cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal cycling response of layered gold/polysilicon MEMS structures

Abstract Multi-layer material structures in micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) differ considerably from their micro-electronic counterparts since the thicknesses of the film and substrate are comparable. Due to thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between metallic and polysilicon materials, thermal fluctuations in multi-layer MEMS structures may lead to out of plane displacements several times the structure thickness. In the present study we examine the deformation of a series of gold/polysilicon test structures produced using the commercial multi-user MEMS Process. The test structures are multi-layer plates with a gold layer that is 0.5 μm thick on a polysilicon layer with a thickness that is either 1.5 or 3.5 μm. The structures have varying in-plane dimensions on the order of 50–300 μm. Using an interferometric microscope, we measure the full-field deformed shapes of the Au–Si structures subjected to thermal cycles or hold periods. Depending on the Au–Si plate geometry, the structures deform in a non-linear manner and buckle when the temperature change is large enough. When subjected to temperature holds, the curvature of the plates relaxes. Beam-like plates subjected to repeated thermal cycles demonstrate a cyclic response that depends strongly on the mean (or maximum) temperature. Samples cycled at lower mean temperatures show significant ratcheting toward lower curvatures as the number of cycles approaches 10,000. Samples cycled at higher mean temperatures undergo degradation of surface reflectivity as the number of cycles approaches 1000.
Moral development in public relations: Measuring duty to society in strategic communication

This exploratory study employed an online version of the Defining Issues Test (DIT) [Rest, J. R. (1979). Development in judging moral issues. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press] to gather data on the ethical decision-making process patterns of 113, U.S.-based public relations practitioners. The DIT is an instrument based on Kohlberg's [Kohlberg, L. (1969) State and sequence: The cognitive-developmental approach to socialization. In: E. Goslin, (Ed.) Handbook of socialization: Theory and research. Chicago: Rand McNally] moral development theory, a proven measure of ethical reasoning across dozens of professions. Results show that levels of moral development in public relations significantly differ based on job segment. While corporate and agency practitioners reasoned about their ethics in a statistically similar fashion, these two groups differed substantially from their academic-based counterparts.
Oxo-ester Mediated Native Chemical Ligation: Concept and Applications

A direct oxo-ester peptide ligation method has been developed. Through the use of an activated C-terminal para nitrophenyl ester (1), it is possible to achieve direct cysteine ligations (1 + 2 → 4). Peptide substrates incorporating bulky C-terminal amino acids (1) can be accommodated with high reaction efficiency.
A method for evaluating the toxicity of industrial solvent mixtures

The toxicity of a mixture of toluene and mixed xylenes was studied with the frog embryo teratogenesis assay—Xenopus (FETAX). Single compound experiments with either toluene or mixed xylenes show that growth inhibition, not mortality or malformation, is the most sensitive toxic endpoint in the FETAX system (i.e., growth is inhibited at lower exposure concentrations than those resulting in malformations and mortality). A multiple logistic regression analysis model described mortality and malformation as functions of exposure concentrations of toluene and mixed xylenes. The results indicate that toluene and mixed xylenes are additive in their effects on mortality in the FETAX system. Further experimentation is necessary to validate the model's ability to describe malformation as a function of coexposure to toluene and mixed xylenes.
Characteristic-Based Treatment of Source Terms in Euler Equations for Roe Scheme

The modifications required to apply Roe's Riemann solver to the Euler equations with source terms are developed and demonstrated. The generalized quasi-one-dimensional flow including the effects of friction, secondary mass addition, and energy addition has been considered. The modifications require extensions of the expressions for the strengths of the characteristic waves. The modified expressions for the wave strengths in Roe's Riemann solver are obtained from the theory of characteristics using the compatibility relations that depend on the specific source terms present. Appropriate discretization of the source terms is required to obtain the correct solution. It is demonstrated that the compatibility relations in the presence of source terms can be used to modify not only Roe's Riemann solver but also characteristic-based boundary conditions. The validity of the proposed approach is illustrated by comparing the exact analytical solutions and the numerical solutions with and without the proposed corrections for two examples involving steady flow and one involving unsteady flow
BILATERAL SUBCLAVIAN STENOSIS AS A CAUSE OF UNEXPLAINED HYPOTENSION

The centromere is the DNA region of the eukaryotic chromosome that determines kinetochore formation and sister chromatid cohesion. Centromeres interact with spindle microtubules to ensure the segregation of chromatids during mitosis and of homologous chromosomes in meiosis. The origin of centromeres, therefore, is inseparable from the evolution of cytoskeletal components that distribute chromosomes to offspring cells. Although the origin of the nucleus has been debated, no explanation for the evolutionary appearance of centromeres is available. We propose an evolutionary scenario: The centromeres originated from telomeres. The breakage of the ancestral circular genophore activated the transposition of retroelements at DNA ends that allowed the formation of telomeres by a recombination-dependent replication mechanism. Afterward, the modification of the tubulin-based cytoskeleton that allowed specific subtelomeric repeats to be recognized as new cargo gave rise to the first centromere. This switch from actin-based genophore partition to a tubulin-based mechanism generated a transition period during which both types of cytoskeleton contributed to fidelity of chromosome segregation. During the transition, pseudodicentric chromosomes increased the tendency toward chromosomal breakage and instability. This instability generated multiple telocentric chromosomes that eventually evolved into metacentric or holocentric chromosomes.
Reverse-phase liquid chromatographic analysis of amino acids after reaction with o-phthalaldehyde

