cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolites of ginger component [6]-shogaol remain bioactive in cancer cells and have low toxicity in normal cells: chemical synthesis and biological evaluation.

Our previous study found that [6]-shogaol, a major bioactive component in ginger, is extensively metabolized in cancer cells and in mice. It is unclear whether these metabolites retain bioactivity. The aim of the current study is to synthesize the major metabolites of [6]-shogaol and evaluate their inhibition of growth and induction of apoptosis in human cancer cells. Twelve metabolites of [6]-shogaol (M1, M2, and M4–M13) were successfully synthesized using simple and easily accessible chemical methods. Growth inhibition assays showed that most metabolites of [6]-shogaol had measurable activities against human cancer cells HCT-116 and H-1299. In particular, metabolite M2 greatly retained the biological activities of [6]-shogaol, with an IC50 of 24.43 µM in HCT-116 human colon cancer cells and an IC50 of 25.82 µM in H-1299 human lung cancer cells. Also exhibiting a relatively high potency was thiol-conjugate M13, with IC50 values of 45.47 and 47.77 µM toward HCT-116 and H-1299 cells, respectively. The toxicity evaluation of the synthetic metabolites (M1, M2, and M4–M13) against human normal fibroblast colon cells CCD-18Co and human normal lung cells IMR-90 demonstrated a detoxifying metabolic biotransformation of [6]-shogaol. The most active metabolite M2 had almost no toxicity to CCD-18Co and IMR-90 normal cells with IC50s of 99.18 and 98.30 µM, respectively. TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assay indicated that apoptosis was triggered by metabolites M2, M13, and its two diastereomers M13-1 and M13-2. There was no significant difference between the apoptotic effect of [6]-shogaol and the effect of M2 and M13 after 6 hour treatment.
Normal Distribution of Cell Generation Rates

THE distributions of generation time are markedly skewed, but the reciprocal of the generation time, termed ‘generation rate’, was reported to have a normal distribution for a bacterium, yeast, a strain of human tissue culture, and the protozoan Tetrahymena geleii; these results provided evidence for the generalized nature of this distribution in widely different kinds of cells in balanced growth1. Although other measurements had not always given a normal distribution of generation rates, this was to be expected since the sources of experimental bias were not then completely understood. There are several kinds of bias that must be avoided2. Furthermore, some experiments in the literature have given no clear test of the nature of the distribution, since data are insufficient, with rather fewer than 100 cell divisions measured. Nevertheless, it has been asserted that the skewed character of the generation-time distribution has decreased as experimental techniques have advanced3, and this would require that the generation rates depart from a normal distribution. This communication presents further evidence for the validity of the normal distribution for generation rates.
Energy Dissipation in Nearly Saturated Poroviscoelastic Soil Columns during Quasi-Static Compressional Excitations

AbstractThis paper presents a theoretical investigation on the energy dissipation in a nearly saturated poroviscoelastic soil column under quasi-static compressional excitations. Different components of the energy dissipation are evaluated and compared. The magnitude of fluid- induced energy dissipation is primarily a function of a normalized excitation frequency Ω. For small values of Ω, a drained soil column is fully relaxed and essentially behaves as a dry column with negligible pore pressure. For such a soil column, fluid-induced energy dissipation is negligible, and the total damping ratio of the column is essentially the same as that of the solid skeleton. For very high values of Ω, a drained soil column is fully loaded and the excitation-generated pore pressure decreases as the fluid becomes more compressible. For such a soil column, the fluid pressure gradient only exists in a thin boundary layer near the drainage boundary, where drainage occurs and fluid induces energy dissipation, whereas the re...
Prospective Phase I/II Trial of Helical Tomotherapy, Intracavitary Brachytherapy, and Concurrent Chemotherapy in Patients with Cervical Cancer

HDR brachytherapy (650 cGy to point A weekly for 6 weeks) and concurrent weekly cisplatin chemotherapy (40mg/m 2 ) for 6 weeks. All patients underwent pre-treatment and 3-month post-treatment whole body FDG PET/CT. Clinical follow-up was performed every 3 months. Patients were monitored for acute and chronic toxicity using the CTC 3.0 criteria. Survival estimates were performed using the Kaplan-Meier Method. Results: One patient died of intercurrent disease during therapy and the remaining 14 completed HT and HDR brachytherapy as planned.The medianoveralltreatment timewas54days (range,46to72days).Chemotherapywasgivenfor6cyclesin12 patients and 3 patients refused chemotherapy. The acute Grades 3 and 4 hematologic toxicities were 27% and 13%. The acute Grades 3 and 4 GItoxicities were 13% and 0%. Theacute Grades3 and 4GU toxicitieswere 7% and 0%. Grade4 chronic GItoxicity occurredin 1(1/15;7%).TherewerenoGrades3or4chronicGUtoxicities.The3-monthpost-therapyFDG-PET/CTdemonstratedacomplete metabolic response in 13/14 (93%) and a partial metabolic response in 1/14 (7%) The median follow-up time for those alive at last follow-up was 28 months. The 3-year cause-specific and progression-free survivals were 92 and 77%.
Identity and Intergroup Leadership: Asymmetrical Political and National Identification in Response to Uncertainty

