cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Existence theorems for a nonlinear partial differential equation of viscous, incompressible flow

Abstract Existence of a solution is shown for a boundary-value problem for a nonlinear partial differential equation for the velocity in time-dependent flow of a viscous, incompressible fluid in an elastic tube which is intended to represent blood flow in large vessels [1]. Since the only boundary condition imposed is that the fluid adheres to the wall of the tube, there may be many solutions; however, a theorem has been proven stating that any two regular solutions are time asymptotic in L2 norm [2]. The problem is set so that the differential operator in the equation maps a Banach space X into a Banach space Y and is twice continuously Frechet differentiable. Solutions are obtained by applying the Kantorovich-Newton theorem or a generalization of it by Altman [9]. These solutions are defined by convergent sequences whose elements are solutions of boundary-value problems for linear problems and their derivatives through second order are uniformly Holder continuous. Their existence is guaranteed by theorems of Friedman [4].
Comparative chemical composition and biological activity of single- and two-stage coal liquefaction process streams

Abstract Samples from several integrated two-stage coal liquefaction (ITSL) process streams were collected under both normal and off-normal operating conditions. Selected crude materials were tested for their ability to initiate tumorigenicity in the initiation/promotion assay in mouse skin. Crude materials and their chemical class fractions were assayed for microbial mutagenic activity in the standard Ames test with S. typhimurium TA98, and selected samples were also subjected to the Chinese hamster ovary mammalian cell assay for mutagenicity. Mass spectral and gas chromatographic—mass spectral (g.c.—m.s.) analyses were carried out on these materials. Results were compared with those for analogous materials from solvent refined coal (SRC) single stage liquefaction processes. In general, the ITSL distillates were of higher molecular weight, higher hydroaromatic content, lower nitrogen content and were somewhat less alkylated than the analogous SRC materials. Compared to the SRC coal liquefaction materials, the ITSL distillates and bottoms materials collected under normal run conditions were substantially less active in both the microbial and mammalian cell mutagenicity assays. These same materials were also less active than ITSL samples collected under off-normal conditions. G.c.—m.s. analyses showed that ITSL materials collected under normal operating conditions were substantially reduced in amino polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content when compared to both the off-normal ITSL, and SRC materials. Activity of the ITSL materials as initiators of tumorigenesis was greater than expected, based on results from the in vitro assays and not significantly different than that of the SRC materials. The higher initial boiling point of the ITSL distillates probably accounts for much of their greater than expected initiating activity compared to the SRC materials.
Extraction and evaluation of mura in liquid crystal displays

The visual performance of liquid crystal displays (LCDs) has been usually inspected and evaluated by sensory analysis at the manufacturing process. One of the most indistinct visual problems is low-contrast non-uniform brightness region called muras. The accurate and consistent detection of the muras is extremely difficult because there are various shapes and sizes of muras and the inspection results tend to depend on the operators. We conducted a study on the quantitative evaluation of muras based on visual analysis and human perception. We converted the front of screen (FOS) images from the LCDs into distributions of luminance information, and the mura regions were distinguished from the background area using our novel algorithm. This approach also led to a weighting function for the categories of muras that appear in the panels. Our identification method can also distinguish between the muras caused by flaws in the LCD cells and the intentionally designed non- uniform luminance distribution of the backlight.
STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION OF K VIRUS, AND ITS RELATION TO THE "PAPOVAVIRUS" GROUP.

Abstract Negatively stained, purified preparations of K virus, SV40, and polyoma virus were examined in the electron microscope. All three viruses appear to be constructed of more than 42 morphological subunits, probably 92, but possibly 72. Chemical examinations indicate that K virus contains double stranded DNA, 7% by weight. Other similarities between K virus and the oncogenic “papova” viruses are discussed.
Membrane fractions display different lipid and enzyme content in three cell types in 16-cell stage embryos of sea urchins

Abstract Three cell types were isolated from dissociated 16-cell sea urchin embryos. Four membrane density fractions from discontinuous gradients have different proportions of lipids, surfacer markers and enzymes for the three cell types. Assays of lipid content, CH/PLIPID and SPH/PC ratios, acyl chain length, level of unsaturation by proton NMR and assays of enzyme activity revealed variation at the same density between the three cell types and among different densities from one cell type. There were also differences between whole embryos and dissociated embryo cells. There was no typical membrane domain at a particular density common to the cell types. Cell surface characteristics and polarity of adult cells rely on which lipid domains and enzymes are present, their association with cytoskeleton and how they are localized. At the 16-cell stage these characteristics are still very dynamic as revealed by cytochemical localization of Na + /K + -ATPase which varied with cell type and suggests endocytosis at set times in the division cycle. Polarity has not been permanently set for Na + /K + -ATPase yet. Membrane enzyme and lipid distributions unique to the three cell types seen in this study suggest parcelling out or insertion of new membrane domains occurs during early sea urchin cleavage. Perturbation of membrane density distribution and lipid content occurs after treatment of embryos with animalizing and vegetalizing teratogens which alter development.
Cholelithoptysis: An unusual complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is emerging as a preferred surgical method in the treatment of cholecystitis. Decreased morbidity and mortality rates make this an attractive altenative to conventional cholecystectomy. Recently, specific complications including bile duct transection, biloma formation, and liver lacerations have been reported. We report here, however, an unusual case of intraoperative spillage of stones into the introperitoneal cavity. Subsequent erosion through the diophragm resulted in expectoration of stones, or cholelithoptysis.
Complex medium supplements optimized for the reduction of animal-derived components in vaccine production media.