Abstract Precolumn formation of o-phthalaldehyde (OPA) derivatives of amino acids, followed by reverse-phase separation and fluorescent detection, provides rapid, sensitive amino acid analysis. Eighteen OPA-amino acid derivatives are resolved on a Micropack MCH 5 column and can be measured at picomole levels. Ease of derivative preparation and separation makes liquid chromatographic analysis of OPA-amino acids a convenient and improved technique for measuring or confirming the presence of low levels of amino acids in aqueous solutions. Use of the method was demonstrated by measuring low concentrations of amino acids released from zooplankters stressed by contaminants.
Island Exceptionalism and International Maritime Conflicts

Scholars have argued that due to their special geographical circumstances, island states develop a different relationship with maritime space than their continental counterparts. This is generally attributed both to island residents’ greater access to and benefit from oceanic resources and also to the metaphysical qualities of life that uniquely develop on islands. This article investigates deeper into the phenomenon of geographically determined island exceptionality by considering whether island states and mainland states truly behave differently when it comes to their treatment of and behavior in maritime spaces. Through an analysis of disputed areas in the International Correlates of War maritime data, I consider whether island states are more likely to try and confirm sovereignty over disputed maritime waters than mainland states. My examination of disputed maritime areas in the Western Hemisphere and Europe from 1900 to 2001 shows that indeed island states are both more likely to try and settle a dis...
IQ and Lead Exposure: Analytic Issues Arising in the Water Lead and Gasoline Lead Standards

The final form of an EPA regulation is chosen only after a careful analysis of several alternative control strategies. A major component of the analysis is the health effects of exposure to the pollutant. Health effect analysis must address three questions: Does the effect exist? What are the health effects of changes in exposure? And, at what level of exposure does the effect begin? Collectively these constitute the dose response function. Unfortunately, dose-response-curve estimates which address all three aspects of the problem are rarely available in the scientific literature. The resulting gap leads to spirited discussion between those who have to pay for controlling emissions and those who are concerned about the effects of emissions and to considerable uncertainty about the appropriate regulatory option to choose. While some of the gap reflects the reality that there are always unanswered questions, extended experience in using research to do regulatory analysis indicates the gap could be narrowed by changes in the way data are collected and analyzed. The literature on the relationship between childhood lead exposure and IQ provides numerous examples of how improved design and analysis could improve regulatory analysis. EPA regulates exposure to lead by controlling lead levels in leaded gasoline, air emissions from point sources, and lead levels in drinking water. Other sources of lead exposure are regulated by HUD (paint lead) and FDA (food lead). Unlike many pollutants which EPA regulates, the statutory authority for controlling lead exposure from cars and water allows comparison of costs and benefits of controlling emissions. In the 1985 RIA on reducing lead in gasoline, IQ benefits were a very small proportion of total benefits (Schwartz et al.). At that ime, the existence of IQ effects at low exposure levels was still problematical, so the hreshold was set at 30 micrograms per deciliter (ug/dl). Further, valuing IQ losses was acc mplished by assuming the effect could be compensated by additional education. For 1988, using a compensatory education approach, IQ loss benefits totaled $374 million out of total benefits of $7,105 million or just over 5%. The agency now sets the threshold for IQ effects at 15 ug/dl. Using this threshold would raise benefits by an order of magnitude or more. The 1986 analysis of the drinking water standard found IQ benefits (valued as reductions in income) of $268 million out of $1,113 million or 24%. The IQ effects for water lead are large enough to make it an important component of the overall analytic picture.
Geometrical Aspects of Sorted Patterned Ground in Recurrently Frozen Soil

A model for sorted patterned ground shows that some types arise from density-driven Rayleigh free convection that occurs during thawing of water-saturated recurrently frozen soils. The regularly spaced convection cells result in an uneven melting of the underlying ice front. Frost action causes stones to be upthrusted and to form in a pattern on the ground surface that mirrors the corrugation in the underlying ice front. The implications of the water circulation direction in the cells on the sorting process are considered.
TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINATION OF THE CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF ENVIRONMENTALLY INDUCED BRITTLE FRACTURES.

