cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A comparison of the magnetic properties of synthetic titanomaghemites and some oceanic basalts

The variation of some magnetic properties of (1) synthetic titanomaghemites and (2) oceanic basalts from DSDP site 417 D as a function of grain size and oxidation is presented. The synthesis of the initial titanomagnetite (x = 0.6) was carried out, using controlled fugacity and self-buffering techniques. Single-phase titanomaghemites were produced by heating the titanomagnetite in air at low temperatures (<350°C). The magnetic properties studied on the synthetic titanomagnetite (grain size ∼ 1 μm) show the following variations with increasing degrees of oxidation (0 ≤ z ≤ 0.6): (1) Curie temperature (Tc) increases, (2) saturation magnetization (Js) at room temperature increases, (3) Js measured at 77°K decreases for z ≲ 0.3 and then increases for 0.3 < z ≲ 0.6, (4) bulk and remanent coercivities (Hc and Hr) increase slightly initially (z < 0.2) and then decrease at both room temperature and 77°K, (5) susceptibility (χ0) decreases for z ≲ 0.3 and then increases, (6) the magnetic viscosity acquisition and decay coefficients (Sa and Sd) increase and (7) the median destructive fields for an anhystretic remanent magnetization and a viscous remanent magnetization increase for z ≲ 0.3 and then decrease. These magnetic data also suggest that the synthetic titanomaghemites are pseudo-single domained (PSD) and with increasing degrees of oxidation these PSD grains become more SD-like. The basalt samples from site 417D are divided into fine-grained pillow basalts and coarse-grained massive flows. Most of the magnetic properties measured are distinctly different between these two groups. The magnetic data indicate that the domain states of these basalts are probably PSD. Although it is difficult to separate the effects of grain size and oxidation on the magnetic properties of these basalts, it appears that grain size effects predominate. A preliminary investigation of the magnetic viscosity of the synthetic and oceanic titanomaghemites suggests that a combination of thermally activated and diffusive magnetic viscosity is responsible for their viscous behavior. Finally, we will discuss the roles of grain size and oxidation variation in oceanic basalts and their separate and combined effects on their magnetic behavior.
Why are ISDN standards important

The advantages offered by the integrated services digital network (ISDN) to US Department of Defense (DoD) communications in terms of interoperability provides a framework for a discussion of ISDN standards. The standards organizations working on ISDN and network protocol standards are described, and their relationship to each other is delineated. The status of the standards being developed is discussed, and those that would be of special interest to the US DoD are examined. >
Alcohol: A Double-Edged Sword

In the case of alcohol consumption a little is better than too much. Drinking in moderation had health benefits while drinking in access can be life threatening. Here we explore the impact alcohol ...
Desmin Cytoskeleton Linked to Muscle Mitochondrial Distribution and Respiratory Function

Ultrastructural studies have previously suggested potential association of intermediate filaments (IFs) with mitochondria. Thus, we have investigated mitochondrial distribution and function in muscle lacking the IF protein desmin. Immunostaining of skeletal muscle tissue sections, as well as histochemical staining for the mitochondrial marker enzymes cytochrome C oxidase and succinate dehydrogenase, demonstrate abnormal accumulation of subsarcolemmal clumps of mitochondria in predominantly slow twitch skeletal muscle of desmin-null mice. Ultrastructural observation of desmin-null cardiac muscle demonstrates in addition to clumping, extensive mitochondrial proliferation in a significant fraction of the myocytes, particularly after work overload. These alterations are frequently associated with swelling and degeneration of the mitochondrial matrix. Mitochondrial abnormalities can be detected very early, before other structural defects become obvious. To investigate related changes in mitochondrial function, we have analyzed ADP-stimulated respiration of isolated muscle mitochondria, and ADP-stimulated mitochondrial respiration in situ using saponin skinned muscle fibers. The in vitro maximal rates of respiration in isolated cardiac mitochondria from desmin-null and wild-type mice were similar. However, mitochondrial respiration in situ is significantly altered in desmin-null muscle. Both the maximal rate of ADP-stimulated oxygen consumption and the dissociation constant (Km) for ADP are significantly reduced in desmin-null cardiac and soleus muscle compared with controls. Respiratory parameters for desmin-null fast twitch gastrocnemius muscle were unaffected. Additionally, respiratory measurements in the presence of creatine indicate that coupling of creatine kinase and the adenine translocator is lost in desmin-null soleus muscle. This coupling is unaffected in cardiac muscle from desmin-null animals. All of these studies indicate that desmin IFs play a significant role in mitochondrial positioning and respiratory function in cardiac and skeletal muscle.
On the behavior and shape of mixture failure rates from a family of IFR Weibull distributions