The data presented illustrate how complex animal component free supplements may be employed to reduce or eliminate serum from many traditional vaccine production media, while providing equal or better performance with respect to cell growth. Partial or complete serum elimination was achieved in media used to cultivate CEF, MDCK and BHK-21 cell lines. These supplements have also proven to facilitate the transition from anchorage dependent to suspension culture.
Human ferritin H and L sequences lie on ten different chromosomes.

In humans, the H (heavy) and L (light) chains of the iron-storage protein ferritin, are derived from multigene families. We have examined the chromosomal distribution of these H and L sequences by Southern analysis of hybrid cell DNA and by chrosomal in situ hybridization. Our results show that human ferritin H genes and related sequences are found on at least seven different chromosomes while L genes and related sequences are on at least three different chromosomes. Further, we have mapped the chromosomal location of expressed genes for human H and L ferritin chains and have found an H sequence which may be a useful marker for idiopathic hemochromatosis.
Danger, One EU Crisis May Hide Another: Social Model Anxieties and Hard Cases

It is widely agreed in the wake of the French and Dutch referendum rejections of the Europe Constitution that the EU is in serious crisis. This article argues that the EU's crisis is much deeper than ordinarily understood, however. The weak performance of key continental EU economies, particularly France and Germany, is related to structural problems in continental social models and casts a large shadow over the Union's medium-term prospects. The roots of these problems cannot be easily understood using the different institutionalist analytical techniques of contemporary political economy. Nor are they likely to be amenable to quick and clever policy reforms. Instead they are rooted in long-standing features of national social model architecture that have been reinforced, in recent decades, by the domestic consequences of fundamental foreign policy choices, in the French case for renewed European integration in the 1980s and in the German by unification.
Outreach: Why, How and Who? Academic Libraries and Their Involvement in the Community

Academic libraries have often participated in outreach to their surrounding communities. This article focuses on independent outreach efforts of academic libraries to move beyond their walls or traditional clientele. Academic libraries determine their interaction with their communities based on three factors: whether a need is expressed from outside the academy, whether they see their mission as an invitation to pursue an action on their own accord, or whether they construct a form of outreach in response to a specific problem or crisis. Most libraries, public and private, recognize outreach as part of their mission and obligation to the community. This article examines why libraries choose to initiate outreach programs.
Thermal Deformation in a Mechanical Face Seal

In this paper, the mechanical and thermal deformations of the seal components are analyzed, and the role they play in the failure of face seals is discussed. To obtain the thermal deformation, the heat generated between the sealing surfaces is estimated. The temperatures fields and the deformations for both the seal and mating rings are solved numerically. While mechanical deformation is found to be small, the thermal deformation is shown to be very, significant. This thermal deformation could distort the originally flat sealing surfaces convex along a diameter with an amplitude of 2 μm for the seal ring and of 0.75 μm for the seat. The distortion is even larger when the seal runs dry. Thermal deformation promotes seal face wear at the inner diameter and must be minimized. Presented at the 30th Annual Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, May 5–8, 1975
A fluorescence plate reader assay for monitoring the susceptibility of biological samples to lipid peroxidation.

The susceptibility of biological samples to lipid peroxidation can be determined by exposing samples to a lipid peroxidation initiator and measuring the length of time prior to the onset of lipid peroxidation. Previous studies have shown that aldehydes generated by lipid peroxidation can react with amines to produce fluorescent products. We have utilized this principle to develop a fluorescence plate reader assay for measuring susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. In this assay, samples are placed in glycine/phosphate buffer and loaded into a 96-well plate. Lipid peroxidation initiators are added, and fluorescence is monitored over time. Samples were assayed for susceptibility to lipid peroxidation by both the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay and the fluorescence plate reader assay. We found good agreement between these two methods in assessing relative susceptibility to lipid peroxidation in liver microsomes and mitochondria. The fluorescence assay was also used to monitor lipid peroxidation in liposomes and rat liver homogenates. Fluorescence was stable over an extended time period and could be induced by a variety of lipid peroxidation initiators. The fluorescence plate reader assay offers a rapid method for monitoring lipid peroxidation in a large number of samples.
Molecular content and structure of aqueous organic nanodroplets from the vapor-liquid nucleation study of the water/n-nonane/1-alcohol series.