Five methods for determination of the crystallography of transgranular, environment-assisted fractures are described. The application of these methods is illustrated in order to obtain the macrocrystallography and microcrystallography of fractographic features.
Multiphysics, Multiphase Modeling of Carbon Nanotube Synthesis Process by Chemical Vapor Deposition

In the present paper, a comprehensive modeling framework is proposed to conduct multiphysics, multiphase modeling of carbon nanotube (CNT) fabrication process by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The modeling is based on fluid dynamics, heat transfer, chemical reaction, as well as mass transport phenomena which have been fully coupled with each other. The inserted gasses are considered as methane (CH4 ) as the main hydrocarbon gas and hydrogen (H2 ) as the process enhancement gas. In the gas phase reaction section, a novel set of reactions for CH4 hydrocarbon gas is proposed which is based on 71 different chemical reactions that take place near CVD inlet. Also, surface reactions are modeled by considering 19 set of reactions acting near substrate surface which lead to CNTs formation. The investigation is performed for different combination of gas flow rate quantities ranging from 500 to 1000 sccm (standard cubic centimeter per minute) for methane and 250 to 500 sccm for hydrogen gas. Also, the quartz tube temperature is considered to change from 700 to 1000 °C. Since the thermal specifications for each species are calculated individually, the gas flow inside the quartz tube is treated as nonisothermal flow. Numerous simulations are conducted and the results are compared with the fabricated CNT’s images taken by the SEM (scanning electron microscopy). Utilizing the obtained diagrams from modeling, the effects caused by gas mixture flow rate and temperature changes on the production rate of gas phase species such as H, CH3 , C2 H2 and bulk carbon species (C and 2C) that produced by surface species TC and TC2 are investigated. It is found that increasing the fabricated temperature causes a rise in species production rate. However, it is observed that the produced species respond differently to any change in hydrogen and hydrocarbon flow rates. The velocity, temperature profile as well as concentration distribution along the silicon substrate length have been also investigated. This study can lead to a controlled CNTs manufacturing process when combined with in-situ measurement systems.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Seasonal variations in low level flow in the NASA-Ames Mars GCM

The Martian Hadley circulation consists of two cells of different sizes at most times of the year, with one cell dominating near the solstices. The lower branch of this flow is strongly topographically controlled, especially east of the Tharsis plateau and Syrtis Major. Simulations using idealized topography show that longitudinal asymmetries in heating also play a role in forming the jets. Nearer the equinoxes, the total cross-equatorial flow intensity is reduced and the effect of the seasonal condensation flow is felt more strongly. Because of effects such as topography, zero cross-equatorial flow is not actually achieved at the equinoxes, but is slightly offset in time. Even when the mean flow is zero, the two jets are still present but flow in opposite directions: the Tharsis jet flows south and the Syrtis jet north. The latter is a result of the time-averaged effect of slope wind circulations. The two jets are still relatively intense at this time. For example, with an optical depth τ of 0.3, and at a height of 250 m, v at Ls = 270° is about 9 m s−1 southward, while at 45°W v is 26 m s−1. At Ls = 350°, v is 0.5 m s−1, while at 45°W it is still above 8 m s−1. The effect of atmospheric dust loading is also examined.
Renal transplant with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) attributable to tacrolimus and herpes simplex virus (HSV) pneumonia.

Abstract Background Solid organ transplants (SOTs) may be complicated by a wide variety of infectious and noninfectious pulmonary disorders. Transplant patients receive immunosuppressive drugs to prevent rejection, but these drugs also predispose them to infection. Because immunosuppressive therapy impairs T-lymphocyte function, ie, cell-mediated immunity, such therapy, not surprisingly, predisposes patients to intracellular pulmonary pathogens. Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in patients with SOT usually involves one of the common typical or atypical bacterial CAP pathogens infecting immunocompetent hosts. The most frequent intracellular CAP pathogens in SOTs during immunosuppressive therapy are viral, eg, cytomegalovirus (CMV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). In addition, intracellular fungal pathogens are also common in patients with SOTs during immunosuppressive therapy, eg, Pneumocystis (carinii) jiroveci pneumonia (PCP). In addition, a variety of noninfectious disorders are not uncommon in patients with SOTs, including bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP). Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia may be associated with a variety of infectious agents, or may be attributable to drugs, including some immunosuppressive agents. Methods The clinical approach to CAP in patients with SOTs may be based on the appearance of the chest x-ray (CXR) or chest computed tomography scan, combined with the degree of hypoxemia (ie, the A-a gradient). Patients with SOTs and with a normal or nearly normal CXR and a high degree of hypoxemia (A-a gradient, >35) most often have an early viral pneumonia, eg, CMV or early PCP. If the CXR reveals bilateral patchy interstitial infiltrates and severe hypoxemia, the differential diagnosis is limited to moderate or severe viral pneumonia or PCP. Patients with SOTs and presenting with diffuse infiltrates and mild to moderate hypoxemia (A-a gradient, Case Report and Conclusion A renal transplant patient developed bilateral patchy interstitial infiltrates with severe hypoxemia during hospitalization. The most likely differential diagnostic possibilities included PCP and BOOP. Bronchoalveolar lavage was performed to rule out PCP, and indicated cytopathic effects diagnostic of HSV pneumonia. Lung biopsy pathology confirmed the diagnosis of BOOP. In reviewing the patient’s medications, we surmised that tacrolimus may have caused BOOP. The tacrolimus was discontinued, and the patient received acyclovir for HSV pneumonia.
Impact of influenza vaccination of schoolchildren on medical outcomes among all residents of Maryland.