Populations of many types of component are heterogeneous and often consist of a small number of different subpopulations. This is called a mixture and it arises in a number of situations. For example, a majority of products in industrial populations are mixtures of defective items with shorter lifetimes and standard items with longer lifetimes. It is a well-known result that distributions with decreasing failure rates are closed under mixture. However, mixtures of distributions with increasing failure rates are not easily classifiable. If the subpopulations involved in the mixture have increasing failure rates, there might be some upward movement in the mixture and later a general downward pull towards the strongest component. Little work has been done in describing the shape of mixture failure rates when all subpopulations do not have decreasing failure rate. In this paper, we present general results that describe the shape and behavior of a failure rate of a mixture obtained from two Weibull subpopulations with strictly increasing failure rates. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 2004
Perspective on “Theoretical studies of enzymic reactions: dielectric, electrostatic and steric stabilization of the carbonium ion in the reaction of lysozyme”

This paper provides an overview of the title paper by Warshel and Levitt. Its important contributions and influence to present-day studies of enzymatic processes are discussed.
MUC1 alters β-catenin-dependent tumor formation and promotes cellular invasion

MUC1 is aberrantly expressed in greater than 90% of all breast carcinomas, yet its function as a tumor antigen is not fully understood. Recently, studies have shown that MUC1 interacts with β-catenin, erbB receptors, src, GSK-3β and protein kinase Cδ, possibly in a complex that promotes the disassembly of adherens junctions and the invasion of cells. Here we show that the deletion of Muc1 expression from MMTV-Wnt-1 transgenic mice results in a significant increase in the time to mammary gland tumor onset. Analysis of MMTV-Wnt-1 tumors on a wild-type Muc1 background shows a tumor-specific complex formation between Muc1 and β-catenin that can be observed in both the membrane and the cytoplasm of transformed epithelium. Analysis of primary human adenocarcinomas revealed that this MUC1/β–catenin interaction occurs in both primary and metastatic tumors, but is dramatically increased in metastatic lesions. Addition of MUC1-cytoplasmic domain peptides to the invasive MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines increases their invasive capability, and these peptides colocalize with both β-catenin and the focal adhesion protein vinculin, primarily at sites of membrane invasion into a collagen matrix. These data indicate a potential mechanism for MUC1 promotion of invasive tumorigenesis in the breast through the modulation of β-catenin localization and subsequent cytoskeletal dynamics.
Minimal Clinically Important Difference in the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire

Objective. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) is a disease-specific composite instrument that measures the effect of problems experienced by patients with fibromyalgia (FM). Utilization of the FIQ in measuring changes due to interventions in FM requires derivation of a clinically meaningful change for that instrument. Analyses were conducted to estimate the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), and to propose FIQ severity categories. Methods. Data from 3 similarly designed, 3-month placebo-controlled, clinical treatment trials of pregabalin 300, 450, and 600 mg/day in patients with FM were modeled to estimate the change in the mean FIQ total and stiffness items corresponding to each category on the Patient Global Impression of Change. FIQ severity categories were modeled and determined using established pain severity cutpoints as an anchor. Results. A total of 2228 patients, mean age 49 years, 93% women, with a mean baseline FIQ total score of 62 were treated in the 3 studies. Estimated MCID on a given measure were similar across the studies. In a pooled analysis the estimated MCID (95% confidence interval) was 14% (13; 15) and for FIQ stiffness it was 13% (12; 14). In the severity analysis a FIQ total score from 0 to Conclusion. The analysis indicates that a 14% change in the FIQ total score is clinically relevant, and results of these analyses should enhance the clinical utility of the FIQ in research and practice.
Signal detection for vaccine side effects that have not been specified in advance

An information-theoretic definition of similarity proposed by Dekang Lin in 1998 appears to have attractive properties for identifying medically similar cases in a large database. Examination of similar cases that appear following vaccination may provide a way of detecting previously unexpected associations. A key element here is the inclusion of shared time-since-vaccination as a dimension of similarity while considering concordance on many other features. The system is potentially much more sensitive to patterns with multiple features than are very large, high-dimension contingency tables. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Delivery of two-part self-healing chemistry via microvascular networks

Multiple healing cycles of a single crack in a brittle polymer coating are achieved by microvascular delivery of a two-part, epoxy-based self-healing chemistry. Epoxy resin and amine-based curing agents are transported to the crack plane through two sets of independent vascular networks embedded within a ductile polymer substrate beneath the coating. The two reactive components remain isolated and stable in the vascular networks until crack formation occurs in the coating under a mechanical load. Both healing components are wicked by capillary forces into the crack plane, where they react and effectively bond the crack faces closed. Healing efficiencies of over 60% are achieved for up to 16 intermittent healing cycles of a single crack, which represents a significant improvement over systems in which a single monomeric healing agent is delivered.
Dispersive diffusive transport of free excitons in high purity silica

Abstract Si E ′ centers and oxygen hole centers (OHC) induced by pulsed ArF excimer laser irradiation in high purity silica are studied as a function of pulse repetition rates. It was found that the concentration of Si E ′ centers induced by a fixed photon fluence increases as the repetition rate approaches the decay rate of self-trapped excitons, while the production of OHC remains approximately the same. Dispersive diffusive transport of free excitons is inferred from a reported correlation of the growth of E ′ centers and OHC with increasing doses of high energy particles.
Active international mutual fund management; can managers neat the index?

