cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal loading studies using the Yucca Mountain unsaturated zone model

A systematic modeling study of the effect of thermal loading on moisture, gas, and heat flow in the unsaturated zone of Yucca Mountain has been carried out. The study is based on a two-dimensional (2-D) north–south vertical cross-section, using both the effective continuum and the dual-permeability modeling approaches. A study was also conducted on a three-dimensional (3-D) model using the effective continuum approach. The 2-D model conducted in 1996 uses a average uniform infiltration rate of 4.4 mm/year and a thermal load of 83 kW/acre. The 3-D model uses an spatially varying infiltration rate and a revised average thermal load of 87.6 kW/acre. For the rock properties used in the Topopah Springs (TSw) hydrogeological unit, heat pipe conditions develop above and below the repository in 10–100 years in both models. The average temperature of the boiling zone is about 96°C. This boiling zone is confined to the TSw hydrogeological unit and lasts about 1000 years. At the top of the CHn (vitric/zeolitic interface), predicted maximum temperature is about 70–75°C after about 2000 years. The model predicts a temperature increase of approximately 30°C at the water table. The results show that thermal loading at the repository also results in significant changes in the moisture distributions at the repository horizon and the zone directly above and below it. A large increase in liquid and gas flux, several orders of magnitude above ambient conditions, is predicted near the repository. This study indicates the ECM and dual-k modeling approaches provide similar simulation results, in terms of temperature and moisture flow and distribution. The only difference is that at early times, the ECM model predicts more extensive boiling conditions. Localized dry-out is predicted in areas with low infiltration flux within the central part of the repository. However, because coarse grids were used, average saturation in the matrix blocks representing the repository indicates will remain high even when the regions near repository are completely dry. Analysis of the flux pattern at the top and bottom boundaries of the repository shows that the liquid always flows into the repository for most the thermal loading period (up to 10,000 years).
Hyaluronan-based polymers in the treatment of osteochondral defects.

Articular cartilage in adults has limited ability for self-repair. Some methods devised to augment the natural healing response stimulate some regeneration, but the repair is often incomplete and lacks durability. Hyaluronan-based polymers were tested for their ability to enhance the natural healing response. It is hypothesized that hyaluronan-based polymers recreate an embryonic-like milieu where host progenitor cells can regenerate the damaged articular surface and underlying bone. Osteochondral defects were made on the femoral condyles of 4-month-old rabbits and were left empty or filled with hyaluronan-based polymers. The polymers tested were ACP sponge, made of crosslinked hyaluronan, and HYAFF-11 sponge, made of benzylated hyaluronan. The rabbits were killed 4 and 12 weeks after surgery, and the condyles were processed for histology. All 12-week defects were scored with a 29-point scale, and the scores were compared with a Kruskall-Wallis analysis of variance on ranks. Untreated defects filled with bone tissue up to or beyond the tidemark, and the noncalcified surface layer varied from fibrous to hyaline-like tissue. Four weeks after surgery, defects treated with ACP exhibited bone filling to the level of the tidemark and the surface layer was composed of hyaline-like cartilage well integrated with the adjacent cartilage. At 12 weeks, the specimens had bone beyond the tidemark that was covered with a thin layer of hyaline cartilage. Four weeks after surgery, defects treated with HYAFF-11 contained a rim of chondrogenic cells at the interface of the implant and the host tissue. In general, the 12-week defects exhibited good bone fill and the surface was mainly hyaline cartilage. Treated defects received significantly higher scores than untreated defects (p < 0.05), and ACP-treated defects scored significantly higher than HYAFF-11-treated defects (p < 0.05). The introduction of these hyaluronan-based polymers into defects provides an appropriate scaffolding and favorable microen-vironment for the reparative process. Further work is required to fully assess the long-term outcome of defects treated with these polymers.
Synergistic Effects of Chymotrypsin and Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin on Rat Luteal Adenylate Cyclase

The effects of chymotrypsin on rat luteal adenylate cyclase have been investigated. Maximal stimulation occurred at a concentration of 10 μg/ml. This dose of chymotrypsin stimulated basal, GTP-, 5′-(β,γ -imido)triphosphate-, and NaFstimulated adenylate cyclase activity 2- to 3-fold. hCG-stimulated activities were stimulated 5- to 6-fold by the proteinase and showed a synergistic effect. The proteinase did not alter the hCG response curve, and the effect could not be mimicked by trypsin. Proteolytic activity was required, since chymotrypsinogen and inactivated chymotrypsin were not effective. The presence of chymotrypsin could not restore the hormonal sensitivity of a proteinase inhibitor-inactivated system. The results suggest that chymotrypsin stimulated rat luteal adenylate cyclase activity by two or more mechanisms: 1) a direct action on the catalytic subunit or a closely associated protein, and 2) an action somewhere in the pathway of hormonal stimulation.
Effect of Gene Dosage at High Amylose Loci on the Properties of the Amylopectin Fractions of the Starches

