cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extreme hydrometeorological events and the urban environment: Dissecting the 7 July 2004 thunderstorm over the Baltimore MD Metropolitan Region

[1] Observational analyses and mesoscale modeling studies, using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model, are used to dissect the mechanisms associated with record lightning, rainfall, and flooding over the Baltimore metropolitan region on 7 July 2004. Storm evolution on 7 July 2004 exhibited characteristic features of warm season thunderstorms producing flash flooding over the Baltimore–Washington DC metropolitan region. The storm system was initiated along the Blue Ridge mountains, with model simulations suggesting that convergence-induced spin-up of a meso-low was responsible for initial thunderstorm development. Observations and model analyses show that thermal effects associated with Chesapeake Bay had a pronounced impact on storm evolution and rainfall distribution. Analyses of radar reflectivity and lightning observations suggest that the urban environment played a significant role in storm evolution and heavy rainfall distribution. Model analyses show that urban canopy effects from both the Baltimore and Washington DC urban regions play an important role in determining the storm environment associated with heavy rainfall. Urban Heat Island effects did not play a significant role in the storm evolution. Observations of aerosols and drop-size distributions from a vertically pointing LIDAR and a disdrometer and model analyses suggest that the aerosols may have played an important role in stimulating efficient precipitation mechanisms and extreme rainfall rates for the 7 July 2004 storm.
Hole superconductivity: Review and some new results

Abstract We review recent work on a mechanism proposed to explain high T c superconductivity in oxides as well as superconductivity of conventional materials. It is based on pairing of hole carriers through their direct Coulomb interaction, and gives rise to superconductivity because of the momentum dependence of the repulsive interaction in the solid state environment. In the regime of parameters appropriate for high T c oxides this mechanism leads to characteristic signatures that should be experimentally verifiable. In the regime of “conventional superconductors” most of these signatures become unobservable, but the characteristic dependence of T c on band filling survives. New features discussed here include the demonstration that superconductivity can result from repulsive interactions even if the gap function does not change sign and the inclusion of a self-energy correction to the hole propagator that reduces the range of band filling where T c is not zero.
A study of statistical properties of polyenergetic gamma-ray spectra☆

Abstract Two sets of spectra were collected using 137Cs and 60Co, one set with a high background and the other with a low backgroud. Variance-covariance calculations, using these data, show that standard variance assumptions are valid. Further, the variance- covariance matrices are quite sparse. However, unfolding the mean value complex spectra, using standard (zero covariances) assumptions, yielded estimators with standard deviations approximately 2.7 times lower than those obtained where the actual variance-covariance matrix was used in the least-squares solution.
A separation signal for heterogeneous networks

Organizing a large-scale, heterogeneous network of agents into clusters based on the agents' class is a useful preprocessing step for cooperative tasks, where agents with the same capabilities need to be in the same location to cooperatively solve a task. In this paper, we investigate whether it is possible to apply an exogenous control signal to a heterogeneous network of agents, such that these agents form clusters of the same class of agents. We demonstrate that if each agent belongs to one of M “weight” classes and executes a weighted, forced agreement protocol, then it is possible to apply an external input signal that separates the network into M clusters corresponding to the M classes of agents.
Four-harmonic database of laser-damage testing

In the past two years we have made a sixfold expansion of our laser-damage database. Our primary emphasis has been with the fundamental 1064-nm irradiation generated by Nd:YAG. Because of the increasing need for high-threshold optics designed to operate in the UV, we include data covering the harmonics at 532, 355, and 266 nm. This is further supplemented with results of excimer-laser damage testing at 351 and 248 nm. The presented summaries cover over eight years of complete data plus selected results spanning over a fourteen-year history of damage testing at LLNL using thirteen different laser systems. Besides the range of wavelengths, our parameter space covers pulse durations from < 1 ns to 84 ns, repetition rates from single shots to 6000 Hz, and irradiation modes from single shots to a variety of multiple-shot laser-conditioning techniques.
Clotting of mammalian fibrinogens by papain: A re-examination

Papain has long been known to cause the gelation of mammalian fibrinogens. It has also been reported that papain-fibrin is insoluble in dispersing solvents like strong urea or sodium bromide solutions, similar to what is observed with thrombin-generated clots in the presence of factor XIIIa and calcium. In those old studies, both the gelation and subsequent clot stabilization were attributed to papain, although the possibility that the second step might be due to contaminating factor XIII in fibrinogen preparations was considered. I have revisited this problem in light of knowledge acquired over the past half-century about thiol proteases like papain, which mostly cleave peptide bonds, and transglutaminases like factor XIIIa that catalyze the formation of e-lysyl-γ-glutamyl cross-links. Recombinant fibrinogen, inherently free of factor XIII and other plasma proteins, formed a stable gel when treated with papain alone. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed that the intermolecular cross-linking in papain-fibrin leads to γ-chain dimers, trimers, and tetramers, just as is the case with thrombin-factor XIIIa-stabilized fibrin. Mass spectrometry of bands excised from gels showed that the cross-linked material is quite different from what occurs with factor XIIIa, however. With papain, the cross-linking occurs between γ chains in neighboring protofibrils becoming covalently linked in a "head-to-tail" fashion by a transpeptidation reaction involving the α-amino group of γ-Tyr1 and a papain cleavage site at γ-Gly403 near the carboxy terminus, rather than by the (reciprocal) "tail-to-tail" manner that occurs with factor XIIIa and that depends on cross-links between γ-Lys406 and γ-Gln398.
Histochemical and biochemical localization of mannitol oxidase in the snail Helix aspersa