We examine the benefits of active international mutual fund management. Is there an advantage to active fund management over investing in index funds? Previous research has found that for domestic funds, active fund management can not outperform index funds. But there has been no clear conclusion as to active international mutual fund management. We utilize Morningstar Mutual Fund data to analyze five international mutual fund categories, and overall, for a sample of 831 funds with 4,835 annual return data points. We find the difference in mean return (index minus fund return) is negative for all fund categories, except for Europe funds. The difference is significant overall and for four of the five fund categories. The results from the multivariate regression show no relationship between total return and expense ratio, but there is a significant positive relationship between total return and turnover, and a significant positive relationship between total return and fund size (LN net assets). As opposed to domestic mutual funds, it appears to be beneficial to select actively managed international mutual funds over index funds.
Hydrologic Factors Pertinent to Ground‐Water Contaminationa

Predictions of where and how a fluid waste may travel from disposal site to the water table require detailed information on the physical characteristics, location, and extent of all pervious and impervious materials in the unsaturated zone. Principles concerning the flow system in the unsaturated zone indicate the importance of choice of disposal technique in predicting the time required for the fluid waste to traverse the distance to the water table. With appropriate data on the location, extent, and physical properties of water-bearing materials and on the boundaries of the saturated zone flow system, it is possible to analyze the relative merits of a variety of waste disposal techniques and to describe the probable consequences of each. Environments of consolidated rocks, such as granites, sandstones, and limestones, pose problems in addition to those related to unconsolidated or granular porous media in defining the fluid-flow regimes that involve joint patterns, fracture patterns, solutional openings, and the rock structure. The consequences of ground-water contamination can be just as damaging to water users as the pollution of surface streams. In fact it can be argued that the consequences are far more damaging because they persist over much longer periods of time after the contaminating source has been eliminated. It would appear prudent, therefore, to guard against contamination of the ground-water resource in the first instance, rather than to engage in long expensive rehabilitation measures after the damage has been done. In 1960 Graham Walton presented data concerning contamination, by sewage or other man-made wastes, of surface and underground waters. The circumstances attending the reported incidents of contamination, especially those involving ground-water supplies, have aided materially in the choice of a few principles and ideas that will identify the role of some significant hydrologic factors in the underground movement of fluid wastes. Walton's discussion of ground-water contamination refers often to physical settings into which fluid wastes are discharged at or near the land surface into cesspools, tile-drain fields, and holding ponds. Furthermore, most reported instances of ground-water contamination have taken place in relatively humid
Fueling expansion in the third world: Population, development, debt, and the global decline of forests

Abstract Recent studies indicate that large‐scale deforestation may contribute to global warming and is a primary factor in the depletion of genetic material through extinction of plant and animal species. This study seeks to identify and estimate the importance of social factors affecting deforestation in the Third World. Using change scores in a linear regression analysis, the dependent variable, deforestation, is regressed on measures of rural population growth (1975–1985), change in agricultural development (1975–1985), and growth of national debt (1975–1985), while controlling for the original forest size (1975), total population (1975), and the original levels of development and debt (1975). Results, including 102 Third World countries, indicate that as both rural population and debt increase, so does deforestation. Increased agricultural development leads to less deforestation. Four countries—Brazil, Indonesia, India, and Colombia—are found to influence unduly the outcome of the regression. When th...
Thiazepine photochemistry. The photoaddition of methanol involving participation by sulphur

Irradiation of 5-ethoxy-2,3-dihydro-2,2,6-trimethyl-1,4-thiazepine (1) leads to dimerization in aprotic media and solvent addition in methanol, with ring contraction via participation of sulphur; under the same conditions, the hydrochloride of (1) adds methanol without rearrangement.
Cholinergic neurons from different subdivisions of the basal forebrain lack connectional specificity for cerebral cortical target sites in vitro

Basal forebrain cholinergic neurons send their axons to cerebral cortex in a topographically organized projection. Experiments tested the hypothesis that this topographic organization results from target preferences of the cholinergic neurons. Slices containing either medial septum or substantia innominata were grown in co-culture with slices of lateral neocortex and hippocampus. Cholinergic neurons from septum and from substantia innominata projected axons into neocortex and hippocampus, without obvious differences in pattern or density. These data suggest that basal forebrain cholinergic neurons can innervate any portion of the cerebral mantle.
Developing a Web-assisted class: An interview with Mark Mitchell