Prompted by a previous finding of unusual mixing behavior for the critical clusters involved in the vapor−liquid nucleation of the ternary water/n-nonane/1-butanol mixture, atomistic simulations employing the AVUS-HR technique were carried out to extend such investigations to include both shorter and longer alcohols, namely, the water/n-nonane/CiH2i+1OH mixture with i = 2, 4, 6, and 8. It is clear from this extensive investigation that the miscibility between water and n-nonane can be further improved by increasing the chain length of the alcohol (surfactant). In fact, for the water/n-nonane/1-octanol mixture at an intermediate gas-phase activity composition, the nucleation can proceed via fully mixed critical nuclei containing a roughly equal amount of all three components, which is in contrast to the dominantly binary-like nucleation channels observed for such mixtures involving shorter alcohols. Structural analysis revealed that these mixed nuclei take on a multilayered structural motif of the core−she...
Patterns and levels of pollen mediated gene flow in Lathyrus latifolius

While gene flow can be an important force in evolution, few direct measures are available in the plant literature. Descriptions of gene movement within populations are more common, but have primarily involved crop species and artificially constructed populations. In this study, fractional paternity procedures were used to examine patterns of pollen movement over two years within two sites of Lathyrus latifolius, a bumblebee-pollinated, self-compatible perennial legume. Study sites consisted of 15 to 23 semi-discrete flowering patches that contained 1 to 29 distinct genotypes. Distributions of gene movement distances within the study sites differed significantly from that expected under random mating. Mean gene movement was 14 m. On average, 17.6% (range = 0-52%) of matings occurred within a flowering patch. Outcrossing rates, estimated from paternity analysis, ranged from 0.87 to 0.90 across sites and years. Significant heterogeneity occurred among maternal individuals with respect to outcrossing and immigration rates, indicating that mating patterns were idiosyncratic to each plant. Apparent rates of pollen flow into the sites ranged from 5 to 15%, while estimates of total pollen flow into sites ranged from 16 to 46%. Significant increases in immigration rates between years were associated with decreases in the density of flowering plants.
New space-time perspectives on the propagation characteristics of the Black Death epidemic and its relation to bubonic plague

This work presents, for the first time, a series of detailed space-time maps of Black Death mortality and infected area propagation throughout the fourteenth century AD Europe. The maps integrate a variety of interdisciplinary knowledge bases about the devastating epidemic and provide researchers and the interested public with an informative description of the Black Death dynamics (temporal evolution, local and global geographical patterns, etc.). Concerning the relation of the Black Death with bubonic plague, our space-time findings provide considerable support to the view that Black Death was a different kind of epidemic than bubonic plague and, a the same time, they generate no damaging hard evidence against the new proposals concerning the Black Death etiology.
Helicopter emergency medical services crew administration of antibiotics for open fractures.

Abstract This study had 3 major aims: (1) to ascertain the degree to which helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) administration of antibiotics (Abx) can streamline the time to Abx in open fracture patients, (2) to determine whether any clinical outcome improvements were associated with HEMS Abx therapy, and (3) to calculate the cost-effectiveness of prehospital HEMS Abx. The design of the study was a prospective, nonrandomized, nonintervention, natural study of timing and clinical outcomes for patients with suspected open extremity fracture. There were 138 scene trauma cases transported by 8 participating HEMS programs from July 2009 to June 2010. The participating HEMS programs were both urban and rural. The diagnosis of an open fracture by the HEMS crews had an accuracy rate of 97.8% (95% confidence interval, 90.8%–98.4%). The time from the incident to Abx was 30 minutes shorter ( P = .0001) when Abx were administered by HEMS crews. There was no statistical significance ( P = 1.0) regarding the endpoint of infection or nonunion development in HEMS- versus hospital-administered Abx. In conclusion, the administration of Abx by HEMS crews to patients diagnosed with open extremity fractures is feasible, it may decrease the time to Abx by 30 minutes, and the effect magnitude (40.3% relative risk reduction) was promising.
Spine care at a crossroads.

I stand before you representing the leadership of theNorth American Spine Society (NASS); yet, guidingNASS is really a team effort. I would like to begin by thanking Eric Muehlbauer, executive director of NASS. In many ways, Eric is the unheralded leader of the NASS team, and I would like to thank Eric for his steady hand at the helm, his wise counsel, and most importantly, his friendship. At NASS, we are also extremely fortunate to have such a talented and dedicated board to help direct our efforts. I would like to note the individual sacrificemade by this board. Over the past year, each and every boardmembermet the new Level 1 conflict of interest requirements for an NASS leadership positiondthe most demanding of any major professional medical organization. I am proud to say that we retained our entire board despite these rigorous requirements. This compliance speaks to their extraordinary commitment to NASS and you, our members.
Some Observations of Growing Oscillations in Electron-Hole Plasma

Highly reproducible growing oscillations have been observed in electron- hole plasma produced by injection from current contacts into single-crystal p- type indium antimonide at 77 deg K. Two types of growing oscillations have been observed in different samples. In one type, the frequency is current controlled; in the other, the frequency is independent of current. Both occur in the absence of an applied magnetic field. The observed behavior of these oscillations is presented and discussed. (H.D.R.)
Religion and Interconnection With Zimbabwe A Case Study of Zimbabwean Diasporic Canadians

The author argues that the continuous connection between Zimbabwean Diasporic Canadians (ZDC) and their homeland Zimbabwe is facilitated by the ZDC’s ongoing relationship and involvement with Zimba...
In vivo assessment of pituitary volume with magnetic resonance imaging and systematic stereology: relationship to dexamethasone suppression test results in patients.