The tissue distribution of mannitol oxidase in the snail Helix aspersa has been determined by histochemical and biochemical techniques. Highest activity was found within the alimentary canal and digestive gland where the enzyme presumably acts on ingested naturally occurring polyols, especially mannitol.
High-efficiency nonvolatile holographic storage with two-step recording in praseodymium-doped lithium niobate by use of continuous-wave lasers

We have observed efficient two-photon, two-step recording in a praseodymium-doped lithium niobate crystal by use of cw lasers. Single-photon erasure during the readout at near-infrared wavelengths was found to be negligible. Nonvolatile holographic image storage was demonstrated. This progress is an important step in the realization of an economically feasible nonvolatile read–write holographic recording system based on low-cost semiconductor diode lasers.
Non-specificity of "behavioral despair" as an animal model of depression.

Abstract When mice are forced to swim in a restricted space, they will cease attempts to escape and adopt a characteristic immobile posture which can be readily indentified and timed. Imipramine decreased the duration of immobility in a 4 min swimming test in a dose-related manner. Likewise, caffeine, triiodothyronine and pentobarbital reduced immobility. These latter findings shed doubt upon the specificity of the behavior despair swimming test to identify substances with antidepressant activity.
Isolation of dihydrocuscohygrine from peruvian coca leaves

Abstract An investigation of the alkaloidal fraction of Erythroxylon coca leaves, collected in Peru, has resulted in the isolation and characterization of c
“Clicked” plasmonic core–satellites: covalently assembled gold nanoparticles

In this communication, we describe the covalent assembly of gold nanoparticles into core–satellite clusters using the “cream of the crop” Click reaction, namely, azide–alkyne Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) confirm the successful “Click” between the plasmonic cores and satellites.
The relationship between high school students' perceptions of teaching as a career and selected background characteristics: Implications for attracting students of color to teaching

This study sought to determine: What influence do background characteristics of high school students have on their perceptions of teaching as a career choice? The independent variables, or background characteristics, were ethnicity, gender, the work status of parents, and grade level. Of particular interest was the extent to which African Americans were receptive to teaching as a career choice. The dependent variable of the study was students' perceptions of teaching as a career. Students perceptions were ascertained from their responses to an instrument administered to over 800 high school students. The inventory sought students' attitudes regarding: (a) the extent to which they valued teaching as a career; (b) the importance they assigned to teaching relative to other professions; (c) the influence of significant others in encouraging them to go into teaching; and (d) their desire to meet the prerequisites to becoming a teacher. Although the findings were in general those to be expected, some surprising ones were also observed.
The development of verbal justifications in the conversations of preschool children and adults

This study examines verbal justifications in conversations between children and adults in four cases from the CHILDES database, from the age of 2;6 to 4;11 longitudinally. Monthly transcripts were searched for justifications, which were coded for their discourse context and divided into three age groupings. Adults produced more justifications than children during the 2;6 to 2;11 age grouping, but by 3;0 to 3;11, there was no significant difference between them. Conflicts were an important discourse context for justifications during the 2;6 to 2;11 age grouping, during the third year, questions as the discourse motivators increased, and during the 4;0 to 4;11 age grouping, justifications were mostly self-expansions. There were few sequences of justifications from 2;6 to 2;11; this changed in the third year with children’s increased questions.
Impact of community-based education on sepsis

Sepsis is an uncontrolled infection that can develop very quickly throughout the body. Sepsis can strike anyone at any age and people with pre-existing medical conditions may be at greater risk. Patients with sepsis often present to the emergency department from home. Community education programs focus on raising public awareness of sepsis, its signs and symptoms, and can positively impact outcomes.
Characterization of the 5′-flanking region of the gene encoding the 50 kDa subunit of human DNA polymerase δ