Based on research showing that feelings of self-uncertainty increase group identification, we explored the idea that leader-induced uncertainty might under some conditions also strengthen identification. Given that most leadership situations involve leading diverse subgroups, the effectiveness of leader-induced uncertainty to increase identification would likely be influenced by the extent to which members viewed the superordinate group as reflecting their own subgroup's attributes, as well as the extent to which the superordinate group leader was considered prototypical of their subgroup. Students (N = 125) indicated their party affiliation (Democrat vs. Republican) and political ideology (liberal vs. conservative), and read a speech by the current US President, George W. Bush, in which they were instructed to focus on aspects of the speech that made them feel uncertain or feel certain. Dependent measures were strength of national (American) identification and strength of identification with their politi...
Jump-Landing Mechanics After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Landing Error Scoring System Study

Context: The Landing Error Scoring System (LESS) is a clinical evaluation of jump-landing mechanics and may provide useful information in assisting with return-to-sport decisions in patients after ...
7.87 eV postionization of peptides containing tryptophan or derivatized with fluorescein

Chemical tags such as anthracene can be attached to a molecular analyte and serve as chromophores for 7.87 eV laser postionization by lowering the overall ionization potential of the tagged molecular complex. Fluorescein and tryptophan are demonstrated as two new tags for 7.87 eV laser postionization of various amino acids and peptides. Other molecular species that are efficient fluorescence probes should also serve as tags for 7.87 eV postionization since they display highest occupied molecular orbitals with extended π-conjugation that lead to ionization potentials below this photon energy and an ability to stabilize the net positive charge of the radical cations. This technique is demonstrated here for laser desorbed species, but is also applicable to keV ion sputtered neutrals. Overall, 7.87 eV laser postionization of derivatized species promises to expand the capabilities of mass spectrometric surface analysis.
Conductance fluctuations in small devices

Abstract A brief review of the recent theoretical development concerning conductance fluctuations in small divices is given.
Mapping the volumetric soil water content of a California vineyard using high-frequency GPR ground wave data

Water distribution in the top 1 m of the earth's surface soil layer often controls the success of agricultural crops. In this near-surface zone, large spatial and temporal variations in soil water content are associated with soil heterogeneities, topography, land cover, evapotranspiration, and precipitation. Conventional techniques of measuring soil water content for agricultural purposes—e.g., time domain reflectometry (TDR), neutron probe, or gravimetric techniques, are intrusive and provide information at a point scale only, which is often inadequate for capturing the variations in soil water content with sufficient resolution. Both passive and active remote sensing methods have also been investigated as a tool to provide soil water content in the top 0–5 cm of the subsurface over large spatial areas and in a rapid manner. However, it is still a challenge to obtain information about soil water content from remote sensing data in the presence of a mature crop cover. At the spatial and temporal scales ne...
MECHANISTIC ASPECTS OF THE OXIDATIVE FUNCTIONALIZATION OF ETHANE AND ETHANOL BY PLATINUM(II) SALTS IN AQUEOUS MEDIUM. ROLE OF PLATINUM(II)-OLEFIN AND PLATINUM(IV)-ALKYL INTERMEDIATES

Abstract The relative rate of CH bond activation by the Pt(II) ion decreased in the order HCH2CH3 > HCH2CH2OH > HCH(OH)CH3. The platinum(II)-ethylene complex, [PtCl3(C2H4)]−1, 1, was the key intermediate in the oxidation of ethane, ethanol, and diethyl ether to 1,2-ethanediol by platinum(II) in aqueous medium. In particular, the intermediary of 1 in the oxidation of ethanol to 1,2-ethanediol and 2-chloroethanol was verified through labelling studies. In D2O, 1, upon oxidation with one of a number of oxidants, converted to [PtCl5(CH2CH2OD)]2−, 2. 2 in turn decomposed to a mixture of 1,2-ethanediol and 2-chloroethanol on heating. The rate conversion of 1 was a function of pH, the anions present, and the oxidant used. While the conversion of 1 to 2 involved a nucleophilic attack by water for hydroxide ion), such a step was not observed in the absence of an oxidant. On basic D2O, the sequential replacement of Cl− by OD− in 1 occurred to successively form [PtCl2(OD)(C2H4)]−, [PtCl(OD)2(C2H4)]− and [Pt(OD)3(C2H4)]−. The process was reversed upon acidification. The species [PtCl5(CH2CHO)]2−, 3, appeared to be the source for the small quantities of hydroxy- and/ or chloroacetaldehyde formed during the oxidation of 1. 3 was synthesized independently by the reaction of acetaldehyde with a mixture of PtCl42−, and PtCl62− in aqueous medium. When 1 was oxidized by Cl2 in CD3OD solution, the principal product was [PtCl5(CH2CO2D)]2− 4, when a small amount of water was present, and CD3OCH2CH2OCD3 in the absence of water.
Laparoscopy for colorectal cancer: where do we stand?