Jeanne M. Slattery (JMS), an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Clarion University (Clarion, PA), conducted this issue's interview for the Generalist's Corner. She uses electronic communication to mentor students us well as to help students develop a sense of being members of an academic community. She interviewed Mark Mitchell (MM), an Associate Professor of Psychology at Clarion University, who has written and presented extensively on the use of the World Wide Web (Web) in the classroom. Mitchell coordinates the home page for the Society for the Teaching of Psychology (http://psyl.clarion.edu/mm/Division2/d2.html). His classes can be found at psyl.clarion.edu/mm, and Slattery's can be accessed through psyl.clarion.edu/jms/index.html.
Structural and loads analysis of a two-stage fully reusable Advanced Manned Launch System

The conceptual design of a rocket-powered, two-stage fully reusable launch vehicle has been performed as a part of NASA's Advanced Manned Launch System (AMLS) study. This paper summarizes the structural design and loads analysis of this two-stage fully reusable launch vehicle. The method used to determine the structural weights consists of generating a finite-element model for each vehicle, selecting a set of critical loading conditions, determining the loads on the model caused by those conditions, determining the model response and changing the sizes of individual elements to obtain a safe structure. The integrated loads on the two-stage vehicle were obtained from a three-degrees-of-freedom trajectory analysis.
Studies with inhibitors of oligosaccharide processing indicate a functional role for complex sugars in the transport and proteolysis of friend mink cell focus-inducing murine leukemia virus envelope proteins

The functions of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides on the PrENV protein of Friend mink cell focus-inducing (FrMCF-1) murine leukemia virus were investigated by examining the effect of two inhibitors of different stages of the biosynthetic pathway of these sugar substituents on the synthesis and processing of the viral proteins. Treatment of virus-producing cells with tunicamycin totally inhibited the glycosylation of PrEnv, and resulted in the formation of a nonglycosylated form of the protein of molecular weight 62 kDa. This component was not proteolytically processed inside the cells, and neither it nor any derivative proteins were incorporated into extracellular virions. Treatment of cells with 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNM), which inhibits the cellular glucosidases normally involved in removal of the three glucose residues present on the initially transferred oligosaccharide chains, resulted in the intracellular accumulation of a slightly larger than normal form of PrENV, and decreased levels of cell-associated gp70. Only gp70 was detected on the cell surface. The bulk of the gp70 produced in the presence of the drug was aberrantly glycosylated, and contained decreased levels of complex and increased numbers of high mannose oligosaccharides; almost all of the gp70 molecules however, contained at least one complex sugar chain. Decreased incorporation of both env and gag proteins into extracellular virions was observed, despite the fact that the gag proteins were processed normally intracellularly; in contrast, DNM treatment of Gazdar murine sarcoma virus-infected HTG2 cells, which produce only gag but not env proteins, did not inhibit the release of extracellular virus. Ultrastructural examination of FrMCF-infected cells treated with DNM indicated the presence of large numbers of intracytoplasmic vacuoles, many of which contained viral particles. These studies indicate that the normal maturation process involved in the formation of complex oligosaccharides is necessary to obtain efficient transport to the plasma membrane and proteolysis of PrEnv, and also provide evidence suggesting a role for the env proteins in regulating assembly of gag proteins into virions.
A unified probabilistic approach for modeling trajectory‐based separations

The traditional approach to modeling solid–solid separations is based on solving differential equations for particle concentration profiles. This approach is difficult to generalize when the particle properties, such as size and charge, are random variables. If we view particle trajectories as the ultimate differentiating factor, and the nonsharpness of separation as a result of the existence of various random variables such as the random particle properties, and random velocities caused by such phenomena as hydrodynamic interactions, then the recovery can be modeled as a joint probability of particles reaching a certain separation boundary. It is shown that the probabilistic model is a unified approach for various trajectory-based particle separations including sink-float, froth flotation, and electrostatic separation. We transform the recovery models, which have various forms, to the single-form partition curve model that can simplify the design. The design procedure is reduced to optimally setting two model parameters by adjusting the design and operating variables. © 2005 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2005
A method for determining the oxygen-18 content of orthophosphate or water.

Abstract A method for determining the oxygen-18 content of orthophosphate or water is described. The method is based on the use of a high voltage discharge to bring about the rapid equilibration of oxygen-18 from water with carbon dioxide. Samples of KH2PO4 as low as 2 mg are readily analyzed.
Restricted active space spin-flip configuration interaction: Theory and examples for multiple spin flips with odd numbers of electrons

The restricted active space spin flip (RAS-SF) method is extended to allow ground and excited states of molecular radicals to be described at low cost (for small numbers of spin flips). RAS-SF allows for any number of spin flips and a flexible active space while maintaining pure spin eigenfunctions for all states by maintaining a spin complete set of determinants and using spin-restricted orbitals. The implementation supports both even and odd numbers of electrons, while use of resolution of the identity integrals and a shared memory parallel implementation allow for fast computation. Examples of multiple-bond dissociation, excited states in triradicals, spin conversions in organic multi-radicals, and mixed-valence metal coordination complexes demonstrate the broad usefulness of RAS-SF.
Some Effects of Temperature and Oxygen Concentration on Phyllopod Ecology