Special influenza vaccination programs of elementary school-aged children (ESAC) in some or all of Maryland Counties were conducted during the falls of 2005-2007. Rates of emergency department (E.D.) visits and hospitalizations for medically attended acute respiratory illnesses (MAARI) as well as deaths due to pneumonia and influenza for county residents were determined. The degree to which these rates were modulated during intense influenza outbreak periods (IIOP) in counties who vaccinated a greater percentage of ESAC was estimated using Poisson regression. Notably, for every 20% increase in vaccination rates, MAARI related E.D. visits during IIOP decreased by 8% (95% C.I., 5-12%) in children aged 5-11 years and by 6% (95% C.I., 3-8%) in adults aged 19-49 years (p 50 years for every 20% increase in vaccination rates (p<0.023) for which we have no plausible biologic explanation. No significant changes in deaths were noted.
Abnormalities in Gastrointestinal Motility Are Associated With Diseases of Oxidative Phosphorylation in Children

Abnormalities in Gastrointestinal Motility Are Associated With Diseases of Oxidative Phosphorylation in Children
Voluntary versus Mandatory Agricultural Policies to Protect Water Quality: Adoption of Nitrogen Testing in Nebraska

Agriculture is among the principal contributors of nonpoint source pollution, a major cause of impaired water quality (Puckett). The amount of agricultural pollution depends in part on agricultural practices or technologies that farmers employ. In the United States, policies for changing farmers' practices related to soil conservation and water quality protection have usually relied on voluntary adoption of new practices. Policy tools to promote voluntary adoption include extension education, technical assistance, and cost sharing. In recent years, both state and federal water quality projects have been initiated targeting these different approaches to different areas. Increasingly, however, regulation is being used by the Federal Government and by states to mandate the adoption of practices by farmers (United States Environmental Protection Agency 1993; Ribaudo and Woo). To date, little research has been undertaken on the relative effectiveness of regulatory and incentive approaches. While the immediate goal of adoption may be more easily achieved by regulation, that regulation will not necessarily lead to the proper or desired use of the practice. This article investigates the relative effectiveness of incentive projects and regulation to promote both adoption of nitrogen (N) testing and the use of information from the tests to adjust N fertilizer use.
Mössbauer recoilless fraction in tin compounds

Abstract The error analysis for the determination of the recoilless fractions, ƒ, in tin made by Hohenemser 1 ) has been extended to include the effect of vibrations due to the bubbling of low temperature coolants. These vibrations cause a decrease in the effect magnitude and broadening of the linewidth. It is shown that this error is minimized when the area under the resonance curve is considered. The minimum thickness of palladium necessary to attenuate the Sn X-rays has been revaluated and is found to be 4.0 mil for a Mg 2 119m Sn source and 3.0 mil for a Pd 119m Sn source. Internal attenuation of Sn X-rays has been found to occur in the Pd 119m Sn source. The only Mossbauer sources found acceptable for ƒ measurements of tin compounds are Mg 2 119m Sn and Pd 119m Sn. Disadvantages of other sources are discussed.
Review of the Impact of Antineoplastic Therapies on the Risk for Cholelithiasis and Acute Cholecystitis

Development of cholecystitis in patients with malignancies can potentially disrupt their treatment and alter prognosis. This review aims to identify antineoplastic interventions associated with increased risk of cholecystitis in cancer patients. A comprehensive search strategy was developed to identify articles pertaining to risk factors and complications of cholecystitis in cancer patients. FDA-issued labels of novel antineoplastic drugs released after 2010 were hand-searched to identify more therapies associated with cholecystitis in nonpublished studies. Of an initial 2,932 articles, 124 were reviewed in the study. Postgastrectomy patients have a high (5–30 %) incidence of gallstone disease, and 1–7 % develop symptomatic disease. One randomized trial addressing the role of cholecystectomy concurrent with gastrectomy is currently underway. Among other risk groups, patients with neuroendocrine tumors treated with somatostatin analogs have a 15 % risk of cholelithiasis, and most are symptomatic. Hepatic artery based therapies carry a risk of cholecystitis (0.02–24 %), although the risk is reduced with selective catheterization. Myelosuppression related to chemotherapeutic agents (0.4 %), bone marrow transplantation, and treatment with novel multikinase inhibitors are associated with high risk of cholecystitis. There are several risk factors for gallbladder-related surgical emergencies in patients with advanced malignancies. Incidental cholecystectomy at index operation should be considered in patients planned for gastrectomy, and candidates for regional therapies to the liver or somatostatin analogs. While prophylactic cholecystectomy is currently recommended for patients with cholelithiasis receiving myeloablative therapy, this strategy may have value in patients treated with multikinase inhibitors, immunotherapy, and oncolytic viral therapy based on evolving evidence.
Potential energy surfaces for simple chemical reactions: Li + F2 → LiF + F☆

Abstract A potential energy surface is calculated for the Li + F 2 → LiF + F reaction using an ab initio multistructure valence-bond approach. The orthogonalized Moffit (OM) method is employed to apply a correction for the large errors made by the ab initio calculation in representing the F − ion relative to the F atom. The OM method predicts the potential surface to be of the highly “attractive” or “early downhill” type and to possess a potential energy well with respect to dissociation to the products LiF + F. The attributes of the surface predicted by the OM method are compared with those suggested by experiment and used in trajectory calculations for analogous systems.
Personal Attribute Models of the Voting Behavior of U.S. Supreme Court Justices: Liberalism in Civil Liberties and Economics Decisions, 1946–1978