Abstract DNA polymerase δ consists of at least four subunits: p125, p68, p50, and p12 [Liu et al., J. Biol. Chem. 275 (2000) 18739–18744]. We have isolated genomic DNA clones covering the gene for the human DNA polymerase δ 50 kDa subunit (POLD2) and its 5′-flanking sequence. The POLD2 gene is composed of 11 exons and is distributed over 10 kb of genomic DNA. All exon–intron splice junctions conformed to the GT/AG consensus sequence. The 5′-flanking region of human POLD2 is G+C-rich and does not have a typical TATA box. A computer-based search for potential transcription factor binding sites revealed the existence of a number of motifs including those for AP1, AP2, Sp1, NF-1 and CREB. The functional activity of the regulatory region of the human POLD2 gene was demonstrated by its ability to drive the expression of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene in COS-7 cells.
Non-invasive differentiation of motor cortical representation of hand muscles by mapping of optimal current directions

Abstract Non-invasive mapping of human motor cortex by stimulating different scalp positions with a magnetic coil held at a constant orientation allows differentiation of proximal and distal arm muscles. This study describes a technique for more precise mapping of closely represented muscles using different orientations of a coil that delivers nearly monopolar current pulses. EMG was recorded from abductor pollicis brevis (APB), first dorsal interosseous (FDI), abductor digiti minimi (ADM), and flexor carpi radialis (FCR) of 9 normal volunteers. Stimuli were delivered from a Dantec stimulator through an 8-shaped coil. The center of the coil was kept flat on the scalp on a given position, and the coil rotated at different angles. The amplitudes of the motor evoked potentials were used for calculation of optimal current directions in the brain for activation of each muscle in each position. The optimal current direction for FCR activation pointed antero-medially. ADM, FDI and APB mapped progressively more antero-laterally. The relationship between current directions was constant across subjects and did not change in different scalp positions. This technique improves the spatial resolution of non-invasive cortical mapping and may express the differences in orientations of interneuronal nets in the precentral gyrus.
Deformation behavior and joining of a MgF2 optical ceramic

Abstract Compressive deformation behavior of a polycrystalline magnesium fluoride (MgF 2 ) ceramic was investigated at temperatures ranging from 760 to 830 °C in an argon atmosphere at strain rates between 2 × 10 −6 and 4 × 10 −5 s −1 . Steady-state flow stresses increased with increasing strain rates and ranged between 2 and 38 MPa. Stress exponents of ≈1.4 ± 0.2 were determined at temperatures >760 °C, indicative of a viscous diffusion-controlled deformation mechanism. Activation energy, determined from flow stress as a function of temperature, at a constant strain rate, was ≈476 ± 60 kJ/mol. Self-joining by plastic deformation of MgF 2 was demonstrated at 830 °C at a strain rate of 5 × 10 −6 s −1 . The joined samples were characterized by optical transmission measurements and their transmittivity was ≈80% of the unjoined sample in the 2.5–8 μm wavelength range.
Effects of the src gene product on microfilament and microtubule organization in avian and mammalian cells infected with the same temperature-sensitive mutant of Rous sarcoma virus.

Abstract We have studied cytoskeletal organization in both mammalian (rat kidney cells) and avian cells (chick embryo fibroblasts) that have been transformed with temperature-sensitive src gene mutants of Rous sarcoma virus. The functioning of the src gene in rat cells affected the organization of actin-containing microfilament bundles, but not microtubules at the permissive temperature for transformation. These cells formed colonies in soft agar at permissive temperature, but not at nonpermissive temperature. In contrast, the src gene product affected both microtubule and microfilament organization in chick embryo fibroblasts at permissive temperature.
Homograft valve repair for recurrent prosthetic valve endocarditis.

Surgical management of prosthetic valve endocarditis (PVE) remains a formidable challenge, especially for patients who continue intravenous drug use after successful initial treatment.1,2 In an effort to reduce the rate of recurrent endocarditis, strategies including aortic valve repair and aortic root replacement with a homograft have been reported.1,3 However, recurrent endocarditis of an aortic homograft represents a clinical problem without a well-established solution. This report details the treatment of a second recurrence of PVE in an intravenous drug user who had undergone homograft root replacement 11 months previously for endocarditis of an aortic valve bioprosthesis.
Composition depth profiles of PtRh alloys in surface segregation, and cosegregation with sulfur impurities

Composition depth profiles with true atomic layer resolution have been obtained with the atom-probe for the (111) and (001) planes of PtRh alloys. The first surface layer is enriched with Pt and the second layer is enriched with Rh. The enrichment is slightly pronounced at plane edges. No reversed segregation is observed at the dilute Rh side of the alloy composition. A reversed segregation is observed if the samples contain a small amount of sulfur.
A regulator for a class of unknown continuous-time nonlinear systems

Abstract We introduce a control law for a class of unknown nonlinear continuous-time systems in which full state measurements are available. We show that as long as a certain feedback gain parameter is sufficiently large, the closed-loop system is stable. Furthermore, the magnitude of the control is bounded in the limit. As a corollary to the main result, we show that first-order nonlinear systems in the class we consider can be stabilized using linear proportional integral controllers, and we give explicit tuning rules for these controllers.
Hot electron conduction in lead telluride