Seasonal distributional patterns of five phyllopods from southwest Texas are similar to those of the same species from more northern latitudes. At both latitudes a primary environmental cue controlling the appearance of phyllopods seems to be temperature. For instance, in Texas Branchinecta packardi was the only cold water species. In addition to the effects of temperature on phyllopod zoogeography, diurnal studies show that high temperatures contribute both directly and indirectly to oxygen depletion in temporary ponds. The comparative tolerance of phyllopods to near anaerobic conditions was as follows: calm shrimp, Caenestheriella setosa > tadpole shrimp, Triops longicaudatus > fairy shrimp, Streptocephalus texanus. See full-text article at JSTOR
Quadrupole broadening of NMR signal in 200 Å Al particles

Abstract Strong quadrupole broadening arising from proximity of surface to most of the nuclei has been seen in NMR signal from 200 A Al particles.
Relations between sinkhole density and anthropogenic contaminants in selected carbonate aquifers in the eastern United States

The relation between sinkhole density and water quality was investigated in seven selected carbonate aquifers in the eastern United States. Sinkhole density for these aquifers was grouped into high (>25 sinkholes/100 km2), medium (1–25 sinkholes/100 km2), or low (<1 sinkhole/100 km2) categories using a geographical information system that included four independent databases covering parts of Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee. Field measurements and concentrations of major ions, nitrate, and selected pesticides in samples from 451 wells and 70 springs were included in the water-quality database. Data were collected as a part of the US Geological Survey (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program. Areas with high and medium sinkhole density had the greatest well depths and depths to water, the lowest concentrations of total dissolved solids and bicarbonate, the highest concentrations of dissolved oxygen, and the lowest partial pressure of CO2 compared to areas with low sinkhole density. These chemical indicators are consistent conceptually with a conduit-flow-dominated system in areas with a high density of sinkholes and a diffuse-flow-dominated system in areas with a low density of sinkholes. Higher cave density and spring discharge in Pennsylvania also support the concept that the high sinkhole density areas are dominated by conduit-flow systems. Concentrations of nitrate-N were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in areas with high and medium sinkhole density than in low sinkhole-density areas; when accounting for the variations in land use near the sampling sites, the high sinkhole-density area still had higher concentrations of nitrate-N than the low sinkhole-density area. Detection frequencies of atrazine, simazine, metolachlor, prometon, and the atrazine degradate deethylatrazine indicated a pattern similar to nitrate; highest pesticide detections were associated with high sinkhole-density areas. These patterns generally persisted when analyzing the detection frequency by land-use groups, particularly for agricultural land-use areas where pesticide use would be expected to be higher and more uniform areally compared to urban and forested areas. Although areas with agricultural land use and a high sinkhole density were most vulnerable (median nitrate-N concentration was 3.7 mg/L, 11% of samples exceeded 10 mg/L, and had the highest frequencies of pesticide detection), areas with agricultural land use and low sinkhole density still were vulnerable to contamination (median nitrate-N concentration was 1.5 mg/L, 8% of samples exceeded 10 mg/L, and had some of the highest frequencies of detections of pesticides). This may be due in part to incomplete or missing data regarding karst features (such as buried sinkholes, low-permeability material in bottom of sinkholes) that do not show up at the scales used for regional mapping and to inconsistent methods among states in karst feature delineation.
Chemical Decontamination for Decommissioning (DFD) and DFDX

DFD is an acronym for the “Decontamination for Decommissioning” process developed in 1996 by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The process was designed to remove radioactivity from the surfaces of metallic components to allow these components to be recycled or free-released for disposal as non-radioactive. DFD is a cyclic process consisting of fluoroboric acid, potassium permanganate and oxalic acid. The process continues to uniformly remove base metal once oxide dissolution is complete. The DFD process has been applied on numerous components, sub-systems and systems including the reactor systems at Big Rock Point and Maine Yankee in the United States, and the Jose Cabrera (Zorita) Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Spain. The Big Rock Point site has been returned to Greenfield and at Maine Yankee the land under the license was reduced for an Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI). In the upcoming months the Zorita NPP in Spain will initiate dismantlement and decommissioning activities to return the site to a non-nuclear facility. The development of the EPRI DFD process has been an ongoing evolution and much has been learned from its use in the past. It is effective in attaining very high decontamination factors; however, DFD also produces secondary waste in the form of ion exchange resins. This secondary waste generation adds to the decommissioning quota but this can be improved upon at a time when radioactive waste storage at nuclear facilities and waste disposal sites is limited. To reduce the amount of secondary waste, EPRI has developed the DFDX process. This new process is an enhancement to the DFD process and produces a smaller amount of metallic waste rather than resin waste; this reduction in volume being a factor of ten or greater. Electrochemical ion exchange cells are the heart of the DFDX system and contain electrodes and cation ion exchange resin. It has been used very successfully in small system applications and the next evolution is to design, build and implement a system for the chemical decontamination for decommissioning of larger reactor systems and components, and Full System Decontamination (FSD). The purpose of this paper is to provide a reference point for those planning future chemical decontaminations for plant decommissioning. It is based on actual experience from the work already performed to date and the planned development of the DFDX process.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Stochastic Allocation and System Analysis