The prevailing view among students of judicial politics is that judges' background characteristics or personal attributes cannot provide satisfactory explanations for variation in their decision-making behavior. Parsimonious attribute models reported here account for 70 to 90 percent of the variance in the voting of postwar Supreme Court justices in split decisions concerning civil rights and liberties, and economics. Seven variables representing six meaningful and easily interpretable concepts achieve this success. The concepts are Judge's Party Identification, Appointing President, Prestige of Prelaw Education (economics only), Appointed from Elective Office, Appointment Region (civil liberties only), Extensiveness of Judicial Experience, and Type of Prosecutorial Experience. The impressive performance of these models is attributed to superior measurement, operationalization, and model building; to a greater similarity between personal attribute models and more fully specified ones than has been assumed; and to the possibility that the attitudes which intervene between the personal attributes and the voting of judges are causally very closely linked to voting.
Beyond PTSD: Emotion regulation and interpersonal problems as predictors of functional impairment in survivors of childhood abuse *

This study sought to determine the relative contribution of problems in emotion regulation and interpersonal functioning compared to PTSD symptoms in predicting functional impairment among women with childhood abuse histories. One hundred sixty-four treatment-seeking women completed measures of emotion regulation, interpersonal problems, PTSD symptoms, and social adjustment. Severity of PTSD symptoms was a significant predictor of functional impairment. In addition, after controlling for the effects of PTSD symptomatology, emotion regulation and interpersonal problems were both significant predictors and together made contributions to functional impairment equal to that of PTSD symptoms. These data indicate that emotion regulation and interpersonal problems play an important role in functional impairment among women with a history of childhood abuse. These factors should be taken into account in treatment planning to ensure successful rehabilitation from the long-term effects of chronic childhood trauma.
The challenges of modeling magnetic shape memory alloys under complex load paths

Kiefer and Lagoudas proposed a thermodynamic model for predicting the magneto-mechanical behavior of magnetic shape memory alloys (MSMAs) and then confirmed their model experimentally [1]. The model was calibrated by placing the test specimen under a constant magnetic field and a varying compressive stress. Later, Feigenbaum and Ciocanel [2] used the model to predict behavior under a constant compressive stress and a varying magnetic field. Because the two experiments were done by different researchers on different specimens, the calibration gave different values for material paremeters. In this work, through experimental results from tests performed on the same specimen by the same researchers, the Kiefer and Lagoudas model, with any hardening function, will be shown to be unable to be calibrated so as to accurately predict the magneto-mechanical behavior of a specimen under both types of loading conditions.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Anthropology: A monochrome Eden

Bob Bloomfield assesses a haunting photographic record of remote environments and the indigenous peoples who live in them.
Maximal Covering Sets-II

Let A 1 . .... A n be n linearly independent points in R n , the n-dimensional Euclidean space. The set ∧ ={u 1 A 1 + ... +u n A n : u 1 ... , u a integers} is called a lattice, and {A 1 , ...,A n } is called a basis of ∧.
The Crude Intentions: The Pursuit of African Fuel Minerals and the Need for an Afrocentric Foreign Policy

America's technological, military, and economic security is growing increasingly vulnerable because of a lack of energy security. As a result, America's need to locate, exploit, and control fuel resources has intensified its engagement of the African continent. The nature of America's relationship with the African continent is being progressively guided by U.S. energy policy. Moreover, this relationship must be analyzed in light of the continuing legacy of European colonialism on the African continent. There is a need to ensure that the majority of African people benefit from activity in Africa's energy sector on a just and sustained basis. Fulfilling this need will require the adoption of a foreign policy that is reflective of Africa's unifying cultural beliefs and values, holds foreign countries and companies who would do business with Africa to a set of standards that disallows Africa's exploitation, and is aligned with African development on African terms.
Regulation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor channel function by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors in rat hippocampal CA1 interneurons

Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are involved in cognition and may play a role in Alzheimer9s disease (AD). Known inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) are used to treat AD and are known cognitive enhancers; however, their mechanism of action relating to AD is not fully understood. We tested several AChE inhibitors, including huperzine A, tacrine, and 1,5-bis(4-allyldimethylammoniumphenyl)pentan-3-one dibromide (BW284c51), on nAChRs in rat hippocampal CA1 interneurons in slices using patch-clamp techniques. These interneurons express both α7 and non-α7 subunit-containing nAChRs and were activated with pressure applications of acetylcholine (ACh), choline, or carbachol. These AChE inhibitors had no significant effect on either the amplitude or kinetics of α7 nAChRs activated by ACh, but they slowed the rate of recovery from desensitization through an indirect mechanism; responses activated with either choline or carbachol were unaffected. For non-α7 receptors, these inhibitors significantly increased the amplitude and decay phase for responses induced by ACh (but not carbachol), also through an indirect mechanism. Slices preincubated with diisopropylflurophosphate (to permanently inactivate AChE) mimicked the effect of these AChE inhibitors on both α7 and non-α7 nAChRs. In addition, galantamine, which is both an inhibitor of AChE and an allosteric potentiator of nAChRs, had similar effects. Therefore, various AChE inhibitors are having significant and indirect effects on nAChRs through direct inhibition of AChE; this results in an enhanced amount and/or duration of ACh in slices, with no effect on the levels of choline or carbachol. Therefore, drugs that target AChE are likely to be important regulators of cholinergic signaling in the hippocampus.
A Hypothetical Cloud-Seeding Method for Facilitating the Occurrence of Lightning.

