the contralateral steal index [ISteal(c)]. ISteal(c) was 0.8 (mild) in 22 (35%). ISteal(c) was more frequently severe or mild in females and more often intermediate in males (p < 0.05). Hyperemic complications were encountered more frequently in patients with intermediate ISteal(c) (p = 0.086). An unfavorable outcome was associated with less severe contralateral steal (p = 0.12). A detailed clinical, radiographic, and hemodynamic profile may help to preoperatively identify patients at high risk for a poor surgical outcome.
Study of Radical Merostabilization by Electrospray FTICR/MS

The threshold fragmentation energies (Eo) of three different 4-(1‘-substituted-2‘-phenethyl)-1-methylpyridinium salts containing a neutral, an electron-donor, or an electron-acceptor group as α-substituent, respectively, were measured by Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (FTICR/MS) collisionally activated dissociation (CAD). N-Methyl-4-(1-ethoxy-2-phenylethyl)pyridinium iodide (10), containing both electron-donor and electron-acceptor substituent groups, has a significantly lower Eo than the analogs containing a benzyl (6) or benzoyl (7) substituent. This was ascribed to merostabilization of the corresponding radical 19, and this conclusion was further supported by theoretical calculations.
Some elements of continental subduction along the Himalayan front

Abstract Detachment tectonics, in which the subducting basement is not internally affected by thrusting; and a steady state system, in which the pattern of deformation and topography are invariant, uplift is balanced by erosion and the material can experience subsequent “phases” of deformation by migrating through the system, are proposed to be the fundamental mechanisms of convergence at the Himalayan arc. Both surface and subsurface data are more consistent with these concepts than with more familiar concepts widely used in current models: intracrustal thrusting and evolutionary tectonics, where superimposed phases of deformation are interpreted as distinct phases. The belt of intermediate-magnitude thrust-earthquakes, the topographic front at the High Himalaya and the Main Central Thrust (MCT) are associated with the same fundamental element, the basement thrust front (BTF), which traces a small circle in the central portion of the Himalayan arc. Fault plane solutions indicate thrusting in the radial direction of this arc. This radial convergence at the BTF implies that Tibet is extending laterally at a rate similar to the rate of convergence across the BTF. This extension cannot be unidirectional and must be parallel to the BTF, if the circular shape of the BTF is invariant.
Half-saturation constants for nitrate reductase and nitrate translocation in marine phytoplankton

Abstract Half-saturation constants for the NO 3 − dependence of nitrate reductase in natural assemblages of marine phytoplankton ranged from 42 to 201 μM and averaged 82 μM. These values are too large to lend credence to a passive diffusion mechanism of NO 3 − translocation across the plasmalemma. On the contrary, they point to the necessity of a transport mechanism.
Space-Time Domain Expansion Approach to VLSI and Its Application to Hierarchical Scene Matching

VLSI technology has recently received increasing attention due to its high performance and high reliability. Designing a VLSI structure systematically for a given task becomes a very important problem to many computer engineers. In this paper, we present a method to transform a recursive computation task into a VLSI structure systematically. The main advantages of this approach are its simplicity and completeness. Several examples, such as vector inner product, matrix multiplication, convolution, comparison operations in relational database and fast Fourier transformation (FFT), are given to demonstrate the transformation procedure. Finally, we apply the proposed method to hierarchical scene matching. Scene matching refers to the process of locating or matching a region of an image with a corresponding region of another view of the same image taken from a different viewing angle or at a different time. We first present a constant threshold estimation for hierarchical scene matching. The VLSI implementation of the hierarchical scene matching is then described in detail.
Effects of relativity on the time-resolved tunneling of electron wave packets

The phenomenon of tunneling in which a quantummechanical particle can penetrate a repulsive barrier with a height that exceeds the total energy of the particle is counterintuitive. Any explanation or intuition for this process based on classical mechanics fails. At the same time, this effect is extremely important and has been studied widely. The Josephson effect in high-speed semiconductors @1#, b decay in nuclear physics, and instantons in high-energy physics are just a few examples. In the early 1930s it was already recognized that there was no appreciable temporal delay in the transmission of wave packets through barriers @2#. Wigner discussed the possibility that a particle can effectively travel faster than the speed of light when passing through the barrier. Chiao and co-workers have more recently addressed the realization of superluminal speeds in a more systematic way. They used a periodic potential barrier to demonstrate experimentally that superluminal velocities can indeed be obtained, and showed that this result does not violate causality. In this article we intend to address the following questions: Can one trust the predictions of a nonrelativistic theory at all if superluminal effects are being investigated? How accurate are these predictions? Does the relativistic quantum theory predict superluminal speeds? Does a fully relativistic treatment of tunneling increase or reduce the tunneling probability? Does the existence of superluminal velocities imply the violation of Einstein’s causality when they are computed .
Atmospheric temperature profiles from lidar measurements of rotational Raman and elastic scattering

Criteria for optimizing system parameters in the lidar measurement of atmospheric temperature profiles from simultaneous Raman and elastic returns by use of a three-channel system are discussed and summarized. It is shown that the filter constraints of earlier techniques are removed thereby eliminating the need for the high rejection capability of spectrometers in this type of measurement. Also, SNR is improved, and a greater freedom in the choice of optimum Raman filters is demonstrated.