The optimum allocation of a fixed stock of unreliable units to a random number of demands is discussed. The demands occur at Poisson times; several types of criteria are described, but the most important optimum presented is of the probability that at least one allotted unit does not fail at every Poisson demand. Hence this concerns how unreliable elements can best be used to create a reliable system. The allocation problem arose in a military system analysis context. The results presented exemplify how system science concepts (Poisson models, recursive computation, and cost/ benefit comparisons) and current computing tools can be applied to practical problems.
Effectiveness of high-order adaptive optics in ground-based stellar interferometry

The ground-based optical interferometer with large apertures is a potential research tool for the study of stellar astrophysics and the synthesis of high-resolution stellar images. However, atmospheric turbulence can impose a significant limitation on the interferometer's performance. In order to reduce those degrading effects, we investigate the effectiveness of high-order adaptive optics in ground-based optical interferometry. The purposes of this paper are (1) to evaluate the performance with and without using high-order adaptive optics in a ground-based optical interferometer with large-aperture telescopes, and (2) to investigate the possibility of using the Strehl ratio to estimate visibility. The theoretical methodology and computer simulation results used to evaluate the performance of a ground-based stellar interferometer with high-order adaptive optics are presented, and a numerical computational method that uses the Strehl ratio to estimate the mean squared atmospheric coherence loss factor is developed.
Kafka's Jewish languages : the hidden openness of tradition

This essay connects Kafka's German and his Jewish linguistic sources, and explores the trans-national perspective on literary tradition they helped him create. I begin with a critique of Deleuze and Guattari's view of Kafka as a minority writer, showing how their cold war nationalism scants the positive contributions that Yiddish and Hebrew made to his work. I continue with an examination of the "twilight of containment," when this postcontemporary Kafka began to break through his cold war canonization after 1989. Other sections include: "German-Jewish Traditions: The Echoes of Yiddish," on Kafka's cultural politics; "Hebrew: Zionism in a Transnational Key"; and "Goethe's Jewish Voices," on Yiddish as a model for Kafka's new conception of national writing. I conclude by considering the Jewish and other sources of Kafka's "linguistic turn," and the general, transnational focus on tradition that Jewish languages brought to his classic texts.
EVIDENCE FOR NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION: MANHATTAN IN THE 1970s*

Systematic information about the extent and character of neighborhood revitalization in the inner city is rare. In this paper we measure overall and relative improvements in Manhattan neighborhoods by using various population and housing statistics gathered in 1970 and the mid-1970s. Only a few cases of neighborhood revitalization are found but they confirm hypotheses that three distinct types of revitalization may occur: upper strata revitalization, upgrading and lower strata revitalization. The utility of this approach, in comparison with methods now in use, is discussed.
Microbial community structure and productivity in the oxygen minimum zone of the eastern tropical North Pacific

Abstract Microbial abundances and activities (heterotrophic and chemoautotrophic) were profiled in the fall of 2007 along a transect of four stations in the upwelling region between the Tehuantepec Bowl, off the coast of southern Mexico, and the Costa Rica Dome. Heterotrophic potential varied with depth exhibiting relatively low maximum values of 4–8 nM leucine d −1 , but varied among stations by a factor of 2. Generally, heterotrophic potential varied inversely with nitrate implying NO 3 − draw down by nitrate-reducing chemoorganotrophs. Dark dissolved inorganic carbon assimilation (≈chemoautotrophy) was also highly variable with depth and reached a maximum value of 6.4 μM C d −1 at one station, but only attained maxima of 0.02 and 0.2 μM C d −1 at other stations. Elevated values of chemoautotrophy corresponded with enrichments in nitrite concentrations suggesting nitrification as well as with depletions in nitrite and ammonium concentrations suggesting anammox processes. Additions of 30 μM NH 4 + at selected depths stimulated chemoautotrophic activity up to 33-fold. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses revealed elevated abundances of Crenarchaeota and β-proteobacteria (up to 1.0×10 7 and 10.0×10 7 cells L −1 , respectively) associated with NH 4 + minima and NO 3 - maxima. Nitrifying β-proteobacteria were most abundant in the upper oxycline (1.1–1.8×10 7 cells L −1 ) at three stations and exhibited a secondary peak of 0.3×10 7 cells L −1 in the lower oxycline at one station. Anammox bacterial ( Planctomycetes ) abundances were as high as 2.1×10 6 cells L −1 , but accounted for less than 1% of total DAPI counts. The concentration of diploptene (a hopanoid biomarker found in bacteria) varied from 2 to 15 pg L −1 in the upper oxycline and from 51 to 160 pg L −1 in the lower oxycline. Delta 13 C values of particulate organic carbon (POC) varied from −30 to −21‰ in the water column (avg. −25‰). Distributions of isotopically light POC coincided with enrichments in diploptene, Planctomycetes cells, nitrite, and chemoautotrophy as well as with nitrate and ammonium depletions, suggesting that anammox and nitrification are important for secondary biological production in this system.
Diabetic atherothrombosis: helpful adjunctive therapy.