The effect of gene dosage at the amylose-extender (ae) locus of maize and the rigosus-a (ra) locus of peas on the amylopectin fraction of endosperm and cotyledon starch were examined. Amylopectin fractions were isolated by gel filtration, butanol complexing and a combination of the two methods. In general, increasing doses of the recessive allele at either locus resulted in amylopectin fractions with iodine spectra with absorption maxima at higher wavelengths and greater absorptivity. Starches from endosperm of differing ae dosage but homozygous waxy were found to contain no amylose by gel filtration. By debranching with pullulanase, these starches were shown to have increasing average chain length with increasing ae dosage. Additional data suggested that increasing dosage at the ae locus (regardless of the genotype at the waxy locus) or the ra locus resulted in amylopectin with increasing linearity. In addition, short chained amylose (approximately 100 glucose units) was observed in all ae genotypes in a homozygous Waxy background and all ra genotypes. Wirkung der Gendosis am Amylose-Genort auf die Eigenschaften der Amylopektinfraktionen der Starken. Die Wirkung der Gendosis am Amylosenextender (ae)-Genort in Mais und am Rigosus-a (ra-Genort in der Erbse auf die Amylopektinfraktion der Endosperm-und der Keimblattstarke wurde untersucht. Allgemein wurden bei steigender Dosis des rezessiven Allels sowohl am ae- als auch am ra-Genort Amylopektinfraktionen nachgewiesen, deren Iodspektrum ein Absorptionsmaximum von groserer Wellenlange und starkerer Absorptionskraft hatte. In wachsigen Endospermstarken mit unterschiedlicher ae-Dosierung konnte keine Amylose nachgewiesen werden. Bei Entzweigung mit Pullulanase nahm jedoch bei steigender ae-Dosierung die durchschnittliche Kettenlange zu. Eine steigende Dosis am ae-Genort und am ra-Genort fuhrt zur Bildung von Amylopektin mit groserer Linearitat (Kettenlange). Weiterhin konnte in allen ae-Genotypen innerhalb eines homozygoten Waxy-Hintergrundes, und in allen ra-Genotypen kurzkettige Amylose (etwa 100 Glucoseeinheiten) beobachtet werden.
Comparison of pure tone thresholds obtained via automated audiometry and standard pure tone audiometry

It is likely that the role of automated audiometry will expand in both clinical and research settings in the next few years. A novel method for measuring pure tone thresholds using an automated threshold measurement method is reported here. The Automated Audiometry for the NIH Toolbox (AANT) test was developed for use in the NIH Toolbox multi-disciplinary evaluation battery which contains over 20 tests of sensory function and cognition. Development goals included low system cost, high accuracy, test administration time under 10 minutes, and automated calibration and measurement procedures suitable for use by evaluators without specialized training. Here we report the results of a validation study in which pure tone thresholds obtained using the AANT algorithm and hardware are compared to pure tone thresholds measured using the gold standard clinical method, standard audiometric hardware, and experienced examiners. Air-conduction thresholds will be reported for test frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 6000, and 8000 Hz using both methods. Additional measures for each subject include otoscopy, screening tympanometry, and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults or Elderly. Data will be reported for 100 subjects between the ages of 4 and 85 years in age ranges.
RETINOPATHY AFTER TILORONE HYDROCHLORIDE

Two patients, a 34-year-old woman and a 50-year-old woman, received tilorone HCl, an experimental antitumor drug. After taking the drug orally (total dose, 152 g), the first patient developed corneal subepithelial infiltrates and toxic retinopathy characterized by fine pigment mottling of the peripheral fundus and macula with mild arteriolar narrowing. Although visual acuity was 6/6 (20/20) throughout treatment, Goldmann perimetry showed marked peripheral constriction of the visual fields and results of an electroretinogram and an electro-oculogram were abnormal. After taking the drug orally (total dose, 189 g), the second patient developed corneal subepithelial infiltrates, severe bilateral arteriolar narrowing, and mild pigment mottling of the macula. ERG and EOG were moderately attenuated. Visual fields by Goldman perimetry were within normal limits. Tilorone HCl, like chloroquine, may be an antioxidant that affects the free radical scavenging mechanism of the retinal pigment epithelium. Extensive testing should be done on all patients taking tilorone HCl in order to detect the initial manifestations of retinopathy.
How milk does the world good: vernacular sustainability and alternative food systems in post-socialist Europe

Scholarly debates on sustainable consumption have generally overlooked alternative agro-food networks in the economies outside of Western Europe and North America. Building on practice-based theories, this article focuses on informal raw milk markets in post-socialist Lithuania to examine how such alternative systems emerge and operate in the changing political, social, and economic contexts. It makes two contributions to the scholarship on sustainable consumption. In considering semi-subsistence practices and poverty-driven consumption, this article argues for a richer, more critical, and inclusive theory of sustainability that takes into consideration vernacular forms of exchange and approaches poor consumers as subjects of global history. Second, it revisits practice theories and infrastructures of consumption approaches to consider ruptures, discontinuities, and historical change in infrastructures as a way to account for inequalities and experiences of marginalization.
Notes on Couepia and Hirtella (Chrysobalanaceae)

