cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Acoustic effects during bone ablation

In surgical applications of lasers, it is often necessary to know when a laser has penetrated a bone. There are many instances when it is critical to avoid damaging tissue beneath the bone. We are developing a system to monitor the ablation of bone. We have found a method to detect when the bone has been penetrated by measuring the photo acoustic signal generated by a pulsed laser. Using a transducer on samples of temporal bone and several model substances, we can see a decrease in the power spectrum near 350 kHz as softer materials is ablated. The current results are from a carbon dioxide laser operating in the super pulse mode. We are developing the technique for use with the Vanderbilt Free Electron Laser as part of our computer assisted surgery techniques program.
Sleep, sleep deprivation and infectious disease: Studies in animals

Common perceptions that the desire for sleep is increased during mild infectious diseases like colds and 'the flu' have fostered beliefs that sleep promotes recovery from infectious disease and that lack of sleep increases susceptibility to infections. However, until recently, the relationship between infectious disease and vigilance received relatively little systematic study. At present, several model systems provide evidence that infectious disease is accompanied by alterations in sleep. Indeed, increased sleepiness, like fever and anorexia, may be viewed as a facet of the acute phase response to infectious challenge. Recent studies also suggest that sleep, sleep deprivation and infectious disease may be related via mechanisms of the immune system (Fig. 1). Data are now accumulating to address questions such as whether immune processes alter sleep, whether sleep or sleep deprivation influences immune competence, and whether sleep facilitates recovery from infectious disease.
Geometric connectivity of vehicular ad hoc networks: analytical characterization

In this paper, based on approved traffic flow distributions, we develop analytical expressions for Vehicular Ad Hoc Network (VANET) connectivity with respect to the number of reachable neighbors. Node mobility is accounted for by assuming probabilistic disturbance events that instantaneously disrupt the connection between nodes. Next, the lower bound of reachable neighbors for each vehicle to keep VANET connectivity is proposed. Furthermore, we derive the relationship between the number of vehicles in VANETs and the reachable neighbors under which the network is asymptotically connected. Our results facilitate building VANETs with high connectivity on a single road under conditions that the traffic is homogenously distributed as well as the traffic density and the road length are known.
Effectiveness of intranasal immunization with HIV-gp160 and an HIV-1 Env CTL epitope peptide (E7) in combination with the mucosal adjuvant LT(R192G)

LT(R192G) is a novel mucosal adjuvant that induces protective immunity when co-administered with certain whole inactivated bacteria or viruses or with subunits of relevant virulence determinants from these pathogens. LT(R192G) stimulates antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, both systemically and in mucosal compartments, and is safe and nontoxic at adjuvant effective doses. Intranasal (IN) immunization of mice with LT(R192G) in conjunction with oligomeric HIV-1 gp160 elevates antigen-specific systemic and mucosal IgG and IgA production and Th1- and Th2-type cytokine responses. Isotype characterization of induced IgG reveals that gp160 alone fails to stimulate IgG2a responses in the absence of adjuvant. Both IgG1 and IgG2a are induced by immunization in the presence of LT(R192G). Additionally, intranasal immunization with a 15-amino acid peptide corresponding to an HIV-1 Env CTL determinant and LT(R192G) induces systemic, peptide-specific CTL activity and Th1 and Th2 cytokine responses that are absent when the adjuvant is excluded from the immunizations. These studies show that LT(R192G) quantitatively and qualitatively enhances cellular and humoral HIV-specific immune responses and that this adjuvant may offer significant advantages toward vaccine development against HIV.
A simple cryopreservation method for dendritic cells and cells used in their derivation and functional assessment.