Abstract Drawing on available literature, arguments are presented to support the thesis that lightning initiation requires that positive corona streamers be produced in a region where the electric field E exceeds a certain critical value E0. Under normal circumstances electrically stressed precipitation particles provide this necessary corona. A method of cloud seeding is proposed in which suitable corona-giving bodies are artificially introduced into the cloud so as to facilitate the triggering of lightning. The required properties of the seeding material are discussed, and possible applications of the technique are suggested.
The treatment of deep vs. shallow copy in introductory C++ textbooks

The default behavior of C++ compilers is to generate a destructor, copy constructor, and assignment operator for each class defined in source code, if that class does not provide such. The constructor and assignment operator generated perform a shallow copy of objects, which is incorrect behavior for most objects that contain pointers. Students must be taught to provide these operators, and to write the copy constructor and assignment operator such that they perform a deep copy of objects. A survey of introductory C++ texts shows that some authors do not explain this important topic in a consistent or thorough way. Any instructor beginning to teach C++ needs to understand this or face the prospect of long hours debugging what otherwise would seem to be a straightforward assignment.
Polylysine induces a rapid Ca2+ release from sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles by mediation of its binding to the foot protein

The addition of polylysine to a heavy fraction of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) vesicles produces a rapid Ca2+ release with no appreciable lag period. The polylysine concentration for half-maximal activation (C1/2) is approximately 0.99 micrograms/ml, or 0.3 microM, the lowest C 1/2 for Ca2+ release-inducing reagents reported in the literature. The time course and the [Ca2+] dependence of polylysine-induced release are similar to those of caffeine-induced Ca2+ release. At higher concentrations of polylysine (e.g., 10 micrograms/ml), however, little or no Ca2+ release occurs. Upon photolysis of SR vesicles with the photocrosslinkable radiolabeled polylysine derivative, [3H]succinimidyl azido benzoate polylysine, 0.28 and 0.52-1.2 mol polylysine were bound to 1 mol of the 400-kDa foot protein at activating (3 micrograms/ml) and inhibitory (10 micrograms/ml) concentrations of polylysine, respectively. On the other hand, the amounts of polylysine bound to the other SR proteins (mol/mol) were negligible (e.g., less than or equal to 0.0127 mol polylysine/mol calsequestrin). This suggests that the binding of polylysine to the foot protein is responsible not only for the induction of release but also for inactivation. These results provide direct evidence that the receptor for the chemical trigger of Ca2+ release is localized within the foot protein. Ruthenium red, which inhibits polylysine-induced Ca2+ release, does not inhibit polylysine binding to the foot protein, suggesting that the polylysine binding domain of the foot protein is different from the channel domain.
Electron-impact excitation of the n 1P levels of helium: Theory and experiment.

New experimental electron-energy-loss data have been used to extract differential and integral cross sections for excitation of the 2 1P level, and for the overlapping (3 1P, 3 1D, 3 3D) levels of helium, at 30-, 50-, and 100-eV incident electron energies. First-order many-body theory (FOMBT) has been used to calculate the differential and integral cross sections for excitation of the n 1P (n = 2,...,6) levels of helium by electron impact, for incident electron energies from threshold to 500 eV. Detailed comparisons between these two new sets of data are made as well as comparisons with appropriate published experimental and theoretical results. A simple scaling relationship is derived from the FOMBT results for n = 2,...,6 that provides differential and integral cross sections for all symmetry final levels of helium with n = 6 or greater.
The opsonin MFG-E8 is a ligand for the αvβ5 integrin and triggers DOCK180-dependent Rac1 activation for the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells

Abstract Opsonization of apoptotic cells facilitates recognition by phagocytes for the rapid clearance of potentially inflammatory cellular material. The secreted glycoprotein Milk Fat Globule Factor-E8 (MFG-E8) is a member of this family of bridging molecules and is believed to bind phosphatidylserine (PS) on the dying cell, linking it to integrin receptors on the phagocyte. Here we report the characterization of a functional signaling module involving MFG-E8, αvβ5 integrin, and DOCK180 for the activation of Rac1. We show that MFG-E8 and DOCK180 are both expressed in phagocytic-competent primary immature dendritic cells (DCs) and DC2.4 cells, and are potently down-regulated upon DC maturation, consistent with their role in phagocytosis and antigen capture. Coexpression of MFG-E8 with αvβ5 integrin potentiated integrin-mediated Rac1 activation, which was abrogated by mutagenesis in the RGD motif in MFG-E8. Moreover, expression of antisense DOCK180 abrogated MFG-E8–αvβ5-mediated Rac activation and impaired the phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. These data demonstrate a biochemical link between an opsonin of apoptotic cells, the αvβ5 integrin, and the Crk–DOCK180–Rac1 pathway, and importantly, show that MFG-E8 and DOCK180 are expressed according to the functional status of the phagocyte.
Quantitative determination of environmental levels of uranium, thorium and plutonium in bone by solvent extraction and alpha spectrometry