Three new species of Chrysobalanaceae from South America are described:Couepia bernardii, Hirtella barnebyi andH. confertiflora. TheCouepia guianensis complex is discussed, redefined and divided into three subspecies that include material previously recognized as separate species. Observations are also made on recent collections of three poorly known species ofHirtella, H. araguariensis,H. dorvalii andH. leonotis.
Halide analysis in soils with a chloride titrator and a bromide electrode

Abstract An araperometric titration method for Cl was suitable for reproducible analysis of equimolar Cl. Br and I in all possible combinations in the range 0.125 to 2.50 millimolar (mM). A solid state Br specific ion electrode exhibited a reproducible Nernstian response to Br over the range 0.005 to 1 mM, with minimal Cl interference. Bromide and Cl added to a lysimeter and a field were quantitatively recovered by estimation of (Cl + Br) amperometrically and Br potentiometrically.
Implementation/acceleration of vectorized acoustic source localization algorithms on the CELL multi-core processor

This paper describes the optimized design and implementation of sonar signal processing algorithms (matched filter) on the CELL multi-core processor. The algorithm is modified to achieve maximum parallelism to enhance time performance on the multi-core platform. In this proof-of-concept effort, we show a factor of 10 speedup by parallelizing the matched filter code on 16 separate computing nodes on the CELL processor for broadband matched filter implementation. This demonstration of considerably faster signal processing capability should be of substantial interest to the signal processing community in general, and the oceanic engineering community in particular.
Remineralization of particulate authigenic trace metals in the middle Atlantic Bight: Implications for proxies of export production

Abstract Samples collected by time-series sediment traps deployed in the Middle Atlantic Bight were studied to better understand the formation, and preservation, of particulate authigenic forms of trace metals (Cu, Ni, Ba) That hold potential to serve as proxies in the sedimentary record of past changes in the flux of biogenic detritus sinking from the surface ocean into the deep sea (export production). Particulate biogenic and authigenic phases are extremely labile, as evidenced by the observation that as much as 70% of the particulate fluxes of organic carbon and of certain metals (Cu, Ni, and Mn), and up to 25% of the particulate fluxes of authigenic Ba and of opal collected by sediment traps are released rapidly into solution during the time period between particle collection and trap retrieval. Further remineralization on the seabed reduces concentrations of authigenic Cu and Ni in surface sediments below the limit of detection. Approximately 80% of authigenic Ba is remineralized during early diagenesis on the seabed, much more than is expected for conditions of high sediment mass accumulation rate that exist in the study area. Extensive remineralization during early diagenesis, combined with large corrections required to remove the aluminosilicate contribution to the concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Ba in sediments, preclude the successful use of down-core profiles of these trace metals to reconstruct past changes in export production of the Middle Atlantic Bight. Similar problems are likely to plague paleoproductivity reconstructions in other ocean-margin regions, or wherever high fluxes of aluminosilicate phases occur.
Corrosion behaviour of four handguns in aqueous environments: Corrosion product characterization and effects on estimating the time since deposition

When a firearm has been disposed of in a body of water and becomes corroded, its appearance is altered and determining a time-since-immersion may be of import to the investigation. Therefore, in this study, the corrosion and mass loss of four handgun slides over a period of 180days were examined. Solid-state characterization of the metals and their corrosion products via SEM/EDX and powder X-ray Diffraction (pXRD) was performed. The pXRDs were analyzed against the NIST Powder Diffraction Database to determine the crystalline phases. Filings from the SS416 standard, Llama and Ruger handgun slide predominantly consisted of iron alloys. After 180-days in solution, pXRD indicated that the adherent corrosion products consisted of 1) γ-FeOOH and 2) iron oxide (Fe3O4 or Fe2O3). Additionally, pXRD analysis indicated that the adherent corrosion products of the SS416 standard also consisted of CrO3. Metal filings from the Raven and Jennings handgun slides were a mixture of iron-nickel-zinc and EDX and pXRD analyses of the corrosion products, when submersed in deionized water, indicated that the products consisted of: 1) γ-FeOOH, 2) iron oxide (Fe3O4 or Fe2O3), and 3) ZnFe2O4 or ZnO; where the Jennings adherent rust contained ZnFe2O4 and the Raven adherent rust contained ZnO. Further, pXRD of the corrosion products from these alloys, when submersed in 25 PSU (Practical Salinity Unit) solution, indicated that the products consisted of: 1) ZnO, 2) Zn(OH)2, 3) α-Ni(OH)2, and 4) NaCl. The data thus indicated that both metal composition and the presence of chloride ions had significant impacts on rates and products of corrosion and suggest that the presence of Cl(-) changes not only the rate of corrosion, but also the corroding species itself. While mechanisms and rates of the chloride driven corrosion processes offer explanations as to the different oxides and hydroxides observed between immersion conditions, they do not offer an explanation for the differences observed between handguns. Therefore, utilizing a general approach where surface area coverage of corrosion products is the sole consideration is not sufficient to determine time-since-immersion. Attempts to determine a time-since-immersion would require a priori knowledge of the mechanism of corrosion for a given metal mixture within a specified environment. The results described herein give indications as to the possible corrosion mechanism driving the process in high and low Cl(-) environments and show the necessity of including the metal composition, rust composition and ion concentration in any models that attempt to elucidate the time-since-immersion of handguns for forensic applications.
Comparison of low- and high-side two-tone suppression in inner hair cell and organ of Corti responses.