u b o l a w f d s t i p our years ago, in the last issue of this journal that reviewed laparoscopic applications in olorectal surgery, the title of this paper was Laparoscopic Colectomy for Cancer: The Need or Trials.”1 The results of several randomized ontrolled trials (RCT) of laparoscopic surgery for olorectal cancer have become available in the last ew years, yet this approach remains controversial hen performed for cancer. Why is this still so?
Affective States of the Consumer and Satisfaction with Services in the Airline Industry

Abstract While its importance in marketing is never questioned, customer satisfaction has rightly been described as “a complex and elusive phenomenon.” The search continues for factors/variables that determine its presence and magnitude. This paper examines the affective aspect of customer satisfaction in the globally important, but highly competitive airline industry. Two major forms of affective state of the consumer are examined, namely: (i) mood, and (ii) quality of life. Findings show that both tend to have significant influence on the level of satisfaction with services in the airline industry. However, some elementary services tend to be more influenced than others by these affective states of the consumer. Implications, and managerial applications of the findings for augmenting customer satisfaction in the airline industry are discussed.
Monomorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) in Childhood: Electrophysiologic and Pharmacologic Characteristics

Three children with accelerated ventricular rhythms (AVR), ages 12, 14 and 15 years, were evaluated. Symptoms included chest pain (2 patients) and dizziness (1 patient). Chest x-rays were normal; EGG revealed normal axis, voltage and QT interval in sinus rhythm. Echocardiogram revealed only mitral valve prolapse (in 2 patients with chest pain). Exercise testing resulted in suppression of AVR in all patients. Holter monitor revealed multiple runs of nonsustained AVR in all patients (rate 70, 80, and 130 bpm). The QRS demonstrated a LBBB pattern in all patients (2 with RAD). Isoproterenol infusion resulted in suppression of fast AVR in one patient, while it resulted in acceleration in both patients with slow AVR (rate 110 and 130 bpm after infusion). Thus, all 3 patients demonstrated VT (rate >100 bpm). Electrophysiologic testing including programmed ventricular stimulation, revealed normal conduction systems and no inducible VT. Overdrive suppression of AVR was possible. Earliest endocardial activation was in the RVOT in 2 patients. Propranolol resulted in AVR suppression in 2 patients, exacerbation in 1. Verapamil and procainamide resulted in AVR suppression in 2 patients to whom the drugs were given. Monomorphic VT in children with normal myocardium is a subset of VT with a unique mechanism and variable pharmacologic response. Prognosis is probably good.
5' avian leukosis virus sequences and osteopetrotic potential.

Abstract Recombinants of Rous-associated virus-0 and Br21 have been used to localize 5′ viral sequences that affect the osteopetrotic potential of avian leukosis viruses. Rous-associated virus-0 is a benign subgroup E virus of endogenous origin that does not cause osteopetrosis. Br21 is a constructed subgroup E virus with high osteopetrotic potential. 5′ sequences that affected osteopetrotic potential resided in an 834-bp region near the 5′ LTR. Sequence analysis of this region revealed differences between Br21 and RAV-0 in the mRNA leader and codons for MA.
New surgical approach to complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease: Transthoracic parietal cell vagotomy

Surgical treatment of peptic stricture of the esophagus associated with columnar (Barrett) metaplasia can be a difficult problem. Collis-Nissen fundoplication restores an intraabdominal antireflux barrier for most cases of peptic stricture; however, 20% of patients may have persistence of pathological acid reflux. By reducing acidity of postoperative reflux, parietal cell vagotomy may complement nonresectional surgical results for Barrett stricture.
Plasmodium vinckei: production of chloroquine-resistant strain.

Abstract To date only two species of malarial parasites, Plasmodium falciparum in man and P. berghei in mice, have demonstrated the ability to develop a high degree of resistance to chloroquine. A strain of P. vinckei which is resistant to the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of chloroquine in mice has been selected from a pyrimethamine-resistant parent strain. Groups of five or more mice were treated with varying doses of drug for 3–4 days starting the day after parasite inoculation. Subpassages were made from mice treated with the highest dose of drug that allowed for some development of parasites. Resistance developed gradually during 37 successive chloroquine-treated passages over a period of about 44 weeks. In subsequent passages, the parasite was resistant to the MTD of chloroquine for mice (200 mg/kg/day). The dose of chloroquine which suppressed the parent strain by 99.9% on Day 7 was 5 mg/kg/day for 4 days. Sixty percent of mice treated with 10 mg/kg/day of chloroquine and all mice treated with doses of 20 mg/kg/day and greater were cured. Associated with resistance to chloroquine were the parasite's failure to produce detectable pigment in treated mice and the appearance of multiple vacuoles. The resistant strain in treated mice is characterized by slower developing, less fatal parasitemias while in untreated mice fulminating infections often result in death. This new species of chloroquine-resistant malaria may be of value as a laboratory model for the study of acquired drug resistance.
A Prospective Study of the Clinical Content of Palliative Medicine Interdisciplinary Team Meetings