Abstract Solvent extraction and alpha-spectrometry have been emplyed in the quantitative simultaneous determination of uranium. thorium and plutonium. The bone specimens, spiked with 232 U, 229 Th and 242 Pu tracers, are wet ashed with HNO 3 followed by alternate additions of a new drops of HNO 3 and H 2 O 2 . Uranium is reduced to the tetravalent state with 200 mg SnCl 2 and 25 ml HI. Uranium, thorium and plutonium are then coprecipitated with calcium as oxalate, heated to 550°C, dissolved in 50 ml HCl, and the acidity adjusted to 10 M. Uranium and plutonium are extracted into a 20% tri-lauryl amine (TLA) solution in xylene, leaving thorium in the aqueous phase. Plutonium is first back-extracted from the TLA phase by shaking with a 1:1.5 volume of 0.05 M NH 4 I in 8 M HCl, which reduces Pu(IV) to Pu(III). Uranium is then back-extracted with an equal volume of 0.1 M HCl. Thorium, which was left in the aqueous phase, is evaporated to dryness, dissolved in 4 M HNO 3 , and the acidity adjusted to 4 M. Thorium is then extracted into 20% TLA solution in xylene pre-equilibrated with 4 M HNO 3 , and back-extracted with 10 M HCl. Uranium, thorium, and plutonium are then electrodeposited separately onto platinum discs and counted by an alpha-spectrometer with a multi-channel analyzer and surface barrier silicon diodes. The mean recoveries of uranium, thorium, and plutonium in bovine, dog, and human bones were over 70%.
More views on Imanishi-Kari

Professor Mark Ptashne describes evidence to explain the disputed Cell paper, Dr Herman N Eisen (who conducted the MIT inquiry in 1986) concurs, Dr John Cairns (in letter to an unidentified official of the US National Academy) says the affair is the equivalent of Watergate and a former co-worker offers a testimonal to Imanishi-Kari.
Comparison of the filtration and centrifugation methods for assaying [3H](D-ala2, D-leu5)enkephalin binding to mouse brain membranes

The binding of [3H](D-ala2, D-leu5)enkephalin (DADLE) to mouse brain membranes was studied via rapid filtration with GF/C filters and via the centrifugation method. The amount of specific binding determined by filtration was found to be dependent on the length of time between the initiation of vacuum and the actual time of filtration. Vacuum strength alone also significantly affected the amount of specifically bound [3H]DADLE measured by filtration. The centrifugation method increased the number of experimentally determined binding sites when compared to the filtration method. The difference in the number of binding sites was only partially attributable to passage of binding material through the GF/C filter. The ability of morphine to displace [3H]DADLE was also found to differ slightly between the two methods. These data indicate that centrifugation is a better method of determining the binding parameters of [3H]DADLE in mouse brain membrane preparations.
Hormone receptors. IV. Solubilization and purification of a liver plasma membrane glucagon-binding protein

Abstract A glucagon-binding protein, with some properties of a glycoprotein, has been extracted from purified rat liver plasma membranes by Lubrol-PX, and purified some 3000-fold by a combination of protein precipitation by reduction of detergent concentration, gel filtration, and chromatography on hydroxylapatite. The binding properties of the binding protein, whose molecular weight was estimated to be about 190,000, strongly resembled those of the original plasma membranes in that binding was tissue specific, rapid, saturable, reversible spontaneously, displaceable by native glucagon, due to high ( K A1 = 10 10 m −1 ) and low affinity components, inhibited by agents which interfere with hydrophobic interactions between ligands and proteins, and occurred with both glucagon and insulin.
SWAPP: A Framework for Performance Projections of HPC Applications Using Benchmarks

Surrogate-based Workload Application Performance Projection (SWAPP) is a framework for performance projections of High Performance Computing (HPC) applications using benchmark data. Performance projections of HPC applications onto various hardware platforms are important for hardware vendors and HPC users. The projections aid hardware vendors in the design of future systems and help HPC users with system procurement. SWAPP assumes that one has access to a base system and only benchmark data for a target system, the target system is not available for running the HPC application. Projections are developed using the performance profiles of the benchmarks and application on the base system and the benchmark data for the target system. SWAPP projects the performances of compute and communication components separately then combine the two projections to get the full application projection. In this paper SWAPP was used to project the performance of three NAS Multi-Zone benchmarks onto three systems (an IBM POWER6 575 cluster and an IBM Intel West mere x5670 both using an Infiniband interconnect and an IBM Blue Gene/P with a 3D Torus and Collective Tree interconnects), the base system is an IBM POWER5+ 575 cluster. The projected performance of the three benchmarks was within 11.44% average error magnitude and standard deviation of 2.64% for the three systems.
The University of Michigan digital library service market society (poster)