Abstract The velocity of hot electrons in PbTe at 77 K is calculated by an iterative-integral technique. Scattering by polar-optical phonons, acoustic phonons, and first-order-coupled intervalley phonons is included.
Extensions of normal operators

We prove that every one dimensional extension of a separably acting normal operator has a cyclic commutant, and that every non-algebraic normal operator has a two-dimensional extension which fails to have a cyclic commutant. Contrasting this, we prove that ifT is an extension of a normal operator by an algebraic operator then the weakly closed algebraW(T) has a separating vector.
Ontogenetic quinpirole treatment induces vertical jumping activity in rats

Repeated ontogenetic treatment with quinpirole produces enhanced quinpirole-induced yawning and antinociceptive actions in adult rats. We now report the occurence of a bizarre behavior jumping inrats so treated. Rats were treated daily from birth with quinpirole HCl (3.0 mg/kg per day × 28 days i.p., salt form) or saline vehicle. After each daily injection, the rats were observed for at least 1 h. Starting on the 18th day after birth, quinpirole treatment was associated with the appearance of jumping behavior. On the 20th day after birth a dose-effect relationship was found for quinpirole HCl (0.10–3.0 mg/kg), with maximal jumping activity occurring between 30 and 150 min after the 3.0 mg/kg dose. On the 26th day after birth, both spiperone HCl (0.30 mg/kg i.p.) and SCH 23390 HCl (0.30 mg/kg i.p.) attenuated the quinpirole effect. At 34 days the jumping response was virtually absent. The age-related jumping behavior appears to be another manifestation of the abnormal responses meduated by supersensitized dopamine receptors in quinpirole-primed rats. Based on the ability of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor antagonists to attenuate this effect, quinpirole-induced jumping behavior may be a reflection of cooperativity of dopamine D1 and D2 receptor types.
Emission Line Spectra of Al IV-Al XI in the Extreme Ultraviolet Region 40-170 Å

We measured wavelengths and intensities of L-shell emission lines of aluminum in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength band. We identify 75 features of Al IV through Al XI between 40 and 170 A. The strongest features are due to 3 → 2 transitions; features from 4 → 2, 5 → 2, and 6 → 2 transitions are also included. Calculations made with the Flexible Atomic Code using the configuration-interaction method and many-body perturbation theory are presented and compared to the experimental results.
Immunomodulatory IL-18 binding protein is produced by prostate cancer cells and its levels in urine and serum correlate with tumor status

Cytokines may play a role in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer. A cytokine antibody array was previously applied to prostatic fluid obtained from patients with prostate cancer, and interleukin 18 binding protein (IL-18BP), a potent inhibitor of interleukin 18, was noted to be significantly upregulated in cases with large volume disease. We sought to further characterize the association of IL-18BP with prostate cancer and determine whether IL-18BP levels in patient serum and urine samples had clinical relevance. IL-18BP was expressed and secreted by the prostate cancer cell lines DU145 and PC3 but not by LNCaP and CWR22, upon interferon-γ (IFN-γ) stimulation. IFN-γ-induced secretion of IL-18BP was enhanced by added TNF-α, IFN-α and IFN-β. The IL-18BP secreted from DU145 and PC3 functionally inhibited IL-18. Immunohistochemical analyses showed positive IL-18BP staining in prostate cancer cells as well as in macrophages in radical prostatectomy specimens. Significant differences in urinary IL-18BP levels (normalized by total protein) collected post-DRE were found between cases with and without cancer on biopsy (p = 0.02) and serum IL-18BP levels correlated with Gleason score (p = 0.03). Our finding of elevated IL-18BP secretion from prostate cancer cells suggests an attempt by cancer to escape immune surveillance. IL-18BP merits further study as a marker of aggressive prostate cancer and as a therapeutic target.
A model to estimate growth in young-of-the-year tautog, Tautoga onitis, based on RNA/DNA ratio and seawater temperature

Abstract This study presents an indirect method for estimating growth rates of young-of-the-year (YOY) tautog, Tautoga onitis , based on laboratory calibration experiments and nucleic acid-based indices. Field-collected tautog were held in the laboratory at 3 temperatures over a 17-day period. Four feeding levels were used to produce a range of growth rates. An ultraviolet absorption assay was used to measure nucleic acid concentrations in white muscle tissue. The strength of the relationship between growth rate and three nucleic acid-based parameters (RNA concentration, DNA concentration, RNA/DNA ratio (R/D)) was tested. Correlation results indicated a significant positive relationship between R/D and weight-based instantaneous growth rate ( G ) ( r = 0.68; p r = − 0.55; p r = − 0.56; p T ). Multiple linear regression showed that R/D and temperature explained 61% of the variability in growth, resulting in the model G = 0.01285(R/D) + 0.00057( T ) − 0.03205 ( p
Marine Pollution Research in Exclusive Economic Zone Planning