Structured interprofessional communication should improve the structure and clarity of the plan of care. The interdisciplinary team meeting (IDTM) is an opportunity for shared information on patien...
Deformation twinning and residual stress in calcite studied with synchrotron polychromatic X-ray microdiffraction

Microstructures of deformed calcite in marble from the Bergell Alps are studied by using a microfocused polychromatic synchrotron X-ray beam. The high spatial resolution, together with orientation and strain resolutions, reveals twin plane orientation, multiple twin lamellae, and strain distributions associated with the twins. Single and multiple mechanical twins on $$ e = \left\{ {01\overline{1} 8} \right\} $$ systems are confirmed. Residual stresses are derived from the strain tensor that is derived from Laue diffraction patterns. Average lattice strains from several hundred to over one thousand microstrains are detected in a deformed marble from the Bergell Alps. Such strains suggest 60–120 MPa residual stresses. A detailed study of strain components shows that shear stresses on twin planes are completely released.
Presence of calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein Kinase II in Nerve terminals of rat brain

Calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type II, a multimeric 550-650 kilodalton enzyme composed of major alpha (50 kilodalton) and beta/beta' (60/58 kilodalton) subunits, is present in high concentrations in mammalian brain. Previous immunocytochemical studies indicated that the enzyme is enriched in cell bodies and dendrites, but did not show a clear-cut localization in nerve terminals. The present study presents evidence, using lesion-induced degenerations of pre- and postsynaptic neuronal populations in the neostriatum and substantia nigra, that calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, as measured both by autophosphorylation of enzyme subunits and by synapsin I kinase activity, is present in high concentrations in several populations of presynaptic terminals. Lesions of the corticostriatal tract decreased the amount of enzyme by 30-40% in the neostriatum, a decrease similar to that seen in the same region of synapsin I, a general nerve terminal marker. Lesions of the striatonigral tract induced an even more pronounced decrease of the enzyme in the substantia nigra; this decrease was larger than the lesion-induced change of synapsin I seen in the same region. Our data therefore indicate that certain nerve terminal populations in the rat brain contain high levels of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II.
Biochemical characterization and cellular distribution of a polymorphic, murine cell-surface glycoprotein expressed on lymphoid tissues

A murine leukocyte surface glycoprotein (Mr = 95 000) has been defined by means of xenogeneic monoclonal antibodies. In normal hematopoietic tissues, the glycoprotein is found in highest amounts in the bone marrow. Flow cytometric analysis shows that essentially all bone-marrow cells express the glycoprotein and that it is a major component of a subpopulation of cells containing predominantly granulocytic precursors. In contrast, only about 5 percent of thymocytes express sufficient glycoprotein to be detected by flow cytometric analysis, although under stringent conditions up to 20 percent of thymocytes are susceptible to complement-mediated cytotoxicity using a monoclonal antibody against the glycoprotein. Functional assays showed that both prothymocytes and colony forming unit-spleen express the glycoprotein which is broadly distributed on murine hematopoietic tumor cell lines. However, although some Thy-I+ (T) cell lymphomas express large amounts of the glycoprotein, others do not express detectable quantities of the molecule. The glycoprotein is not restricted to hematopoietic cells and can be detected on lung, kidney, brain, and liver as well as cultured fibroblasts. Monoclonal antibodies against the glycoprotein cross-react with an antigen present on human cells. As described in the accompanying paper, the glycoprotein exists in two antithetical allelic forms and we show that it is identical to a polymorphic surface molecule independently characterized by Colombatti and co-workers.
Design Guidelines for Multiplayer Video Games on Multi-touch Displays

The proliferation of multi-touch, tabletop display systems during the last few years have made them an attractive option for interactive, multiuser applications such as museum exhibits and video games. While there is a large body of research on the use of multi-touch and tabletop devices in general purpose applications, far less research has investigated the use of these systems in video games and other entertainment applications. This paper provides a set of guidelines specific to multi-touch displays that can be used to augment existing video game development principles. Through example, we illustrate how the unique capabilities of multi-touch displays can be leveraged to create unique forms of gameplay that offer highly engaging multiplayer game experience. We describe three multiplayer games that have been developed by students as part of an interdisciplinary course in video game design.
Workplace spirituality versus workplace politics: what's wrong with becoming a “NON”?

Purpose – Examines ways to rise above organizational politics by redefining success and progress.Design/methodology/approach – Draws out the differences between workplace spirituality and workplace politics, demonstrating why the former is generally more positive than the latter.Findings – Contends that success should be synonymous with happiness rather than with affluence, while the real definition of human progress entails something that our civilization radically defies: acceptance of our legitimate place as members of a community that consists of human beings, as well as species different from – yet not inferior to – the human.Practical implications – Advances the view that many workers choose to leave highly political workplaces, and become NONs (no fiefdom, outsider, no fit).Social implications – Suggests that the NONs, once courageous enough to step outside the organizational box, move on in different settings, often entrepreneurial or smaller organizations, and are able to display greater performa...
The heart in primary systemic amyloidosis