BACKGROUND Cryopreservation and storage permitting multiple treatments with single donations is of practical importance to cellular therapies. HES and DMSO, used successfully in simple clinical procedures for freezing marrow and peripheral blood progenitor cells at -80 degrees C, was tested on antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs) and cells used in their derivation. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS DCs cultured in serum-free media from adherent or CD14+ apheresis MNCs (n = 36) in the presence of GM-CSF + IL4 +/- TNFalpha were frozen and stored at -80 degrees C in 6-percent HES, 5-percent DMSO, and 4-percent HSA. Apheresis MNCs, CD14+ monocytes, and lymphocytes were similarly frozen and later thawed for culture. Cells were assayed for viability, DC phenotype, mixed lymphocyte reaction, and antigen presentation before and 3, 6, 9, 12 or more months after freezing. RESULTS DCs retained viability (82 +/- 2.3%) for at least 24 months. Mature and immature phenotype and function were preserved. Thawed MNCs and CD14+ cells differentiated to DCs and lymphocytes maintained high functional viability (92 +/- 3%) comparable to prefreeze levels. CONCLUSION A simple -80 degrees C freezing and storage method that combines extracellular (HES) and intracellular (DMSO) agents is practical and preserves functional viability of DCs, MNCs, CD14+ monocytes, and lymphocytes.
Thermal Influence on Invertebrate Respiration

Most invertebrates cannot maintain a body temperature independent of their environment. However, various physiological and ecological strategies have evolved that enable poikilotherms to metabolically compensate for thermal changes. To evaluate the probable metabolic success of an organism in a region of thermal additions, a number of factors need to be considered. These include body size, stage in the life cycle of an organism, cyclic changes, and the habitat of the animal.
Kinetics of ion-ion mutual neutralization: halide anions with polyatomic cations.

The binary mutual neutralization (MN) of a series of 17 cations (O₂⁺, NO(+), NO₂⁺, CO(+), CO₂⁺, Cl(+), Cl₂⁺, SO₂⁺, CF₃⁺, C₂F₅⁺, NH₃⁺, H₃⁺, D₃⁺, H2O(+), H3O(+), ArH(+), ArD(+)) with 3 halide anions (Cl(-), Br(-), I(-)) has been investigated in a flowing afterglow-Langmuir probe apparatus using the variable electron and neutral density attachment mass spectrometry technique. The MN rate constants of atom-atom reactions are dominated by the chemical nature of the system (i.e., the specific locations of curve crossings). As the number of atoms in the system increases, the MN rate constants become dominated instead by the physical nature of the system (e.g., the relative velocity of the reactants). For systems involving 4 or more atoms, the 300 K MN rate constants are well described by 2.7 × 10(-7) μ(-0.5), where the reduced mass is in Da and the resulting rate constants in cm(3) s(-1). An upper limit to the MN rate constants appears well described by the complex potential model described by Hickman assuming a cross-section to neutralization of 11,000 A(2) at 300 K, equivalent to 3.5 × 10(-7) μ(-0.5).
915. High and Low Affinity Consensus Binding Sequences to Extracellular α7 Integrin X2B Subunit Detected Using Phage Display Biopanning