Studies of EEZ planning strategies have generally ignored the role of marine pollution research in identifying interrelations between domestic and international policy goals. Many issues relating, to nearshore and open ocean pollution assessment and control need to be considered in a new light given the current climate of uncertainty stemming from the evolving U.S. position on EEZ rights and responsibilities. Current approaches to definition of research problems and the application of research findings in policymaking may be inadequate as new pollution control needs are recognized in such areas as marine waste disposal, and the protection of coastal recreational and commercial fishing waters. The relevance of existing research on domestic issues is discussed in relation to the need to enhance the national objectives of U.S. EEZ declaration while accommodating the international ramifications of this action.
Computer-aided molecular design using the Signature molecular descriptor: Application to solvent selection

Abstract There is a growing demand to develop more environmentally friendly solvents to reduce costs and comply with regulation. Researchers at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) have developed a solvent selection guide that ranks 47 frequently used solvents from 1 to 10 in five areas related to environmental compatibility. In this work, we apply a computer-aided molecular design method known as inverse design with the Signature molecular descriptor to identify additional potentially green solvents outside of GSK's list. Applying this approach is much quicker, less expensive and allows for a more comprehensive search for the most suitable candidates than working with experimental data alone. We present results for solvents with optimal predicted properties that span the classes from the 47 compounds in the GSK solvent selection guide and include several which are hybrids that cross-cut amongst classes. Additionally, our technique “rediscovers” the known green solvent ethyl lactate through this method by combining different solvent classes.
A 13C NMR Study of the Condensation Chemistry of Acetone and Acetaldehyde Adsorbed at the Brønsted Acid Sites in H-ZSM-5

Abstract Several bimolecular, acid-catalyzed condensation reactions of acetone and acetaldehyde have been examined in H-ZSM-5, along with the adsorption complexes formed by the products, using 13C NMR. For acetone, the hydrogen-bonded adsorption complex is stable at room temperature and coverages below one molecule per Bronsted acid site. Reaction to mesityl oxide occurs only at higher coverages or temperatures, which are necessary to induce site exchange. The adsorption complex exhibits reaction chemistry analogous to that observed in solution phase, forming adsorption complexes of chloroacetone upon exposure to Cl2 and of imines upon exposure to NH3 or dimethylamine. The reactions of acetaldehyde to crotonaldehyde and imines are similar, although they occur at a faster rate due to the higher mobility of this molecule. The adsorption complexes formed by acetone, acetaldehyde, and their condensation products can all be described as rigid, hydrogen-bonded complexes at low coverages. Complexes formed from imines and enamines exhibit isotropic chemical shifts nearly identical to those observed in magic acids, indicating that proton transfer is nearly complete for these molecules. The extent of proton transfer for the remaining molecules varies with the proton affinity of the molecule, ranging from close to complete proton transfer for mesityl oxide and crotonaldehyde to almost complete absence of proton transfer for the chloroacetones. The differences and similarities between these reactions in the zeolite and in solution phase are discussed, along with the implications for understanding the primary processes responsible for these reactions in zeolites.
Validation of the CHORES: a measure of school-aged children's participation in household tasks

The CHORES (Children Helping Out: Responsibilities, Expectations, and Supports) is a clinical and research tool that measures school-aged children's participation in household tasks. Separate performance and assistance scores enable examination of changes in children's responsibilities for household tasks as they mature and the work of families to promote their participation. The Self-Care and Family-Care subscales afford study of cultural aspects of household tasks that may influence children's participation and opportunities for learning. Thirty-two parents from diverse backgrounds participated in the first part of the study. Twenty-one of these parents participated in the test–retest study. The sample was culturally diverse and included parents of 6- to 11-year-old children with and without disabilities who have average or above intellect. Results from the psychometric analyses show that the CHORES has strong reliability and validity. The variance in children's task performance and overall levels of as...
The Power and Limitations of Pharmacogenetic Epidemiology

Ovid and many physicians in the thousands of years since have been stymied by the large interindividual variability in drug response and toxicity. That all patients do not reap the same benefits from the same drugs is well established. In the case of statins, estimates of effectiveness range from 30 to 70% of users (Spear et al., 2001). Disentangling why this occurs is complex, and two new disciplines are likely to make headway in furthering our understanding of these phenomena.
Evaluating Modified Atmospheric Correction Methods for Landsat Imagery: Image‐Based and Model‐Based Calibration Methods