Abstract 1. 1. A case of primary systemic amyloidosis is reported. The duration of the illness was one year. Death was due to cardiac failure, the result of extensive amyloid infiltration of the myocardium. 2. 2. There are now forty-five cases of primary systemic amyloidosis recorded in the literature. These have been reviewed, and their cardiac manifestations and involvement by amyloid substance have been summarized and discussed.
MOCVD growth of AlGaAs structures on nonplanar {111} substrates: evidence for lateral gas phase diffusion

We investigate the MOCVD growth characteristics of AlGaAs on nonplanar {111}A and {111}B substrates. Growth over features etched into the {111} substrates is found to be highly anisotropic and asymmetric. The ratio of growth rates on adjacent facets is strongly dependent on the depth of the etched feature during growth, and is strikingly different between AlGaAs and GaAs layers. These observations suggest a large difference in the surface chemistry of Al and Ga species under these growth conditions and indicate that the column III element determines the relative growth rates of different facets during nonplanar growth. The results also provide strong evidence that lateral gas phase diffusion of reactants can be perhaps more significant than surface migration as a mechanism determining the incorporation sites of column III elements. Growth characteristics on nonplanar {111} substrates are markedly different than those observed for nonplanar growth on {100} substrates, creating a new set of design tools for the single step growth of guided wave devices such as lasers, modulators and waveguides.
Magnetized Thermal Conduction Fronts

The evolution of planar thermal conduction fronts in the presence of a dynamically weak, but otherwise self-consistent, magnetic field is considered. The field is assumed to be connected and untangled. In the diffusion limit for the thermal conductivity, these fronts exhibit self-similar behavior, even in the presence of a field. The role of the field is restricted to channeling the heat flux along its lines of force, and it enters into the problem as a dimensionless angle variable. 'Combing' (or opening) of insulating field lines by the evaporative flow is explicitly demonstrated. Unless the field is nearly perpendicular to the front normal in the hot gas, insulating effects are not profound. Self-similarity breaks down if the front becomes saturated, and under certain conditions magnetized saturated conduction fronts cannot propagate: the solution characteristics of the wave equation form caustics. The physical resolution is the advent of two-fluid (nonlocal) heating. Such Coulomb-heated fronts are expected to be relatively rare in typical astrophysical systems. The large-scale effects of a magnetic field on cloud evaporation in the interstellar medium are briefly discussed, and it is suggested that these fields preclude the presence of time-independent evaporative solutions. Thermal interfaces may then continue to evolve until radiative cooling halts their development; large tracts of warm 10,000 K gas may result.
Extending shearing interferometry to high-NA for EUV optical testing

Characterizing and removing optical aberrations remains a key part of achieving ultimate resolution in EUV exposure tools. Common-path approaches such as lateral shearing interferometry (LSI) have had success at moderate numerical apertures (NA ≈ 0:3); however, these techniques run into several obstacles when applied at higher NA (NA > 0:4). Chief among these obstacles are systematic aberrations due to high incident angles on the diffraction grating and non-planar Talbot surfaces that create regions of low fringe contrast across the pupil. In this paper, we present strategies for addressing these obstacles to extend LSI to high numerical apertures. These strategies will be employed in the installation and alignment of the 0.5-NA SEMATECH Berkeley Microfield Exposure Tool (MET5).
Multiple-type, two-dimensional bin packing problems: Applications and algorithms

In this paper we consider a class of bin selection and packing problems (BPP) in which potential bins are of various types, have two resource constraints, and the resource requirement for each object differs for each bin type. The problem is to select bins and assign the objects to bins so as to minimize the sum of bin costs while meeting the two resource constraints. This problem represents an extension of the classical two-dimensional BPP in which bins are homogeneous. Typical applications of this research include computer storage device selection with file assignment, robot selection with work station assignment, and computer processor selection with task assignment. Three solution algorithms have been developed and tested: a simple greedy heuristic, a method based onsimulated annealing (SA) and an exact algorithm based onColumn Generation with Branch and Bound (CG). An LP-based method for generating tight lower bounds was also developed (LB). Several hundred test problems based on computer storage device selection and file assignment were generated and solved. The heuristic solved problems up to 100 objects in less than a second; average solution value was within about 3% of the optimum. SA improved solutions to an average gap of less than 1% but a significant increase in computing time. LB produced average lower bounds within 3% of optimum within a few seconds. CG is practical for small to moderately-sized problems — possibly as many as 50 objects.
Internal and External Mass Transfer in Biofilms Grown at Various Flow Velocities