About 90% of type 2 diabetes is attributed to excess weight, which is present in 1.1 billion adults worldwide, and in westernized urban populations the prevalence of diabetes ranges from 14 to 20%.1 Diabetic patients have more cardiovascular events, which are more severe, with increased morbidity and mortality.2 Diabetes mellitus and the adequacy of glycaemic control by lifestyle and medical therapy affect atherothrombosis via alteration of arterial rheology, the arterial wall substrate and blood thrombogenicity.3,4 The rheology of blood flow in diabetics is worsened by physical obstruction and endothelial dysfunction causing vasoconstriction, which is, in part, worsened by decreased nitric oxide synthesis and increased thromboxane levels. Arterial plaque which is more prone to disruption and provides increased substrate for thrombosis, is worsened by a higher density of activated macrophages, tissue factor and glycosylated collagen in lesions from diabetics vs. non-diabetics. Diabetics have increased blood thrombogenicity, especially when their diabetes is poorly controlled, and often have increased serum fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), tissue-type plasminogen activator and coagulation factors II, V and VII, and increased numbers of glycoprotein receptors on platelets as well as increased D-dimer, von Willebrand factor antigen, anti-plasmin and decreased antithrombin III.3–6 Thus, the problem of increased atherothrombosis with increased cardiovascular events in diabetics is multifactorial but, importantly, is also related to decreased intraplatelet cAMP levels, which contributes to the reduced platelet inhibition following P2Y12 receptor antagonist therapy with clopidogrel in diabetics, i.e. the … *Corresponding author: Tel: +01 904 253 2000, Fax: +01 904 953 2911, Email: chesebrj{at}ummhc.org
Avoidance of nonprotein amino acid incorporation into protein by the seed predator,Caryedes brasiliensis (Bruchidae).

Larvae of the bruchid beetle,Caryedes brasiliensis (Bruchidae) have the ability to avoid significant incorporation ofl-canavanine, the guanidinooxy structural analog ofl-arginine, into de novo synthesized proteins. This ability is related to a highly discriminatory protein-synthesizing system which exhibits marked ability to avoid processing an array of nonprotein amino acids structurally related to arginine.
Surface modification of poly(styrene) by the attachment of an antimicrobial peptide

Polymers that directly inhibit the growth of microorganisms at their surface are potentially useful. To investigate the feasibility of such materials, poly(styrene) (PS) resin beads that had had poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) grafted onto the surface were further derivatized by covalently linking an antimicrobial peptide onto the surface. The antimicrobial peptide was composed of 8 lysine and 7 leucine (6K8L) residues. The resulting surface-modified polystyrene (SMPS) was microcidal in a concentration and time-dependent manner against several micro-organisms including E. coli O157 : H7, L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, P. fluorescens, and K. marxianus when suspended in phosphate buffer. The SMPS inhibited the growth of pathogenic E. coli O157 : H7 in trypticase soy broth. SMPS was bactericidal at pH 3.5 to 7, retained activity after heating to 200°C for 30 min, and could be extensively washed without loss of antimicrobial activity. Bioassays and HPLC analyses of buffer that had been preincubated with SMPS indicated that antimicrobial activity may have been due, at least in part, to the slow release of a peptide–PEG ligand from the PS to the buffer. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 609–616, 2001
Evidence of phonon-mediated coupling between charge transfer and ligand field excitons in Sr 2 CuO 2 Cl 2

We present a comparative experimental and theoretical investigation of the two-dimensional charge transfer gap in the strongly correlated material Sr{sub 2}CuO{sub 2}Cl{sub 2}. We observe an Urbach behavior in the absorption profile over a surprisingly wide range of energies and temperatures. We present a model that accounts for phonon scattering to infinite order and that allows us to explain the data accurately by assuming coupling of the charge transfer gap exciton to lower-energy electronic excitations.
Molecular forms of human growth hormone secreted in vivo: nonspecificity of secretory stimuli.