Multiple biopanning strategies have been developed to uncover ligands that bind to specific cellular receptors such as panning on immobilized targets or on live cells. This study utilized a cell-based system in which MCF7 breast carcinoma cells stably transfected with the |[alpha]|7 integrin X2B subunit gene (MCF7|[alpha]|7(+)) were used for positive selection, while non-transfected MCF7 cells were used for negative selection. We chose |[alpha]|7 integrin, a cell surface receptor whose expression is largely restricted to skeletal muscle and is up-regulated in dystrophic muscle, as our biopanning receptor to discover targeting ligands for muscle gene delivery. The biopanning strategy developed for this project began with a single library of phage representing approximately 1|[times]|109 possible combinations of 7 amino acids. For the first round of biopanning, we incubated the original library with MCF7|[alpha]|7(+) cells for positive selection, removed any non-binding phage and collected the bound phage in 2 separate fractions. A low affinity fraction was collected by low pH wash and then neutralized, while a high affinity fraction was recovered by cell collection, subsequent freezing and thawing to lyse the cells, and removal of cellular debris by centrifugation. Once the positive selection was completed, we immediately performed negative selection using each fraction (low and high affinity) separately on MCF7 cells. After the last of 6 rounds of biopanning for each phage fraction, with each round containing a positive and negative selection, the un-amplified eluate was titered to limiting dilution and individual phage clones were picked and amplified separately. Purified clones were analyzed first by an ELISA-based binding assay developed. using MCF7|[alpha]|7(+) and MCF7 cells to determine if a single phage clone with specific ligand revealed higher binding specificity in |[alpha]|7- positive cells. Following binding analysis, DNA from clones with 2-3|[times]| higher binding affinity in |[alpha]|7-positive cells over |[alpha]|7-negative cells were sequenced to determine if a consensus binding sequence had been discovered. We show that 36% and 70% of analyzed clones from low and high affinity binding fractions, respectively, revealed a consensus binding sequence to |[alpha]|7 integrin. Further testing of each consensus sequence will be conducted to determine efficiency and specificity of muscle binding. The sequences can then be incorporated into viral and non-viral vectors for vector targeting.
Digoxin and nifedipine

Abstract Many investigators have studied the potential interactions between calcium-channel antagonists and digoxin. Digoxin is usually well absorbed, and its excretion is dependent on renal mechanisms, primarily glomerular filtration. Several studies have reported a decrease in digoxin clearance and an increase of approximately 50% in digoxin levels when verapamil was added to digoxin therapy. Because renal digoxin clearance was decreased but no concomitant change in creatinine clearance was shown, the presumed major mechanism for decreased renal digoxin clearance is an alteration in renal tubular secretion of digoxin. Although an early report described a digoxin-nifedipine interaction, several subsequent studies have shown no significant changes in digoxin kinetics during nifedipine administration. Four studies found no significant decrease in creatinine clearance of digoxin during nifedipine administration. Thus significant changes in glomerular filtration are unlikely. Physiologic endpoints were measured by 2 groups describing a digoxin-nifedipine interaction and, although there was an increase in serum digoxin concentration, no changes were found in electrophysiologic,correlates. Thus, if a digoxin-nifedipine interaction does exist, steady-state digoxin levels might increase from 24 to 45 % when nifedipine therapy is added. Studies to date have involved small numbers of subjects with and without cardiac disease and have used different study protocols. Nonetheless, little evidence exists for any clinically significant increase in physiologic effects and no adverse effects have been found in patients receiving combined nifedipine and digoxin.
Reefs are not so different—They follow the evolutionary pattern of level-bottom communities

There is a pervasive attitude that reels were isolated from the mainstream of evolution and that their history had quite a different pattern from the level-bottom marine biota. However, three striking similarities exist between the evolution of reefs and other marine communities. (1) Reef composition and ecologic structure were governed by the composition of the three Phanerozoic evolutionary faunas. (2) Reefs were decimated by the major extinction events of the geologic record. (3) Reefs conform to the pattern of level-bottom community evolution. Intervals when reefs were absent were due either to the absence of appropriate frame-building organisms in the biota (for example in the Middle and Late Cambrian) or to the absence of reefs following extinction events before frame-building organisms re-evolved a reef-building mode of life.
The love racket: Defining love and agapefor the love-and-science research program

. Scholars of religion and science have generated remarkable scholarship in recent years in their explorations of love. Exactly how scholars involved in this budding field believe that love and science should relate and/or be integrated varies greatly. What they share in common is the belief that issues of love are of paramount importance and that the various scientific disciplines—whether natural, social, or religious—must be brought to bear upon how best to understand love. I briefly introduce the emergence of the love-and-science research program and note that scholars have not done well defining what they mean by love. I suggest that the present surge in love scholarship will fail to produce the positive results that it otherwise might if love is not defined well. I provide and defend a definition of love adequate for those doing love-and-science research: To love is to act intentionally, in sympathetic response to others (including God), to promote well-being. To explain better what this simple definition entails, I explore its three main phrases. Love is said to have many forms, but agape is the form to which the love-and-science literature most commonly refers. I comment briefly on the debates about how to best understand agape, noting sixteen different definitions proposed by major scholars. I identify weaknesses in many of them and then offer what I argue is a more adequate definition of agape as intentional response to promote well-being when confronted by that which generates ill-being. In short, agape repays evil with good. While research on love and science requires much more than adequate definitions, I believe that the definitions I proffer can prove useful in furthering the love-and-science research program.
Selective synthesis of dimethylamine over small-pore zeolites: III. HZK-5