It appears that biofilms arrange their internal structure according to the flow velocity at which they are grown, which affects the internal mass transfer rate and microbial activity. In biofilms grown at various flow velocities we determined the vertical profiles of the local relative effective diffusivity (termed D(l)) at several locations within each biofilm. From these profiles we calculated the surface-averaged relative effective diffusivity (termed D(sa)) at various distances from the bottom and plotted it against these distances. The D(sa) decreased linearly toward the bottom, forming well-defined profiles that were different for each biofilm. The gradients of these profiles were multiplied by the diffusivity of oxygen, zeta = D(w) dD(sa)/dz, and plotted versus the flow velocity at which each biofilm was grown. The gradients were low at flow velocities below 10 cm/s, reached a maximum at a flow velocity of 10 cm/s, and decreased again at flow velocities exceeding 10 cm/s. The existence of a maximum indicates a possibility that two opposing forces were affecting the slope of the profiles. To explain these observations we hypothesized that biofilms, depending on the flow velocity at which they are grown, arrange their internal architecture to control (1) the nutrient transport rate and (2) the mechanical pliability needed to resist the shear stress of the water flowing past them. It appears that biofilms attempt to satisfy the second goal first, to increase their mechanical strength, and that they do so at the expense of the nutrient transfer rate to deeper layers. This strength increase is associated with an increase in biofilm density, which slows down the internal mass transport rate. Biofilms grown at low flow velocities exhibit low density and high effective diffusivity but cannot resist higher shear stress, whereas biofilms grown at higher flow velocities are denser and can resist higher shear stress but have a lower effective diffusivity.
Mixed-space formalism for the dielectric response in periodic systems

We present a useful formalism for the calculation of the polarizability and dielectric response of periodic systems. Our approach is to introduce intermediate ``mixed-space'' functions with the full translational periodicity of the lattice. This is a considerable advantage over existing real-space methods since the decay length of a response function [such as \ensuremath{\epsilon}(r,r'\ensuremath{\Vert}\ensuremath{\omega})] can be significantly larger than the Wigner-Seitz cell radius. Further, we show that, in supercell calculations, these mixed-space functions decay as fast as the corresponding real-space quantities within one supercell, so that the present scheme can be combined with usual real-space cutoff techniques. The advantage of the present method compared to a standard reciprocal space approach is exemplified for the case of bulk silicon and for the case of a Si surface in a slab geometry.
On-line and off-line partial evaluation: semantic specifications and correctness proofs†

This paper presents semantic specifications and correctness proofs for both on-line and offline partial evaluation of strict first-order functional programs. To do so, our strategy consists of defining a core semantics as a basis for the specification of three non-standard evaluations: instrumented evaluation, on-line and off-line partial evaluation. We then use the technique of logical relations to prove the correctness of both on-line and off-line partial evaluation semantics.The contributions of this work are as follows:1. We provide a uniform framework to defining and proving correct both on-line and off-line partial evaluation.2. This work required a formal specification of on-line partial evaluation with polyvariant specialization. We define criteria for its correctness with respect to an instrumented standard semantics. As a by-product, on-line partial evaluation appears to be based on a fixpoint iteration process, just like binding-time analysis.3. We show that binding-time analysis, the preprocessing phase of off-line partial evaluation, is an abstraction of on-line partial evaluation. Therefore, its correctness can be proved with respect to on-line partial evaluation, instead of with respect to the standard semantics, as is customarily done.4. Based on the binding-time analysis, we formally derive the specialization semantics for off-line partial evaluation. This strategy ensures the correctness of the resulting semantics.
Necessary vigilance: Feminist critiques of masculinity

(2000). Necessary vigilance: Feminist critiques of masculinity. Critical Studies in Media Communication: Vol. 17, No. 1, pp. 105-108.
Bilateral Occipital Lobe Hyperperfusion Demonstrated by Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography during Seizure-Related Cortical Blindness

An 81-year-old woman with chronic dementia developed lethargy, confusion, binocular blindness, and episodic left-beating nystagmus. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed high signal in the right occipital region suggesting recent ischemia. A concurrent electroencephalogram (EEG) showed a right occipital seizure focus that spread to the opposite occipital lobe. A single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) performed during the seizure epoch showed bilateral occipital lobe hyperperfusion. This is the second report to document SPECT bi-occipital hyperperfusion in seizure-related cortical blindness.
Electrochemical investigation of carbonate-based electrolytes for high voltage lithium-ion cells

Abstract One conventional electrolyte (“Gen 2”) for lithium-ion batteries consists of 1.2 M LiPF 6 dissolved in ethylene carbonate and ethyl methyl carbonate. A comprehensive investigation of this electrolyte in a high-voltage graphite/LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 (LNMO) cell was carried out to evaluate its voltage stability under various charging conditions. Although the carbonate-based electrolyte was relatively stable when the graphite/LNMO cell was charged to 4.8 V at room temperature, the introduction of a constant-voltage charging step aggravated the oxidative decomposition of the electrolyte. Further increase in the cell charging voltage to 4.9 V or above and further increase in the temperature to 55 °C caused cell performance to deteriorate dramatically.
Natural radioisotope210Pb as an indicator of origin of fine-grained sediment

Distribution of210Pb in sediments on the South Texas Continental Shelf is related to dynamics of the sedimentary transport processes. This radioisotope, whose concentration is time-dependent, defines three depocenters on the shelf. In addition, the variation of210Pb activity at the sediment/water interface delineates areas of terrigenous sedimentation from hemipelagic sedimentation.
Production of proprioceptive errors with induced hypnotic anesthesia