The relationship between dexamethasone suppression test (DST) results and in vivo pituitary volume was studied in 24 psychiatric inpatients. The principles of systematic stereology were used to measure pituitary volume from 3-mm contiguous sagittal spin-echo magnetic resonance (MR) images of the brain. There was no correlation between pituitary volume and 3 p.m. or 10 p.m. postdexamethasone (post-DEX) plasma cortisol concentrations. However, when multiple regression analysis was performed to relate pituitary volume to gender, age, and post-DEX plasma cortisol concentrations, there was a significant relationship between pituitary volume and age, gender, and 10 p.m. post-DEX cortisol plasma concentration. This is the first study to demonstrate a method that directly measures, rather than estimates, in vivo pituitary volume. Furthermore, it suggests that activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in psychiatric patients, as manifested by elevated post-DEX cortisol concentrations, may influence pituitary volume.
In-vivo incorporation of ω3 fatty acids into membrane lipids of rat salivary glands and changes in adenylate-cyclase activity

Abstract Dietary ω3 fatty acids from menhaden oil were incorporated into membrane phospholipids of submandibular salivary glands (SMSG). Eicosapentaenoic (20:5), docosapentaenoic (22:5) and docosahexaenoic (22:6) acids constituted about 20 per cent of the total fatty acids in phospholipids, phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine fractions of the SMSG plasma membranes of rats fed for 6 weeks a diet containing 10 per cent menhaden oil. The changes in fatty-acid composition of the membrane phospholipids were accompanied by higher adenylate-cyclase activity in the SMSG membranes of rats fed 10 per cent menhaden oil than in rats fed 10 per cent corn oil or 8 per cent coconut oil + 2 per cent corr oil. However, there were no diet-related differences in the fold-stimulation of adenylatecyclase activity.
Magnetic tunnel junctions fabricated at tenth-micron dimensions by electron beam lithography

Abstract Magnetic tunnel junctions consisting of permalloy and cobalt thin film electrodes, separated by a thin aluminum oxide tunnel barrier, have been fabricated by e-beam lithography at dimensions down to 120 nanometers. The devices are fabricated by sputter deposition and ion milling. They exhibit magnetoresistances of up to 22% at room temperature. Evidence of individual domain switching is observed. The smaller junctions have resistances in the kilohm range, which are easily measured, leading to the possibility of sensing and microelectronic applications.
Case-control study of risk factors for spasmodic dysphonia: A comparison with other voice disorders.

Objectives/Hypothesis: This epidemiology study examined risk factors uniquely associated with spasmodic dysphonia (SD). Study Design: Case-control. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 150 patients with SD (with and without coexisting vocal tremor) and 136 patients with other structural, neurological, and functional voice disorders (excluding SD and vocal tremor). Questions included personal and family medical histories, environmental exposures, trauma, illnesses, voice use habits, and the Short Form 36. Results: Several factors were uniquely associated with SD (α = .05), including: 1) a personal history of cervical dystonia, sinus and throat illnesses, mumps, rubella, dust exposure, and frequent volunteer voice use, 2) a family history of voice disorders, 3) an immediate family history of vocal tremor and meningitis, and 4) an extended family history of head and neck tremor, ocular disease, and meningitis. Vocal tremor coexisted with SD in 29% of cases. Measles and mumps vaccines were protective for SD. Conclusions: SD is likely multifactorial and associated with several endogenous and exogenous factors. Certain viral exposures, voice use patterns, and familial neurological conditions may contribute to the onset of SD later in life.
High-speed particle separation and steric inversion in thin flow field-flow fractionation channels

Abstract The performance of thin (down to 71 μm thick) flow field-flow fractionation (flow FFF) channels was examined at both high channel flow-rates (up to ∼47 ml/min) and cross flow-rates (up to ∼11 ml/min). High levels of retention were observed, suggestive of good performance characteristics. Supporting this expectation, four sizes (0.04–0.30 μm) of polysterene latex microbeads were baseline separated in under 3 min. Nonetheless, a plate height analysis showed that performance was still less than theoretically expected. Fast steric-hyperlayer separations of larger latex beads were observed in the same systems. Furthermore, it was shown that the steric inversion diameter was shifted down to ∼0.23 μm, thus expanding the size range to which this FFF mode is applicable. The steric inversion phenomenon observed using narrow latex standards was shown to be consistent with that found for a polydisperse polyvinylchloride latex.
The Capital Punishment Debate: Public Perceptions of Crime and Punishment1