Abstract To increase the accuracy of remotely sensed data for agricultural forecasting, pixel values must be corrected for atmospheric effects and converted to spectral reflectance. The objective of this research was to compare two atmospheric correction methods of Landsat imagery under a range of atmospheric conditions. Ground‐based dark‐object subtraction (GDOS) is an image‐based calibration method that used in situ ground data that the dark‐object subtraction (DOS) method did not use, whereas atmospheric calibration (AC) is a model‐based calibration method that required a standard atmospheric profile refined with the use of in situ atmospheric data. GDOS and AC methods improved the reflectance values and had relationships with measured bands, which were approximately 1 to 1 in all bands. However, the GDOS generally had lower root‐mean‐square errors (RMSE) than AC. Data from this study suggest that at the present time the GDOS method may be more accurate than the AC method.
Aberrant CD8+ T-Cell Responses and Memory Differentiation upon Viral Infection of an Ataxia-Telangiectasia Mouse Model Driven by Hyper-Activated Akt and mTORC1 Signaling

Immune system-related pathology is common in ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) patients and mice that lack the protein kinase, A-T mutated (ATM). However, it has not been studied how ATM influences immune responses to a viral infection. Using the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) infection model, we show that ATM−/− mice, despite having fewer naive CD8+ T cells, effectively clear the virus. However, aberrant CD8+ T-cell responses are observed, including defective expansion and contraction, effector-to-memory differentiation, and a switch in viral-epitope immunodominance. T-cell receptor-activated, but not naive, ATM−/− splenic CD8+ T cells have increased ribosomal protein S6 and Akt phosphorylation and do not proliferate well in response to IL-15, a cytokine important for memory T-cell development. Accordingly, pharmacological Akt or mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) inhibition during T-cell receptor activation alone rescues the IL-15 proliferation defect. Finally, rapamycin treatment during LCMV infection in vivo increases the number of memory T cells in ATM−/− mice. Altogether, these results show that CD8+ T cells lacking ATM have hyperactive Akt and mTORC1 signaling in response to T-cell receptor activation, which results in aberrant cytokine responses and memory T-cell development. We speculate that similar signaling defects contribute to the immune system pathology of A-T, and that inhibition of Akt and/or mTORC1 may be of therapeutic value.
Variability in pyrolysis product yield from novel shrub willow genotypes

Fast pyrolysis is becoming a more attractive conversion option for the production of biofuels, due to the potential for directly producing hydrocarbon fuels seamlessly compatible with petroleum products (drop-in fuels). Dedicated bioenergy crops, like perennial grasses and short-rotation woody crops, will be among the major sources of biomass for fast pyrolysis. To aid in the advancement of fast pyrolysis conversion and to identify appropriate feedstock crops, novel genotypes of shrub willow recently bred for high yield were evaluated for pyrolysis product yield using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (py-GC/MS). The goal of this study was to understand how variations in biomass composition impact pyrolysis conversion efficiency and pyrolysis oil (bio-oil) quality by analyzing the composition of the pyrolysis vapors by py-GC/MS. The results of the py-GC/MS analysis showed significant differences in products from both non-catalytic and catalytic pyrolysis carried out over zeolite catalyst (HZSM-5), which were correlated with differences in biomass composition. For non-catalytic conversion, the most significant relationships were between the syringyl:guaiacyl (S:G) ratio in the biomass and phenolic monomers, in addition to levoglucosan yields and cellulose content. Production of phenols, guaiacols, and syringols were largely independent of total lignin content, but were strongly related to the S:G ratio. Willow genotypes with low ash content and high cellulose content produced more liquid products and higher levels of deoxygenated aromatics following catalytic pyrolysis. These results demonstrate that it is possible to breed for improvements in biomass compositional traits that can ultimately lead to improvements in bio-oil yield and quality.
Using case based reasoning for problem solving in a complex production process

Abstract Explicit and quick problem-solving is one of the critical processes that creates a competitive advantage in the business environment. By analyzing the current problem-solving process in the production line, we identified that the main problem is lack of knowledge sharing and consistent solutions which are referable. Therefore, all knowledge which is related to the problem-solving process must be accumulated and shared in the integrated system. When a process engineer is confronted with a new problem, he needs to receive the suggested solution based on accumulated data and knowledge. The Case-Based Reasoning (CBR) approach utilizes previous experience in the form of problem description or cases. To date, however, most Case-Based Systems (CBS) have tended to focus on relatively simple domains. The current study involves a project to develop a decision support system for a complex production process. This paper presents a set of critical issues underlying CBR, then explores their consequences for a practical domain. For concreteness, issues such as retrieval and adaptation are examined in the context of production process control. In this research, the evaluation of the system is carried out by comparing the solution of the process engineer with the solution proposed by the system.
Comparative acute and combinative toxicity of aflatoxin B1 and fumonisin B1 in animals and human cells

Aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) and fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)) are important food-borne mycotoxins. The co-contamination of food stuffs with these two mycotoxins is well known and has been possibly implicated in the development of human hepatocellular carcinoma in high risk regions around the world. In this study the acute and combinative toxicity of AFB(1) and FB(1) were tested in F-344 rats, mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), immortalized human hepatoma cells (HepG2) and human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Preliminary experiments were conducted in order to assess the acute toxicity and obtain LD(50), LC(50) and IC(50) values for individual toxins in each model, respectively. This was followed by testing combinations of AFB(1) and FB(1) to obtain LD(50), LC(50) and IC(50) values for the combination in each model. All models demonstrated a significant dose response in relation to toxin treatment. The potency of the mixture was gauged through the determination of the interaction index metric. Results of this study demonstrate that these two toxins interacted to produce alterations in the toxic responses with a strong additive interaction noted in the cases of F344 rats and mosquitofish. It can be gathered that this combination may pose a significant threat to public health and further research needs to be completed addressing alterations in metabolism and detoxification that may influence the toxic manifestations in combination. These results will provide foundational knowledge for future studies on long-term combinative toxic and health effects of these mycotoxins.
Safety and Efficacy of a High-Intensity, Weight-Based, Intravenous Heparin Protocol Revision in Patients who are Obese:

PurposeData collected previously within this institution concluded that the initial heparin infusion rate in the high-intensity, weight-based, intravenous (IV) heparin protocol should be adjusted f...
Transient spectroscopy of bacterial rhodopsins with an optical multichannel analyzer. 1. Comparison of the photocycles of bacteriorhodopsin and halorhodopsin

We used a gated optical multichannel analyzer to measure transient flash-induced absorption changes in bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and halorhodopsin (HR) and developed criteria for calculating the absorption spectra of the photocycle intermediates and the kinetics of their rise and decay. The results for BR agree with data reported by a large number of other authors. The results for HR in the presence of chloride are consistent with earlier data and reveal an additional intermediate, not previously seen, in the submicrosecond time scale. Although an M412-like intermediate is not in the HR photocycle, a one-by-one comparison of the rest of the intermediates observed for BR and HR indicates a striking similarity between the photocycles of the two bacterial rhodopsins. This was previously not apparent, perhaps because the experimental approaches to the spectroscopy of the two pigments were different and the data were thus more fragmented.
Landmine detection using fractional Fourier signatures

This paper addresses the problem of detecting anti-personnel landmines using features extracted via the fractional Fourier transform. A preliminary clutter reduction system is used to reduce the effects of ground clutter. The processed signatures are then examined using the fractional Fourier transform, where pertinent target features are extracted. These features are then presented to a nonparametric landmine detection system. The focus is on identifying and using fractions of the Fourier transform that will lead to better detection performance assuming that the landmine is within reasonable depth variation below the surface. The performance of the proposed detection scheme is assessed in terms of detection rate and false alarm rate using real landmine signatures. The effects of removing ground clutter are examined, and the effects of knowing the mine depth a priori are also discussed. The manner in which radar scans are processed via fractional Fourier is also discussed.
From Liberation to Conquest: The Visual and Popular Cultures of the Spanish–American War of 1898. Bonnie M. Miller. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2011.

From Liberation to Conquest: The Visual and Popular Cultures of the Spanish-American War of 1898. Bonnie M. Miller. Amherst: University of Massachusetts Press, 2011. In 1898, popular American war fever focused on two narrow objectives: avenging the sinking of the Maine, and liberating the Cuban people from Spanish tyranny. However, victory resulted in a prolonged U.S. military occupation of Cuba and a colonial war of conquest in the far-off Philippines. The nominally anticolonial United States had become an imperial world power. In recent years, it has become common for scholars to identify cultural narratives of race and masculinity as the source of this turn to empire. In From Liberation to Conquest, Bonnie Miller treads this familiar path, but points out new sights along the way. She seeks to explain the role of "media spectacle as a mechanism for manufacturing popular consent to war and imperialism" (2). In the first chapter, she details how the media shoehorned Spanish "outrages" against Cubans into a romantic narrative of captive maidens and valiant saviors. Following Kristin Hoganson Fighting for American Manhood, 1998), Miller argues that this chivalric melodrama helped Americans see war as a humanitarian venture. In Chapter 3, Miller contends that treating the battles of Manila, San Juan Hill, and Santiago Bay as backdrops for heroic acts by American men like George Dewey and Theodore Roosevelt distracted the public's attention from the Cubans' struggle for independence and obscured the economic and strategic context of imperial expansion. In Chapters 4 and 6, Miller illustrates how racist depictions of Cubans and Filipinos in political cartoons (both pro- and anticolonial) made it more difficult to imagine the islands as independent republics. In contending that "racial thinking was central to justifying the changing purpose of the war" (228), Miller echoes a common historiographical theme. However, Miller cautions readers not to draw simplistic lessons about the relationship between culture and politics. She repeatedly debunks the "yellow press" thesis: the claim that the sensationalistic Hearst and Pulitzer newspapers forced the country's leaders into war. Relying heavily on Robert C. Hilderbrand's Power and the People (1981), Miller paints President William McKinley as an independent actor who chose war and empire for his own strategic reasons, not in response to public pressure. Where the book advances beyond existing scholarship is in its detailed and nuanced account of the production and reception of visual and popular culture. Although limited primarily to "media that white Americans produced for broad consumption" (3), Miller brings to the task extensive research in over forty periodicals as well as newsreels, plays, fairs, and other popular amusements and commodities. …
Optical Micro-Assembly with Automatic Alignment Using MEMS Active Interconnects