Abstract The present study assessed the ability of Ss to localize their noses with the forefinger of their dominant hands. This was accomplished while S had his eyes closed and while the limb performing the task was or was not hypnotically anesthetized. In performing this task with an anesthetized limb, 2 error types were observed. The first involved a localization error of missing the nose location. A second error involved an increased amount of time required to find the nose location. An inverse relationship was found to exist between these error types such that a large localization error was associated with a short latency period while a small localization error was associated with a long latency period. Neither error type was evident when hypnotic anesthesia was absent.
Thermal Expansion Coefficients of Composite Materials Based on Energy Principles

Bounds on effective thermal expansion coefficients of isotropic and anisotropic composite materials consisting of isotropic phases are derived by employing extremum principles of thermoelasticity. ...
SCALAR CURVATURE AND HAMMOCKS

Scalar curvature is the simplest generalization of Gaussian curvature to higher dimensions. However there are many questions open with regard to its relation to other geometric quantities and topology. Here we will prove and illustrate some features of scalar curvature in higher dimensions related to a general hammock effect for scalar curvature, namely the one-sided affinity for curvature decreasing deformations. The first one is concerned with some prescribed decrease of the scalar curvature Scal(g) of some Riemannian metric g on a given manifoldMn of dimension≥ 3. We denote the e−neighborhood of some set U with respect to g by Ue.
The End of the Main Sequence

We present stellar evolution calculations for the lowest mass stars, i.e., those stars with masses in the range 0.08 M☉ ≤ M* ≤ 0.25 M☉. Our particular emphasis is on the post-main-sequence evolution of these objects. We establish a hydrogen-burning timescale of τH ~ 1.0 × 1013 years for the minimum-mass main-sequence star. This timescale determines the duration over which the light of our Galaxy is dominated by a conventional stellar contribution. We find that for masses M* < 0.25 M☉, stars remain fully convective for a significant fraction of the duration of their evolution. The maintenance of full convection precludes the development of large composition gradients and allows the entire star to build up a large helium mass fraction. We find that stars with masses M < 0.20 M☉ will never evolve through a red giant stage. After becoming gradually brighter and bluer for trillions of years, these late M dwarfs of today will develop radiative-conductive cores and mild nuclear shell sources; these stars then end their lives as helium white dwarfs. Our work has significant bearing on the general question of why stars become red giants. The fact that the lowest mass stars grow neither red nor giant as they evolve provides an important insight into this problem. Through both analytical and numerical arguments, we have determined that the development of low-mass red giants requires a combination of (1) increasing core luminosity, (2) the existence of molecular weight gradients between the core and the envelope, and (3) the presence of an atmospheric opacity which is an increasing function of temperature. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results with regards to the long-term fate and evolution of the Galaxy.
Ambient air pollution and cancer in California Seventh-day Adventists.

Abstract Cancer incidence and mortality in a cohort of 6 000 Seventh-day Adventist nonsmokers who were residents of California were monitored for a 6-y period, and relationships with long-term ambient concentrations of total suspended particulates (TSPs) and ozone (O3) were studied. Ambient concentrations were expressed as mean concentrations and exceedance frequencies, which are the number of hours during which concentrations exceeded specified cutoffs (e.g., federal and California air quality standards). Risk of malignant neoplasms in females increased concurrently with exceedance frequencies for all TSP cutoffs, except the lowest, and these increased risks were highly statistically significant. An increased risk of respiratory cancers was associated with only one cutoff of O3, and this result was of borderline significance. These results are presented in the context of setting standards for these two air pollutants.
Geochemical studies of feldspathic fragmental breccias and the nature of North Ray Crater ejecta

Wide variations in clast assemblages and bulk compositions are found in the matrix and clasts from feldspathic fragmental breccias by means of major and trace element analyses. The major components are found to be anorthosites, ferroan anorthositic norites, magnesian granulites, feldspathic melt rocks, and very high alumina impact melts. The compositional characteristics of bulk breccias and feldspathic melt rocks are quantitatively modeled as two- to five-component mixtures. Breccia 67455 is unique in consisting entirely of ferroan, KREEP-free components.
Input impedance of arc antennas and short helical radiators

The problem of the input impedance of curved wire antennas is generally formulated in terms of an integral equation. A stationary formula is used in evaluating the input impedances of arc antennas and short helical radiators of which the cylindrical antenna is a special case. The computational results are presented in graphical form. The impedance characteristics of these curved antennas are discussed.
Coordinated supply chain dynamic production planning model

Coordination of different and often contradicting interests of individual supply chain members is one of the important issues in supply chain management because the individual members can not succeed without success of the supply chain and vice versa. This paper investigates a supply chain dynamic production planning problem with emphasis on coordination. A planning problem is formally described using a supply chain kernel, which defines supply chain configuration, management policies, available resources and objectives both at supply chain or macro and supply chain member or micro levels. The coordinated model is solved in order to balance decisions made at the macro and micro levels and members' profitability is used as the coordination criterion. The coordinated model is used to determine inventory levels and production capacity across the supply chain. Application of the coordinated model distributes costs burden uniformly among supply chain members and preserves overall efficiency of the supply chain. Influence of the demand series uncertainty is investigated. The production planning model is a part of the integrated supply chain decision modeling system, which is shared among the supply chain members across the Internet.
Ecuador's mangrove forest carbon stocks: a spatiotemporal analysis of living carbon holdings and their depletion since the advent of commercial aquaculture.