Abstract Two-tone interactions were measured from inner hair cells and from the organ of Corti fluid space in the third turn of the guinea pig cochlea. At relatively low stimulus levels, a low-side suppressor caused frequency response functions to become broader. Phase changes exhibited a lag/lead transition around the characteristic frequency in harmony with the change in magnitude. These patterns are similar to those previously documented for a high-side suppressor (Cheatham and Dallos 1989) and suggest that suppression is not simply an attenuation phenomenon since level reductions for single-tone inputs produce response patterns which are mirror images of those obtained for the two-tone conditions. In contrast to the low-level results, data measured at moderately high stimulus levels indicate that the magnitude changes produced by both low- and high-side suppressors are qualitatively similar to changes generated by reducing the input sound level. In other words, ac frequency response functions become narrower, partially reversing the broadening of these functions which occurs as sound level increases. Companion phase measures, however, demonstrate that lowand high-side suppressors, in spite of producing similar changes in filter shape, do not produce similar changes in response phase. In fact, neither of the two-tone conditions produce response patterns similar to the one associated with reducing the input sound level.
The role of image-guidance technology in endoscopic orbital surgery

Accurate identification of intranasal bony landmarks, including those that are intimately related to key intraorbital structures, is essential in avoiding complications during endoscopic orbital surgery. Image-guidance systems provide real-time intraoperative localization by calculating the position of an instrument tip in relation to the patient and displaying its exact location on a multiplanar computed tomography scan. Although not essential, this technology can aid in the identification of key landmarks and offers the potential for fewer complications and improved surgical outcomes.
Evaluation of security features in new design of U.S. currency

The first new design of U.S. currency in almost 70 years was introduced in March 1996 with the Series 1996 $100 note. The new design, which will be carried through to lower denominations, incorporates new overt features for use by the public. With introduction of the new $50 note in late 1997 and production of the $20 note in 1998, evaluation of the new features is in order. Since the $100 note has now been in circulation for well over a year, sufficient data is available to carry out a meaningful analysis. This report summarizes that analysis. For the analysis, two approaches are taken. The first is to characterize and quantify the gamut of counterfeits that have been generated, from copiers and printers to traditional lithographic versions. Overall quality as well as effectiveness of individual features will be rated. Results from the new design will be compared with those from the older designs. The other involves analysis of macroscopic counterfeiting trends as a function of year and series, to probe the impact of changes in the currency, both subtle and obvious. Understanding these trends can aid in the development of effective strategies to minimize counterfeiting over the long run.
Gaseous mercury from curing concretes that contain fly ash : Laboratory measurements

Total gaseous mercury in headspace air was measured for enclosed concretes dry curing at 40 degrees C for intervals of 2, 28, and 56 days. Release of mercury was confirmed for ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPC) and three concretes in which class F fly ash substituted for a fraction of the cement: (a) 33% fly ash (FA33), (b) 55% fly ash (FA55), and (c) 33% fly ash plus 0.5% mercury-loaded powdered activated carbon (HgPAC). Mean rates of mercury release (0.10-0.43 ng/day per kg of concrete) over the standard first 28 days of curing followed the order OPC < FA33 approximately FA55 < HgPAC. The mercury flux from exposed surfaces of these concretes ranged from 1.9 +/- 0.5 to 8.1 +/-2.0 ng/m(2)/h, values similar to the average flux for multiple natural substrates in Nevada, 4.2 +/- 1.4 ng/m(2)/h, recently published by others. Air sampling extending for 28 days beyond the initial 28-day maturation for OPC, FA55, and HgPAC suggested that the average Hg release rate by OPC is constant over 56 days and that mercury release rates for FA55 and HgPAC may ultimately diminish to levels exhibited by OPC concrete. The release of mercury from all samples was less than 0.1% of total mercury content over the initial curing period, implying that nearly all of the mercury was retained in the concrete.
CGS 15943, a nonxanthine adenosine receptor antagonist: effects on locomotor activity of nontolerant and caffeine-tolerant rats.