In this article, a novel method for interconnecting micro-optoelectromechanical system (MOEMS) is presented. The design concept is proven by a pair of V-shape voltage controlled actuators that are fabricated on single silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. When a DC voltage is applied to the actuators, the deformation of the actuators enables the sockets to open larger than the dimension of the optical filter block. Then, the filter block is inserted into the socket by a robotic assembly system. After releasing the applied voltage, the filter block is held by a static force that is generated from the deformation of the bent beams. A two-channel DWDM micro-system is assembled and demonstrated using this method.
Measurement of the absolute photoionization cross section of the 3 p P o 3 term of neutral magnesium

The photoionization cross section of the metastable $3p ^{3}P^{o}$ term of neutral Mg was measured at $\ensuremath{\lambda}=248.6$ nm, near threshold. The Mg vapor was produced in a pulsed, hollow cathode, discharge tube. The density of metastable Mg atoms was determined by using the hook method. The cross section was determined by a photoelectric measurement of the absorption of light by the Mg vapor. The result is (46\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}12) Mb. This value is larger than that derived from quantum-defect-theory calculations and from a previous measurement. Use of the larger value in models of the solar chromosphere improves the agreement with the observed solar spectrum.
Manual discrimination and identification of length by the finger-span method.

Experiments were conducted on length resolution for objects held between the thumb and forefinger. The just noticeable difference in length measured in discrimination experiments is roughly 1 mm for reference lengths of 10 to 20 mm. It increases monotonically with reference length but violates Weber’s law. Also, it decreases when the subject is permittedto maintain a constant finger span between trials; however, it tends to increase when the nondominant hand is used. As would be expected from studies of other stimulus dimensions in other sense modalities, resolution is considerably poorer in identification experiments than in discrimination experiments. For stimulus sets that cover a broad range (90 mm), the total information transfer is roughly 2 bits; for those that cover a relatively small range (18 mm), it is roughly 1 bit. The data are analyzed and interpreted using analysis techniques and models that have been used previously in studies of audition (e.g., Durlach &Braida, 1969).
Exercise-induced changes of biochemical, histochemical and contractile properties of muscle in cordotomized kittens.

Abstract Characteristics of soleus (SOL) and medial gastrocnemius (MG) muscles in cats cordotomized at either 2 or 12 weeks of age, some of which were exercised on a treadmill during the following 11 to 19 weeks, were compared to see if age at spinalization or if enforced exercise on a treadmill had any differential effects. In non-exercised animals, SOL weights in both 2-week and 12-week groups were less than in 14-week intact controls, but MG weights were equal or greater. Muscles in general were moderately heavier in exercised animals, the MG values in the 12-week animals equalling those in intact adults. The effect of transection was an increase in percent of fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic fibers in the SOL at the expense of slow-twitch oxidative fibers, and contraction times were shortened. In the MG only a slight shift in fiber-type complement was suggested. Both muscles demonstrated large increases in biochemically determined ATPase activity, without relation to age at cordotomy. Only a modest increase in the myosin ATPase activity as shown biochemically or histochemically was associated with a marked reduction in contraction time in the SOL, whereas in the MG increases in ATPase activity occurred in the absence of a change in contraction time. Because the exercise potentiated the shortening of contraction time in the SOL, characteristic of slow muscle in chronically transected cats, it appears that absence of neuromuscular activity of spinalized cats cannot explain the development of contractile, histochemical, and biochemical properties characteristic of “faster” muscles.
Collaborative Self-assessment in the Academy: Coping with Structural Blockages to Self-discovery

Within the context of a communication department, we describe organizational blockages to self-knowledge in universities and show how self-assessment might alleviate them. Collaborative departmental self-assessment creates a rich context for student research as it spurs students' engaged and thoughtful inquiry by drawing on their special perspectives. This unique way to assess curricular and pedagogical strategies requires managing diverse stakeholders with different values and goals. We present findings from a multi-method, student-faculty project that examined communication undergraduates, recently graduated students, and professors. These groups viewed an ideal educational experience much differently; our findings suggest how other universities might improve their educational outcomes.
Mathematical foundations of nonsmooth embedding methods

This paper establishes a mathematical foundation for application of the well known classical embedding approach to a class of nonsmooth functions, using a recently developed analogue of the derivative in cases where the functions involved fail to be differentiable in the usual sense. As part of this development we show how to obtain an extension to this case of the classical Hadamard theorem giving conditions for a map of ℝ n to itself to be a homeomorphism.