Psychophysical scales for seriousness of crime and severity of punishment were developed to aid in investigating the Eighth Amendment issue of whether the death penalty is "cruel and unusual" punishment. Using indirect crossmodality matching techniques with a quota sample of the Boston SMSA, satisfactory scales were obtained for both dimensions with most items in both scales concentrated toward the serious/severe end as planned. Further, specific case vignettes in which experimental variations were embedded were also developed; psychophysical lines production judgments for these specific cases indicated that quite complex social stimuli can be successfully judged psychophysically. Results indicated that (1) capital and noncapital offenses are thoroughly intermingled in seriousness ratings; (2) the death penalty is not rated as significantly more severe than life imprisonment without parole; (3) respondents assign the death penalty relatively rarely even to serious offenses, and then in a manner not particularly in line with capital statutes; and (4) respondents' weighing of extra-legal and legally relevant aspects of capital cases is inconsistent with current statutes. These results suggest multiple ways in which capital punishment could be defined as "cruel", and strongly suggest the need for further research and through about the issue.
Donor CD8+ T Cells Facilitate Induction of Chimerism and Tolerance without GVHD in Autoimmune NOD Mice Conditioned with Anti-CD3 mAb.

Prevention of autoimmune diabetes and induction of islet transplantation tolerance in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice can be reached by induction of mixed chimerism via bone marrow transplantation (BMT), but this procedure requires total body irradiation (TBI) conditioning of the recipients. The toxicity of radiation and potential for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prevents its clinical application. Donor CD8 T cells play a critical role in facilitation of engraftment but also contribute to induction of GVHD in TBIconditioned recipients. Here, we showed that high doses of donor CD8 T cells in combination with bone marrow (BM) cells induced mixed chimerism without GVHD in NOD recipients conditioned with antiCD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb). The prevention of GVHD in those recipients was associated with low-level production of inflammatory cytokines (ie, tumor necrosis factor [TNF-]), high-level production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (ie, interleukin 4 [IL-4] and IL-10), and confining of the donor CD8 T-cell expansion to lymphohematopoietic tissues. The chimeric NOD recipients showed donorspecific tolerance and reversal of insulitis. These results demonstrate that donor CD8 T-cell‐mediated facilitation of engraftment can be separated from GVHD in nonirradiated recipients. This regimen may have potential application in the treatment of autoimmune disorders as well as induction of transplantation tolerance. (Blood. 2005;105:2180-2188)
Optical Environment about the OGO-III Satellite.

An upper limit to the brightness of the daytime sky near a large unmanned satellite has been obtained; it is some 30 times less than the darkest daytime sky yet reported by an astronaut. However, there still remains the danger that this background light (less than 5 x 10 -13 as bright as the sun) will interfere with observations of the solar corona and zodiacal light.
Memory CD4 T Cells Direct Protective Responses to Influenza Virus in the Lungs through Helper-Independent Mechanisms

Memory CD4 T cells specific for influenza virus are generated from natural infection and vaccination, persist long-term, and recognize determinants in seasonal and pandemic influenza virus strains. However, the protective potential of these long-lived influenza virus-specific memory CD4 T cells is not clear, including whether CD4 T-cell helper or effector functions are important in secondary antiviral responses. Here we demonstrate that memory CD4 T cells specific for H1N1 influenza virus directed protective responses to influenza virus challenge through intrinsic effector mechanisms, resulting in enhanced viral clearance, recovery from sublethal infection, and full protection from lethal challenge. Mice with influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA)-specific memory CD4 T cells or polyclonal influenza virus-specific memory CD4 T cells exhibited protection from influenza virus challenge that occurred in the presence of CD8-depleting antibodies in B-cell-deficient mice and when CD4 T cells were transferred into lymphocyte-deficient RAG2−/− mice. Moreover, the presence of memory CD4 T cells mobilized enhanced T-cell recruitment and immune responses in the lung. Neutralization of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) production in vivo abrogated memory CD4 T-cell-mediated protection from influenza virus challenge by HA-specific memory T cells and heterosubtypic protection by polyclonal memory CD4 T cells. Our results indicate that memory CD4 T cells can direct enhanced protection from influenza virus infection through mobilization of immune effectors in the lung, independent of their helper functions. These findings have important implications for the generation of universal influenza vaccines by promoting long-lived protective CD4 T-cell responses.
High-precision measurement of the hyperfine structure of the 620-cm-1 metastable atomic level of 235U by laser-rf double resonance.