Abstract CGS 15943 (0.1–10 mg/kg, IP) dose-dependently increased the locomotor activity of rats to the same extent as caffeine (1.0–100 mg/kg, IP) did and was approximately 26 times more potent than caffeine. N-Ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (0.001–0.01 mg/kg, SC), an analog of adenosine, dose-dependently decreased locomotor activity; this effect was antagonized surmountably by concurrent administration of CGS 15943. The apparent pA2 value for this interaction, 6.57, was approximately 1.5 log-units (28-fold) higher than the pA2 for caffeine-NECA reported previously. Rats consuming 70 mg/kg/day of caffeine via their drinking water were tolerant to the stimulation of locomotor activity induced by both caffeine and CGS 15943. These results suggest that caffeine and CGS 15943 increase locomotor activity by a common mechanism of action possibly involving adenosine receptors or a cellular element conformationally similar to adenosine receptors.
Hydrogen incorporation during coal liquefaction

Abstract Coal hydrogenation reactions have been investigated using a deuterium tracer method which makes it possible to determine which structural positions in the coal react with hydrogen gas or donor solvent during liquefaction. 2H2 and/or tetralin-d12 were reacted with a Pittsburgh Seam coal at 13.8 to 22.1 MPa and 360 to 425 °C for 0.25 to 1.0 h. Hydrogenation and exchange indices were formulated to indicate the relative contribution of each type of reaction to the total H incorporation. In the coal-deuterium gas system, deuterium incorporation in the solvent-separated products increases in the order oil
Hartree-fock ground state of the three-dimensional electron gas

In 1962, Overhauser showed that within Hartree-Fock (HF) the electron gas is unstable to a spin-density wave state. Determining the true HF ground state has remained a challenge. Using numerical calculations for finite systems and analytic techniques, we study the unrestricted HF ground state of the three-dimensional electron gas. At high density, we find broken spin symmetry states with a nearly constant charge density. Unlike previously discussed spin wave states, the observed wave vector of the spin-density wave is smaller than 2k(F). The broken-symmetry state originates from pairing instabilities at the Fermi surface, a model for which is proposed.
Magnetic resonance angiography: current status and future directions

With recent improvement in hardware and software techniques, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) has undergone significant changes in technique and approach. The advent of 3.0 T magnets has allowed reduction in exogenous contrast dose without compromising overall image quality. The use of novel intravascular contrast agents substantially increases the image windows and decreases contrast dose. Additionally, the lower risk and cost in non-contrast enhanced (NCE) MRA has sparked renewed interest in these methods. This article discusses the current state of both contrast-enhanced (CE) and NCE-MRA. New CE-MRA methods take advantage of dose reduction at 3.0 T, novel contrast agents, and parallel imaging methods. The risks of gadolinium-based contrast media, and the NCE-MRA methods of time-of-flight, steady-state free precession, and phase contrast are discussed.
Phosphoryl transfer from phenyl and 4-nitrophenyl phosphates in aprotic and protic solvents : Amine catalysis and formation of oxyphosphorane and metaphosphate intermediates

Abstract The behavior of 4-nitrophenyl dihydrogen phosphate, ArOPO3H2, and of its tetra-n-butylammonium and tetramethylammonium salts, ArOPO3H−R4N+, ArOPO32−2(R4N+), was studied in aprotic solvents, in the absence and in the presence of increasing amounts of alcohols or water. The reactions were investigated in the absence of amines, and in the presence of hindered and unhindered amines, diisopropylethylamine and quinuclidine. The course of the reactions was followed at 35° or at 70° by 31P and 1H NMR spectrometry. Values for the approximate half-times of the reactions were estimated (± 25 %) from the times at which reactant signal intensity becomes equal to product signal intensity. The mononitrophenyl ester transfers its phosphoryl group to alcohols and water from the diprotonated acid by the addition-elimination mechanism via oxyphosphorane intermediates, and from the monoanion and dianion by the elimination-addition mechanism via the monomeric metaphosphate intermediate, PO3−. Formation of PO3− is faster from dianion than from monoanion in acetonitrile and in alcohol solutions. Conversely, PO3− is generated at a faster rate from monoanion than from dianion in aqueous solution. This effect results from a decrease in the rate of formation of PO3− in the solvent series: acetonitrile > alcohols > water. The rate depression as a function of the medium is greater for the dianion than for the monoanion, and is attributed to greater solvation of the more polar phosphate ground state than of the less polar transition state in the more polar protic solvents. Unhindered amines add to 4-nitrophenyl phosphate monoanion, but not to the dianion. The oxyphosphorane intermediate thus formed collapses to aroxide ion and a protonated dipolar phosphoramide which is rapidly deprotonated by the relatively basic 4-nitrophenoxide: ArOPO3H− + CH(CH2CH2)3N(acetonitrile ⇌ CH(CH2CH2)3N+P(O)(OH)O− + ArO−⇌ CH(CH2 CH2)3N+PO32−+ ArOH → CH(CH2CH2)3N + PO3−. The postulated formation of PO3− by this route explains why the addition of quinuclidine to an acetonitrile solution containing the monoanion salt, ArOPO3H−R4N+, and t−BuOH produces t-butyl phosphate at a faster rate than the addition of diisopropylethylamine to the same solution. 2,4-Dinitrophenyl phosphate, which was previously studied by the same techniques, reacts via oxyphosphorane intermediates from the diprotonated and the monoanion forms, and via monomeric metaphosphate, from the dianion form.
Toxicity of a novel therapeutic agent targeting mitochondrial complex I