In this paper we estimate the living carbon lost from Ecuador’s mangrove forests since the advent of export-focused shrimp aquaculture. We use remote sensing techniques to delineate the extent of mangroves and aquaculture at approximately decadal periods since the arrival of aquaculture in each Ecuadorian estuary. We then spatiotemporally calculate the carbon values of the mangrove forests and estimate the amount of carbon lost due to direct displacement by aquaculture. Additionally, we calculate the new carbon stocks generated due to mangrove reforestation or afforestation. This research introduces time and LUCC (land use / land cover change) into the tropical forest carbon literature and examines forest carbon loss at a higher spatiotemporal resolution than in many earlier analyses. We find that 80 percent, or 7,014,517 t of the living carbon lost in Ecuadorian mangrove forests can be attributed to direct displacement of mangrove forests by shrimp aquaculture. We also find that IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) compliant carbon grids within Ecuador’s estuaries overestimate living carbon levels in estuaries where substantial LUCC has occurred. By approaching the mangrove forest carbon loss question from a LUCC perspective, these findings allow for tropical nations and other intervention agents to prioritize and target a limited set of land transitions that likely drive the majority of carbon losses. This singular cause of transition has implications for programs that attempt to offset or limit future forest carbon losses and place value on forest carbon or other forest good and services.
First-aid: surviving and preventing memory management bugs during production runs

Memory bugs in C/C++ programs severely affect system availability and security. This paper presents First-Aid, a lightweight runtime system that survives software failures caused by common memory management bugs and prevents future failures by the same bugs during production runs. Upon a failure, First-Aid diagnoses the bug type and identifies the memory objects that trigger the bug. To do so, it rolls back the programto previous checkpoints and uses two types of environmental changes that can prevent or expose memory bug manifestation during re-execution. Based on the diagnosis, First-Aid generates and applies runtime patches to avoid the memory bug and prevent its reoccurrence. Furthermore, First-Aid validates the consistent effects of the runtime patches and generates on-site diagnostic reports to assist developers in fixing the bugs.We have implemented First-Aid on Linux and evaluated it with seven applications that contain various types of memory bugs, including buffer overflow, uninitialized read, dangling pointer read/write, and double free. The results show that First-Aid can quickly diagnose the tested bugs and recover applications from failures (in 0.084 to 3.978 seconds). The results also show that the runtime patches generated by First-Aid can prevent future failures caused by the diagnosed bugs. Additionally, First-Aid provides detailed diagnostic information on both the root cause and the manifestation of the bugs. Furthermore, First-Aid incurs low overhead (0.4-11.6% with an average of 3.7%) during normal execution for the tested buggy applications, SPEC INT2000, and four allocation intensive programs.
Effect of zonal asymmetries in stratospheric ozone on simulated Southern Hemisphere climate trends

[1] Stratospheric ozone is represented in most climate models by prescribing zonal-mean fields. We examine the impact of this on Southern Hemisphere (SH) trends using a chemistry climate model (CCM): multi-decadal simulations with interactive stratospheric chemistry are compared with parallel simulations using the same model in which the zonal-mean ozone is prescribed. Prescribing zonal-mean ozone results in a warmer Antarctic stratosphere when there is a large ozone hole, with much smaller differences at other times. As a consequence, Antarctic temperature trends for 1960 to 2000 and 2000 to 2050 in the CCM are underestimated when zonal-mean ozone is prescribed. The impacts of stratospheric changes on the tropospheric circulation (i.e., summertime trends in the SH annular mode) are also underestimated. This shows that SH trends related to ozone depletion and recovery are underestimated when interactions between stratospheric ozone and climate are approximated by an imposed zonal-mean ozone field.
Lack of effect of pulsed ultrasound on ABO antigens of human erythrocytes in vitro

Abstract The efficacy of pulsed ultrasound in removing ABO blood group antigens from human erythrocytes was investigated in vitro . Cell suspensions were exposed to 5.25 MHz focused ultrasound with 1.23 μs pulses, at 0, 20, and 37°C using spatial peak, pulse average intensities of 11, 126, and 1000 W/cm 2 and pulse spacings of 10, 100, and 1000 μs. A second experiment involved application of 7.5 MHz pulses of 0.77 μs duration and 8 W/cm 2 SPPA intensity which were spaced 1.25 ms apart. Exposed cells were tested for agglutination by antibody to determine changes in antigen expression. In addition, supernates from exposed cells were tested for the presence of soluble antigen. A sensitive capillary tube agglutination technique was developed for these experiments. No detectable antigen removal occurred as a result of any of the pulsed ultrasound exposures as compared to sham exposures. A positive control, which employed antigenic material prepared from cells disrupted by ultrasonic cavitation, indicated that the assay could detect the soluble antigen equivalent of about one cell in 10,000.