The laser-rf double-resonance technique has been used to determine the zero-field hyperfine intervals in the 620-cm−1 atomic level of 235U to an absolute precision of 1 kHz. Analysis of the results leads to the values A = −68.3457 ± 0.0010 MHz and B = 40.110 ± 0.030 MHz, uncorrected for second-order effects. Examination of the hyperfine structure of the metastable level at 8119 cm−1 by laser fluorescence strongly suggests that the same technique could be used to give high-precision results for all metastable levels up to at least 10000 cm−1.
RC oscillator admits negative frequency

The humble resistance–capacitance (RC) oscillator has held our attention for nearly seven decades. During that time many improvements have been made to enhance the performance and the range of applicability. In this letter we consider further refinements that extend the frequency range to include zero, and even negative frequencies. This allows the frequency to be swept through zero with no discontinuity in phase or amplitude. We then suggest an addition to the well-known automatic level control (ALC) circuits to linearize the control function, with attendant benefits in modeling, simulation, and implementation. Closed-loop dynamics for the improved ALC circuit are predicted, then verified by experiment. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Somatic crossing-over in Glycine max (L.) merrill: differential response to 3H-emitted β-particles and 60Co emitted γ-rays

Glycine max (soybean) is the only angiosperm which is thought to exhibit somatic crossing-over. The variaties L65–1237 and T219 have gene combinations Y 11 Y 11 , Y 11 y 11 and y 11 y 11 resulting into dark green, light green and golden yellow leaves, respectively. The heterozygous plants are found to have dark green, yellow and double (dark green—yellow) spots on the two simple leaves and rarely the first compound leaf. The other two genotypes are usually devoid of spots. It has been suggested that the twin or double spots result from somatic crossing-over; (15) the single spots may originate from the failure of one or the other component of the double spots, from structural and numerical aberrations of chromosomes, and from point mutations. The idea that some sort of controlling element is causing the production of spots does not appear tenable. When seeds are treated with 3 H 2 O, the frequency of all types of spots increases. However, the relative proportions of spots remained comparable to those in the control over a concentration range of 5–100 μCi/ml. This indicates that the processes effected by β-particles from 3 H are similar to those effected by some sort of presumed internal mutagen produced during storage. The treatment of seeds with 50–750 R of γ-rays ( 60 Co emitted) increased the frequency of all types of spots, but yellows increased most in frequency followed by dark greens. This effect could be due to increased incidence of segmental losses, numerical inequalities and mutations of the gene Y 11 . The reverse, viz. the specific mutation of Y 11 →y 11 , would be very rare. The differences between the effects of two types of radiations may be due to differences in their relative biological effectiveness. The frequency of spots on the lower surface of the leaves is a fraction of that on the upper surface. Radiations used did not change this picture. It could be due to resistance of the spongy mesophyll to the mutagens applied or to differences in the developmental aspects of the two layers. The frequency of the specific locus (Y 11 ) mutations increased parallel to the frequency of total abnormalities, indicating that chromosomal processes are as vulnerable to the effects of radiations as the processes leading to the production of point mutations.
Actionable Information during Extreme Events -- Case Study: Warnings and 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

Social media is rapidly becoming an integral part of modern society. People use social media as a channel of communications with each other, a targeted group or a general public. Concurrently, researchers are studying this channel of communications in an attempt to link the characteristics of the message, such as content, sender-receiver, etc. to the behavior of those using this media. The focus of the research reported herein is to analyze human behavior in response to actionable information in the context of an extreme event. A specific case of actionable information presented in this paper is recommendations to take actions to reduce the chance of harm from the consequences of an extreme event i.e. an alert or warning. Authorized officials via multiple channels of communication issue the warnings to the public. At present, social media is not used universally as an official channel of communication. There is still no clear consensus among emergency management organizations on how the social media can be utilized to disseminate warnings to the public. The first step is to understand people&#x00E2;s behaviors on social media in response to actionable information during extreme events. In order to understand people&#x00E2;s behaviors on social media, we need to understand the content of their messages and how the messages travel through social media. The paper focuses on identifying hidden key actors (individual/organizations) using advanced social network analysis techniques. Additionally, the paper examines the formation of the cohesive groups in the network and the role of the key actors in those groups. Our conclusion is that the key actors play an important role in diffusion of actionable information. The diffusion begins with central and prominent actors and diffuses through the &#x00E2;gatekeepers&#x00E2; of information to the rest of the network. The key actors exhibit intentions to take a prescribed action and urge others to do so. Finally, the key actors play in important role of bridging cohesive groups in the network in order to facilitate the diffusion of actionable information.
Effects of estradiol benzoate on the pattern of eating and ethanol consumption

The effects of daily injections of 5 microgram estradiol benzoate (EB) on the patterns of food and ethanol consumption were studied in ovarectomized rats given free access to food, a 10% ethanol solution, and water. EB led to an immediate, but transient, suppression of both food and ethanol intake. The time course and magnitude of these effects were virtually identical. While the decrease in total food intake was achieved by a permanent decrease in the duration of eating bouts, the decline in total ethanol consumption apparently resulted from decreased rates of licking within bouts. Gradual increases in the frequency of eating and ethanol-drinking bouts allowed total food and ethanol intake to return to baseline within three weeks of the first injection. Total water intake rose three-fold during EB administration and this was due to increases in both the duration and frequency of drinking bouts. The similarity in effects induced by EB on the patterns of food and ethanol intake were discussed in terms of ethanol's caloric property.
Modification of in vitro rat adrenal corticosteroidogenesis by dietary fat.