R118 is an experimental compound that completed preclinical development as a potential medical therapy for the exercise limitation in peripheral artery disease. Animal studies established that R118 provided partial and reversible mitochondrial complex I inhibition with consequent increases in adenosine monophosphate (AMP) kinase activation in liver and skeletal muscle. After demonstration of improved exercise performance in a mouse model and safety in rodent and primate models, a phase I trial was performed in 24 subjects randomized to R118 vs. placebo (5:1) in escalating doses. Plasma lactic acid levels were transiently elevated in 20% of subjects at the lowest dose and in 100% of subjects using a different formulation at the highest dose, which was associated with hospitalization in all subjects and severe metabolic acidosis requiring prolonged intubation in two subjects. Thus, inhibition of mitochondrial complex I with R118 resulted in severe lactic acidosis, representing unacceptable toxicity from this mechanism of action.
High-Skilled Migrants: S&E Workers in the United States

Universities and employers want easier access to foreign science and engineering (S&E) students and workers. Most U.S. residents with degrees in S&E fields are U.S.-born citizens, and there are far more U.S. citizens with S&E degrees, about 15 million, than are employed in S&E occupations, about 5 million. Foreign students and workers in S&E occupations are concentrated in computer-related jobs, and their presence raises trade-offs for U.S. students and workers. For example, making it easier for U.S. employers to hire foreign S&E workers allows employers to specify precisely the qualities desired to fill a particular job quickly while limiting options for U.S. workers who could fill that job with some retraining. This article reviews the trade-offs between the competing goods raised by foreign S&E students and workers and the efforts of U.S. government agencies to reconcile them.
Timing analysis for full-custom circuits using symbolic DC formulations

Successful analysis of high-speed integrated circuits requires accurate delay computation. A number of delay models have been developed; however, none can claim to be truly robust in the face of large channel-connected regions (CCRs) with input "exclusivity" constraints. A good circuit-level delay model should: 1) consider input exclusivity constraints; 2) handle a wide range of circuit structures; and 3) have a robust underlying framework that can be applied independent of the actual device model. We present a symbolic timing analysis tool that aims to address these three goals. It uses algebraic decision diagrams (ADDs) to estimate delay within a CCR as a function of its inputs while easily handling Boolean input constraints. It starts with a simple linear resistor model for transistors and from there apply various heuristics to improve the delay estimation without altering the symbolic algorithms. It analyzes delay with simple series-parallel reduction when possible and use symbolic matrix techniques to handle more complex circuit structures. The effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated on circuits from industry used in the Alpha 21264 and 21364 instead of the usual International Symposium on Circuits and Systems (ISCAS) or Microelectronics Center of North Carolina (MCNC) benchmarks. Our delay estimates are within 10% of simulation program with integrated circuits emphasis (SPICE) for over 90% of the circuits we simulated. This difference can translate into significant savings in manpower by avoiding the need to verify many unrealizable worst case conditions with other, more costly, simulation techniques
Science Signaling Podcast: 03 March 2009

This is a conversation with Joseph Schlessinger, senior author of a Research Article published in the 17 February issue of Science Signaling . He discusses his group9s recent characterization of the kinetics of fibroblast growth factor receptor autophosphorylation.
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Impaired Dopaminergic Function during Aging

One important cause of impaired motor function during aging is deterioration of the dopamine system. Such motor deficits in experimental animals can be closely related to loss of striatal dopamine receptors, and similar observations have now been made in humans. Two mechanisms account for the age-related decrease in striatal dopamine receptor levels: loss of receptor-containing neurons and reduced rates of receptor synthesis. The striatal neurons affected by aging appear to reside in a kainic-acid-sensitive population. Attempts to mimic those death mechanisms which occur in vivo using cultured neurons suggest that large D2-dopamine-receptor-containing cells may be the most vulnerable. Whether dopamine itself, the endogenous neurotransmitter for the cells, may ultimately be toxic to these neurons remains to be determined. The levels of D2-receptor mRNA in the surviving neurons is reduced during aging. This decrement is apparently due to a decreased rate of mRNA biosynthesis. Future experiments must therefore focus on the regulatory elements of this gene in order to determine why its transcription is selectively affected by aging. Finally, various interventions have been shown to delay or reverse the age changes characteristic of the dopaminergic system. Both dopamine receptors and motor function have been manipulated by diet and exercise as well as 6-OH-dopamine lesions and estrogen and prolactin administration. The possibility that such treatments might eventually be utilized therapeutically has become increasingly real as our knowledge of the affected cellular and molecular processes continues to expand.
Analyzing the analysis: a response to Wollert (2000).