One of our goals when building the University of Michigan Digital Library (UMDL) was to provide an architecture for a digital library that can continually reconfigure itself as users, contents, and services come and go. This has been achieved by the development of a multi-agent infrastructure with agents that buy and sell services from each other using our commerce and communication protocols. We describe the protocols, services and agents that embody the UMDL Service Market Society (SMS).
Norbornene-Based Copolymers Containing Platinum Complexes and Bis(carbazolyl)benzene Groups in Their Side-Chains

Two norbornene-functionalized tetradentate cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes were synthesized and copolymerized with a bis(carbazolyl)benzene-based comonomer using ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). The copolymers are soluble in common solvents and the molecular weights of these copolymers can be well controlled as a result of the living character of the ROMP. The photophysical and electrochemical properties of the copolymers were compared to their corresponding small molecules. The copolymers showed almost identical photophysical and electrochemical properties demonstrating the inertness of the polymer backbone toward the photophysical properties of the tethered platinum complexes. All complexes exhibit bright photoluminescence in the green region with lifetimes around 0.4 μs and solution phosphorescence quantum efficiencies as high as 0.56, which suggest that these materials could be interesting for OLED applications.
Rehearsal grouping and hierarchical organization of serial position cues in short-term memory.

Lists of 8, 9, or 10 digits were presented at the rate of 1 digit/sec. to subjects instructed to rehearse silently the digits in non-overlapping groups of 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 digits, after hearing eac...
Concerning the electric dipole moment of the neutron in the Skyrme model

Abstract It is argued that the leading Skyrme model estimate of the electric dipole moment of the neutron in chiral perturbation theory should be Dn ∼ Ncmπ2 ln mπ. To obtain this result requires a careful quantization of the pion fluctuation about the rotating skyrmion, with appropriate attention to the derivative couplings and zero modes of the model.
Molecular genetics of the human Na+/glucose cotransporter.

Recent success in expression cloning has revealed the primary structure of the Na+/glucose cotransporter from rabbit small intestine, and this has subsequently led to the cloning of the Na+/glucose cotransporters from human small intestine and human kidney. Close homology is evident between the rabbit and human intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporters at the DNA level, and the predicted amino acid and secondary structure levels. The Na+/glucose cotransporter amino acid sequence from human kidney is 57% identical with that from human small intestine. Significant homology also exists between these Na+/glucose cotransporters and theE. coli Na+/proline cotransporter (putP). The rabbit intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporter has 11 potential membrane spanning regions and 2 hydrophilic regions containing highly charged residues. The amino acid sequence shows two potential N-glycosylation sites (N-X-T/S). Using an in vitro translation approach we were able to determine that only one of these (Asn 248) is glycosylated. Expression experiments withXenopus oocytes using the N-glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin indicate that glycosylation of Asn 248 is required for functional expression of the transporter. The N-X-T/S sequence at Asn 248 is conserved in the human intestinal and the human renal Na+/glucose cotransporter. Chromosomal localization studies map the human intestinal Na+/glucose cotransporter gene (SGLT1) to the q11.2→qter region of chromosome 22 and the human renal Na+/glucose cotransporter gene (SGLT2) to the q-arm of chromosome 16. Thus the intestinal and renal Na+/glucose cotransporters are encoded by different genes located on different chromosomes. This is consistent with the observation that inherited defects of the transporters, intestinal glucose/galactose malabsorption and renal glycosuria, do not appear to be genetically linked.
Normal-Product Quantization of Currents in Lagrangian Field Theory

Techniques for quantizing currents in Lagrangian field theory are developed with the aid of Zimmermann's normal products. These methods greatly simplify the derivation of single-current generalized Ward identities and may be used to justify the heuristic use of formal arguments in discussing broken symmetries. Applications to the energy-momentum tensor in the ${A}^{4}$ model and to the current of broken orthogonal symmetry in a two-component scalar model are presented.
Phase I study of hepatic arterial melphalan infusion and hepatic venous hemofiltration using percutaneously placed catheters in patients with unresectable hepatic malignancies.

Purpose We conducted a phase I study of a 30-minute hepatic artery infusion of melphalan via a percutaneously placed catheter and hepatic venous hemofiltration using a double balloon catheter positioned in the retrohepatic inferior vena cava to shunt hepatic venous effluent through an activated charcoal filter and then to the systemic circulation. The purpose of the study was to demonstrate feasibility in an initial cohort and subsequently determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity of melphalan. Patients and Methods The initial cohort (n = 12) was treated with 2.0 mg/kg of melphalan before dose escalation to 3.5 mg/kg (n = 16). Total hepatic drug delivery, systemic levels, and percent filter efficiency were determined. Patients were assessed for hepatic and systemic toxicity and response. Results A total of 74 treatments were administered to 28 patients. Twelve patients with primary and metastatic hepatic tumors received 30 treatments (mean, 2.5 per patient) at an initial melphalan do...