Three groups of male weanling Holtzman rats were maintained, ad libitum, for 4 and 8 weeks on 1 of 3 diets: Purina Chow, hydrogenated soybean fat, and milk fat diets. The fats were added at the level of 36% total calories in the case of the hydrogenated soybean and milk fat diets. Adrenal homogenates prepared from tissues of each group of animals at the end of the dietary periods were used to measure the relative abilities to synthesize corticosteroids from endogenous substrates. Endogenous free cholesterol levels were found adequate to sustain the level of corticosteroids obtained. No concomitant cholesteryl ester hydrolysis was observed under the experimental conditions used. The adrenal synthetic ability for the three dietary groups was in the order milk fat > Purina Chow > hydrogenated milk fat. This order appeared not to be a reflection of the essential fatty acid status of the animals in the three dietary groups. The possible basis for this trend, and the implications of the findings for carbohydrate, protein, and lipid metabolism in the animal are indicated.
Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor κB Ligand and Osteoprotegerin Regulation of Bone Remodeling in Health and Disease

Osteoclasts and osteoblasts dictate skeletal mass, structure, and strength via their respective roles in resorbing and forming bone. Bone remodeling is a spatially coordinated lifelong process whereby old bone is removed by osteoclasts and replaced by bone-forming osteoblasts. The refilling of resorption cavities is incomplete in many pathological states, which leads to a net loss of bone mass with each remodeling cycle. Postmenopausal osteoporosis and other conditions are associated with an increased rate of bone remodeling, which leads to accelerated bone loss and increased risk of fracture. Bone resorption is dependent on a cytokine known as RANKL (receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand), a TNF family member that is essential for osteoclast formation, activity, and survival in normal and pathological states of bone remodeling. The catabolic effects of RANKL are prevented by osteoprotegerin (OPG), a TNF receptor family member that binds RANKL and thereby prevents activation of its single cognate receptor called RANK. Osteoclast activity is likely to depend, at least in part, on the relative balance of RANKL and OPG. Studies in numerous animal models of bone disease show that RANKL inhibition leads to marked suppression of bone resorption and increases in cortical and cancellous bone volume, density, and strength. RANKL inhibitors also prevent focal bone loss that occurs in animal models of rheumatoid arthritis and bone metastasis. Clinical trials are exploring the effects of denosumab, a fully human anti-RANKL antibody, on bone loss in patients with osteoporosis, bone metastasis, myeloma, and rheumatoid arthritis.
Nonlinear Optics Of Nematic Liquid Crystals

The fundamental mechanisms for optical nonlinearities, and recent experimental studies of nonlinear optical processes such as optical wave mixings, beam amplifications, bistability and self-phase modulation effects are reviewed.
Workplace goals and output quality: evidence from time-constrained recruiting goals in the US navy

This paper examines how workplace goals affect the quality of worker output, using data from the recruiting command of the US Navy. Recruiting stations and recruiters are assigned monthly goals for the quantity of new recruits that may create an unintended incentive to sacrifice quality, especially towards the end of the month. Using data on the universe of Navy recruits from FY1998 to 2010, we find significant reductions in the quality of recruits towards the end of the contracting month, both in terms of pre-existing quality of recruits and in medium-term outcomes that reflect the quality of the job match.
Selenium mediated arsenic toxicity modifies cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species and phosphorylated proteins

The effect of selenium on modulating arsenic cytotoxicity is well known in mammals, but not well understood. Cell cytotoxicity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) changes were performed in combinations of As(III) and selenomethionine (SeMet) toxic mixes on, HEK293, human kidney cells. Cell growth is readily restored from 20% to 60% when switching from 30 μM As(III) as toxin to a mix of 30 μM As(III) and 100 μM SeMet. As(III) alone triggers ROS formation, primarily hydrogen peroxide, in a concentration dependent manner as observed through changes in the fluorescence from 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. Importantly, SeMet induces lower ROS levels at the same concentrations used to modulate As(III) cytotoxicity (IC50). Elevated ROS is important to As(III) cytotoxicity and minimizing it is essential to the SeMet modulating function. Changes in cell signaling, through analysis of signaling changes via differential protein phosphorylation to uncover molecular level changes occurring in HEK293 human kidney cells as SeMet modulates the As(III) cytotoxicity. To discover changes in the phosphoproteome, cells were incubated under three conditions: 30 μM As(III), 100 μM SeMet, and 30 μM As(III) + 100 μM SeMet. After total protein isolation the three samples were separated into fractions using size exclusion chromatography by detecting 31P+. Each sample was analyzed for the phosphorylated peptides by enzymatic digestion, selective enrichment of phosphorylated peptides via TiO2, followed by nanoLC-ESIMS. Phosphorylated proteins unique to the As(III)–SeMet mixture were then identified. The molecular level changes to the cells show uniquely that the As(III)–SeMet mixture details proteins involved in ROS detoxification, cell cycle arrest, and protein/DNA damage. This study shows that SeMet not only lowers the total amount of ROS in a cell but also confers upon HEK293 cells the ability to detoxify. Thus, SeMet is not only a potent antioxidant in this system, but induces molecular changes that confer survival.
Workpiece roughness and grindability