In a thoughtful critique in the article preceding this one, many arguments are presented about the veracity of assumptions and conclusions I made in my 1998 publication concerning the sexual recidivism base rates for certain incarcerated sex offenders. This article responds to some of the issues raised. First, the ultimate conclusion of the preceding critique is assessed. Even when assuming the accuracy of all points made in the preceding article, an analysis described herein still demonstrates that the current U.S.A. civil commitment referral procedures “under-predict” sexual recidivism rates. Second, an inference made in the preceding critique, read as a possible implication from my article, is strongly contested. Finally, the remaining discussion responds to various other concerns that were raised. While scientific exploration of issues is typically expected to lead to occasional professional differences, a significant lack of agreement with the preceding critique is found. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improvements in snow‐surveying apparatus

G. D. Clyde described the Utah improvements on the Mount Rose snow-sampler in which duralumin was used for the tubing, a cheaper bit was constructed, and also a tubular scale. These improvements were made, it was explained, for lightness, cheapness, and facility in packing. J. E. Church added that the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station was now beginning an experiment with the aluminum tubing. The bit used by Utah in the samplers drives easily, but does not come out of the snow as easily as the one now used in the Mount Rose design, for it has less cutting power when being drawn out of hard substances.
Definitive radiotherapy with interstitial implant boost for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue base

Background. The purpose of this study was to examine the long-term outcome of a cohort of patients with unresected base of tongue carcinoma who received inter- stitial brachytherapy after comprehensive external beam radia- tion therapy. Methods. Between 1983 and 2000, 122 patients with primary or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx or oral cavity received interstitial brachytherapy as part of their overall management. Forty patients had primary, unresected carcinoma of the base of tongue and are the subjects of this analysis. The median age was 54 years. Fifty-four percent had T3 or T4 disease, and 70% had clinical or radiographic lymphadenop- athy. Twenty-four (60%) received two to three cycles of neo- adjuvant chemotherapy. The oropharynx, bilateral neck, and supraclavicular fossae were comprehensively irradiated, and the tongue base received a median external beam dose of 61.2 Gy (50-72 Gy). The primary site was then boosted with an interstitial 192 Iridium implant by use of a gold-button single-strand tech- nique and three-dimensional treatment planning. The dose rate was prescribed at 0.4 to 0.5 Gy/hr. The median implant dose was 17.4 Gy (9.6-24 Gy) and adjusted to reach a total dose to the primary tumor of 80 Gy. N2 to 3 disease was managed by a planned neck dissection performed at the time of the implant. Results. The median follow-up for all patients was 56 months, and the overall survival rates were 62% at 5 years and 27% at 10 years. The actuarial primary site control was 78% at 5 years and 70% at 10 years. The overall survival and primary site control were independent of T classification, N status, or overall stage. Systemic therapy was associated with an improvement in over- all survival (p = .04) and a trend toward increased primary site control with greater clinical response. There were seven docu- mented late effects, the most frequent being grade 3 osteone- crosis (n = 2), grade 2 swallowing dysfunction (n = 2), trismus
The mouse through the looking glass: a new door into the pathophysiology of pulmonary hypertension.

See related article, pages 1109–1114 Idiopathic pulmonary artery hypertension (IPH) is a rare illness with a poor prognosis. Whereas chronic intravenous prostacyclin relieves some of the symptoms of progressive dyspnea and prolongs survival, most patients ultimately require a lung transplant.1 Newer therapies such as nonintravenously administered prostacyclin derivatives,2,3,4 endothelin receptor blockers,5,6 and, to some extent, phosphodiesterase inhibitors,7 hold some promise as alternatives for intravenous prostacyclin, but current expectation is that, like prostacyclin, they will, at best, retard disease progression, serving as a bridge to transplant rather than as an alternative. The pathological features of IPH are loss of small distal precapillary pulmonary arteries, obliterative changes (plexogenic lesions) in more proximal pulmonary arteries associated with migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells, and increased extracellular matrix deposition. There is also dysregulation of endothelial cells associated with increased proliferation.8 The mechanism underlying the evolution of these changes is unknown, so there was great interest when 2 groups independently identified a mutation in bone morphogenetic protein receptor 11 (BMP-RII) in 60% of families with IPH.9,10 A BMP-RII mutation also occurs in 20% of sporadic cases of IPH,11 but the biological connection between the mutation and the pathobiology of IPH has been relatively elusive. Recent studies using pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells from patients with IPH, including those with and without a BMP-RII mutation, showed similar abnormal proliferation in response to agents such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) or BMP-2.12 In other studies, pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells were transfected with constructs encoding different mutant forms of BMP-RII expressing aberrant kinase or cytoplasmic domains, and impaired signaling was observed related to alterations in the induction of Smads and p38.13 Specifically, suppression of Smad1/5 and activation of p38 were related to smooth muscle cell proliferation. It …
Fungi from the normal outer eye.