Several molecular forms of human GH (hGH) are present in blood, but their individual regulation is largely unknown. To examine the factors controlling the secretion of individual hGH variants, the relationship between the mixture of circulating hGH forms and the type of preceding secretory stimulus was studied in 18 normal subjects and 5 acromegalic patients. The stimuli employed were L-dopa, GH-releasing hormone-(l–40), exercise, spontaneous sleep-related and daytime secretory bursts, estrogens, and TRH in the acromegalic patients. Three monomeric hGH forms (22K, 20K, and acidic hGH) were identified in all samples; their mean relative proportions were 76.4%, 15.8%, and 7.9%, respectively. These proportions were similar in all subjects, regardless of stimulus, sex, or presence of acromegaly (P > 0.25). We conclude that the release of individual hGH forms is not stimulus specific, but, rather, that the secretory granule contents are released in toto upon somatotroph stimulation.
The forbidden projections of unate functions

Abstract We characterize the forbidden projections of unate Boolean functions. Forbidden projections are analogous to forbidden graph minors. Unate functions have been studied in switching theory and in computational learning theory.
Flow induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cellular heterogeneity and biomarker modulation in 3D ovarian cancer nodules

Seventy-five percent of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer present with advanced-stage disease that is extensively disseminated intraperitoneally and prognosticates the poorest outcomes. Primarily metastatic within the abdominal cavity, ovarian carcinomas initially spread to adjacent organs by direct extension and then disseminate via the transcoelomic route to distant sites. Natural fluidic streams of malignant ascites triggered by physiological factors, including gravity and negative subdiaphragmatic pressure, carry metastatic cells throughout the peritoneum. We investigated the role of fluidic forces as modulators of metastatic cancer biology in a customizable microfluidic platform using 3D ovarian cancer nodules. Changes in the morphological, genetic, and protein profiles of biomarkers associated with aggressive disease were evaluated in the 3D cultures grown under controlled and continuous laminar flow. A modulation of biomarker expression and tumor morphology consistent with increased epithelial–mesenchymal transition, a critical step in metastatic progression and an indicator of aggressive disease, is observed because of hydrodynamic forces. The increase in epithelial–mesenchymal transition is driven in part by a posttranslational up-regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression and activation, which is associated with the worst prognosis in ovarian cancer. A flow-induced, transcriptionally regulated decrease in E-cadherin protein expression and a simultaneous increase in vimentin is observed, indicating increased metastatic potential. These findings demonstrate that fluidic streams induce a motile and aggressive tumor phenotype. The microfluidic platform developed here potentially provides a flow-informed framework complementary to conventional mechanism-based therapeutic strategies, with broad applicability to other lethal malignancies.
Purification of allergens.

Inhaled allergens derived from pollens, dust mites, animal danders, insects and fungi, are the most common cause of immunoglobulin (Ig) E antibody responses in developed countries. Purilication of allergens from these vanous sources is essential for structural and immunological studies investigating why these molecules readily induce IgE antibody formation, whereas protein antigens from other sources, e.g. bacteria, viruses, protozoa, generally do not. Some inhalant allergens are highly immunogenic and induce both humoral and cellular responses in up to 20-30% of the population following remarkably low-dose natural exposure (typically, only 1 i.tg of mite or pollen allergen per year). Allergen-speciiic B cell responses include multiple isotypes (IgG, IgE and IgA) and T cell responses involve antigen-presenting cells, lymphokine production and recruitment of other cells (e.g. basophils and eosinophlls). There is also increasing evidence that both B cell and T cell responses to allergens can be genetically restricted. The aim of this review is to outline recent technological innovations in allergen immunochemistry (e.g. monoclonal antibody production and allergen cloning and sequencing) and how they are being used to investigate allergen specific immune responses and their role in allergic disease.
Poetry in motion

Is language the key to thought? Neuroscience suggests it is probably more complicated than that.
Sterols of Euphorbia peplus: The fate of 28-isofucosterol in phytosterol biosynthesis

Abstract Cholesterol, campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, 28-isofucosterol and Δ7-isofucostenol have been identified by thin-layer and gas chromatography of the sterol fraction of Euphorbia peplus. Confirmation of the identity of 28-isofucosterol was obtained from mass spectral data. A time-course study of incorporation of label from mevalonic acid-2-14C into this sterol mixture supports the view that 28-isofucosterol is the precursor of β-sitosterol.
Integrating Courses in Marketing Research and Engineering Design: An Instructional Technique for Enhancing the Product Development Process

The integration of undergraduate marketing research and engineering design courses is discussed, and the nature of and need for such integration is established as vital to new product development. ...
Can Clay Liners Work

Nearly all liners for landfills and surface impoundments were constructed from compacted clay until about five years ago. But this is no longer so. In the past few years, clay liners used by themselves have fallen out of favor with the Environmental Protection Agency. Recent research examines liner permeability and chemical attack of the liner. Clay liners may prove useful if some caveats are observed. Be aware of the type of waste that will be placed in any one cell. Test the compatibility between liner material and either the actual leachate or waste liquid or a test leachate. Don’t expose the liner to concentrated acids, bases or organic chemicals. Use a thick liner to keep effective stress to a minimum. Cover the liner to prevent it from drying out, and avoid construction during freezing weather since this may cause cracking.
Converting-enzyme inhibitors in the treatment of hypertension.

IN 1982, Vidt and colleagues reviewed the pharmacokinetics, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic usefulness of captopril, the first of a new class of antihypertensives, converting-enzyme inhibitor...