During grinding operations successively 'finer' grinding tools and conditions are employed. Fine grinding serves to improve the surface finish of workpieces but is generally not capable of easily removing the larger volumes of material required initially. Thus, there is a well recognized link between surface finish and the ease of material removal. In this paper we examine this relationship in a quantitative fashion for some optical materials for which a suitable data base is available. Grindability is considered in terms of the volumetric removal obtainable as a function of the applied normal load. For single crystal sapphire ground with a wide range of tools/conditions, this grindability measure is found to correlate approximately with the cube of the workpiece roughness. Similar correlations between grindability and finish are also found in comparing data for different glasses/crystals ground under identical conditions. The origins of this behavior are discussed in terms of possible micromechanical and dimensional explanations. Finally, since ease of material removal and workpiece finish are related, normalization against the roughness is proposed as a means for making comparison between different grinding media/conditions.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Suppression of dialysis patients' lymphocyte IL-2R expression by glucocorticoids and cyclosporine.

Abstract Previous studies have shown interindividual heterogeneity in the suppressive effects of glucocorticoids and cyclosporine (CsA) on the proliferation responses of dialysis patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). In addition, methylprednisolone (MP) was shown to be significantly more suppressive than prednisolone (P), and PBMC from patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) were found to be more sensitive to both glucocorticoids than those from patients on haemodialysis (HD). In order to begin to explore the cellular mechanism(s) underlying these observations, the differential suppressive effects of these drugs on lymphocyte interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R) expression by mitogen-stimulated PBMC from 23 PD and 30 HD were determined. The mean±SD concentrations (ng/ml) of steroid causing 50% inhibition (IC 50 ) of cell proliferation was significantly lower for PD than HD PBMC with both P (94±93 vs 148±105, P P P P −7 MP than was HD IL-2R expression. CsA+10 −7 M MP was significantly ( P In conclusion, these results support the notion that at least one mechanism underlying the significantly greater efficacy of MP compared to P in suppressing PBMC proliferation is its significantly greater suppression of lymphocyte IL-2R expression, either alone or in combination with CsA. Thus, use of MP following allograft transplantation may result in more effective immunosuppression for many recipients.
In vitro demyelination by serum antibody from patients with guillain‐barré syndrome requires terminal complement complexes

Serum from 7 patients who had acute-phase Guillain-Barre syndrome with high anti-peripheral nerve myelin antibody activity (54 to 210 units/ml) was compared with serum from 3 patients in the recovery phase (0 to 17 units/ml) and serum from 7 disease control subjects (0 to 24 units/ml) and 7 normal control subjects (0 to 7 units/ml) for its ability to demyelinate rodent dorsal root ganglion cultures. The demyelinating capacity of each serum was quantitated by counting the percent of damaged internodal segments in each of four cultures. All sera from patients in the acute phase GBS caused 50 to 78% demyelination, in contrast with 6 to 19% by the sera from all 3 patients in the recovery phase and all other control subjects. The degree of demyelination correlated with anti-peripheral nerve myelin antibody activity of the sera and demyelination was complement-dependent. Further, cultures were treated with an immunoglobulin M (IgM) fraction of an acute-phase Guillain-Barre syndrome plasma plus normal human serum depleted of complement component C7. Only those cultures treated with IgM and C7-depleted human serum reconstituted with purified C7 resulted in 50.8% demyelination, which was significantly greater than the 14.2 to 16.2% demyelination observed in the presence of heat-inactivated, C7-depleted human serum plus purified C7 or in the absence of C7 or antibody. In summary, our work suggests that anti-peripheral nerve myelin antibody in Guillain-Barre syndrome mediated complement dependent-demyelination of rodent dorsal root ganglion cultures. Further, this in vitro demyelination required generation of activation complexes of the terminal complement cascade.
Alzheimer's disease: Recollection of lost memories.

With age comes wisdom, or so they say. The reality is that, with age, the ability to store memories declines. One way of tackling this problem might be to raise neuronal levels of the signalling molecule EphB2. See Article p.47 Association studies have previously implicated the EphB2 receptor in Alzheimer's disease. As a member of a large family of tyrosine kinase receptors that regulate diverse biological functions, its role in the condition remained unknown. Cisse et al. now show that amyloid-β oligomers interact with EphB2 and trigger its degradation. EphB2 regulates NMDA-type glutamate receptors, and its depletion in normal mice reduces NMDAR currents and impairs long-term potentiation, both of which are important for memory formation. Increasing EphB2 levels in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease improves memory, suggesting that increasing EphB2 levels or function could be of therapeutic value in Alzheimer's disease.