With the recognition of mycotic keratitis as a major ocular disease, there has been in­ creasing interest in the fungi associated with the healthy eye. Studies from diverse geo­ graphical areas indicate that fungi occur in none to 28% of normal outer eyes. These data are usually based on single culturings of a varying number of conjunctival sacs. The organisms isolated represent a broad spec­ trum of molds and yeastlike fungi, some of which, such as Aspergillus and Candida spp., have been isolated from keratomycoses. It has been suggested that a native fungal flora may represent the source of infection in my­ cotic keratitis and postoperative fungal endophthalmitis. The existence of an indigenous bacteria flora of the normal outer eye, composed mainly of micrococci and diptheroids, has been established by repetitive cultures by nu­ merous investigators. Unequivocable evi­ dence for an indigenous fungal flora of the normal eye has not been established. This study was undertaken to ascertain the inci­ dence and persistence of fungi in the envi­ rons of the normal outer eye.
Physical authentication through localization in wireless local area networks

On a wired network, physical authentication is implicitly provided by access: if a user is able to plug a cable into a network socket, he must have cleared other security checks such as the receptionist and/or locked doors. In the case of a wireless local area network (WLAN), the signal propagation is not limited by a fixed boundary, and unauthorized access from outside the security perimeter is possible, and in many instances facile. In this paper, we present a probabilistic technique for localization of users in a WLAN. The presented technique is able to identify intruders based on their location, and thus successfully defend a "parking lot" attack. The approach relies on a probabilistic mapping from received signal strength (RSSI) to location. Calibration inside and around the security perimeter must precede the localization phase. During the localization phase, the RSSI of all the WLAN users is measured by multiple monitoring stations positioned to provide an overlapping coverage of the area (the access points needed to provide the WLAN coverage can double as monitoring stations). A Bayesian technique is used to estimate the location of the unsuspecting mobile user, and the position estimate of each user is updated with every new RSSI measurement at any of the monitoring stations. The presented approach is server-based, i.e., it works without the knowledge or cooperation of the user being tracked, thereby enabling the proposed security application, as well as location-aware services. Validation of the concepts was implemented using an experimental testbed in an office environment. The results demonstrate the ability of the proposed technique to estimate the user location to a very high degree of accuracy
Millimeter-wave multichip BGA package for InP circuits utilizing a laminated ceramic and organic substrate

The packaging of millimeter-wave Indium Phosphide (InP) Application Specification Integrated Circuits (ASICs) presents significant challenges particularly with respect to high speed signal interconnections and thermal management. A packaging technology for multichip InP systems is presented that combines the advantageous thermal and electrical properties of traditional ceramic and metal RF microcircuits with the high density and surface mount capabilities of an organic ball grid array (BGA). A specific 50 mm body outline design housing five custom InP ASICs comprising the front-end circuits of a 32 GHz real time oscilloscope is presented as an example of this device. The package and substrate components are described in detail. Fabrication and assembly processes are described. Electrical and thermal performance simulation and verification is presented. Reliability test results are presented.
Active network architecture and management

Access and retrieval of meteorological and oceanographic data from heterogeneous sources in a distributed system presents many issues. There are a number of features of the TEDServices system that illustrate active network management for such data. There is a self-aware or intelligent aspect with respect to the mechanisms for shutdown, data ordering, and propagation of data orders. Intelligent cache management and collaborative application sharing process are other features of the active network management. Additionally a very important capability is the implementation of resumable object streams, which allows either the client or server side of a request to lose network connection, regain it, and the request will continue where it left off. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Int Syst 22: 1123–1138, 2007.
R Is for Arginine Metabolism of Arginine Takes off Again, in New Directions

and provided its distinction as 1 of the 3 basic amino acids. Abundant in many types of food, synthesized from simple precursors, or recycled in different tissues in the body, arginine is classified as a nonessential amino acid; except under extreme conditions, nutritional states of arginine deficiency are rare. Yet how much more complicated and interesting has arginine become in the past 3 decades! The role of arginine as a humdrum amino acid was forever transformed by the discovery that this amino acid is a substrate for the formation of nitric oxide by all mamma-lian nitric oxide synthases.
Diagnosis of femoral neck fracture associated with femoral shaft fracture: blinded comparison of computed tomography and plain radiography.

Objective:Femoral neck fractures that are associated with femoral shaft fractures have historically been associated with high rates of missed diagnosis. Despite the potentially serious consequences of a missed femoral neck fracture, little work has been conducted to rigorously evaluate the ability o
Terahertz Spectroscopy of Candidate Oxides in MIM Diodes for Terahertz Detection

We report the utilization of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) to measure the complex dielectric function of NiO, ZnO, $\hbox{Ta}_{2}\hbox{O}_{5}$ , and $\hbox{Nb}_{2}\hbox{O}_{5}$ . These oxides were chosen for their efficacy as the tunneling insulator layer in a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) diode rectifier coupled to an antenna designed for high-frequency absorption. Specifically this work is aimed at a rectenna device designed for 1-THz operation. To further examine the merit of the oxides for rectifying high-frequency signals, the complex dielectric function was used to model the power transfer efficiency of an ac voltage source to a MIM diode. It was found that ZnO and NiO are candidate materials for high-frequency rectification with power transfer efficiency at 1 THz of 49% and 34%, respectively. For the same operating frequency, the other oxides show a poor coupling efficiency of 3.8% and 8% for $\hbox{Ta}_{2}\hbox{O}_{5}$ and $\hbox{Nb}_{2}\hbox{O}_{5}$ , respectively. It was also found that $\hbox{Ta}_{2}\hbox{O}_{5}$ exhibits a sharp and distinct absorption at 0.48 and 1.24 THz.