Abstract HZK-5 is a highly selective catalyst for dimethylamine (DMA) synthesis in the reaction of methanol and ammonia. Deep-bed (DB) calcination of NH4ZK-5 containing 4 Cs uc results in DMA selectivities of 60–75% but with 15–30% dimethyl ether (DME) yields. Deep-bed or shallow-bed steam calcination of NH4ZK-5 with only 1 Cs uc gives similar high DMA selectivities but lower DME yields of 5–10%. Shallow-bed calcination of NH4ZK-5 results in DMA selectivities of ~45%. The activity of HZK-5 in the methylamine synthesis reaction is lower than that of zeolite HRHO.
Dynamic seizure imaging in patients with extratemporal lobe epilepsy

Epilepsy is a common neurological disease that affects about 50 million people worldwide. Extratemporal lobe epilepsy, which represents an important type of epilepsy, may involve seizure activity in various lobes and the surgical treatment in these patients tends to have less favorable surgical outcome. Noninvasive seizure imaging in drug-resistant patients is of vital importance to image the seizure onset zones (SOZs) and understand the mechanisms for an improved treatment plan. In this study, we directly imaged the seizure sources in 8 extratemporal lobe partial epilepsy patients from noninvasive EEG. The surgically resected regions and SOZs identified from intracranial EEG (iEEG) recordings were used to evaluate the source imaging results. All of the eight patients underwent resective surgery and the estimated seizure sources were co-located with the resection zone. Seven of the patients had iEEG recordings available and the source imaging results were concordant with the SOZs marked on the intracranial recording grid. The present results suggest that dynamic seizure imaging could be potentially useful to image the SOZs of extratemporal lobe seizures and help the pre-surgical planning of epilepsy patients.
Case Analysis: Analyses of the National Cranberry Cooperative-2. Environmental Changes and Implementation

This second part presents further analyses of the National Cranberry Cooperative Case, published in the November-December 1989 issue of Interfaces. The first part focused on tactical options, assuming a fixed environment for Receiving Plant 1 RP1. The base case recommended, among other things, purchasing two new dryers and fully staffing the plant starting early each morning of the peak season. Part 2 asks whether better solutions can be found by making technological changes Analysis 4, managing demand Analysis 5, or altering the economic environment Analysis 6. I also discuss implementation.
Considering More Feminist Participatory Research: What's Congruency Got to Do With It?:

The article proposes that there cannot be truly emancipatory participatory research or participatory research advocates without explicit incorporation of feminist perspectives. As part of the larger dialogue regarding taking sides through research, the author asks us to consider a more feminist participatory research. The basis of her argument relates to issues of ontological congruency. After defining feminism(s), the article briefly identifies the androcentric and incongruous aspects of participatory research. It con cludes with specific areas for discussion if we are to consider more feminist participatory research.
“Deoxyribo Nanonucleic Acid”: Antiparallel, Parallel, and Unparalleled

The crystal structure of a single-stranded DNA oligonucleotide has revealed formation of a unique three-dimensional array by continuous antiparallel and parallel pairing between monomers. The array is based on tertiary interactions and represents a second-generation nanotechnological system.
Use of cortical surface vessel registration for image-guided neurosurgery.

OBJECTIVE We have treated patients with brain surface tumors by using video registration of a three-dimensional image to the surgical field, to identify eloquent cortices, localize the lesions, and define the tumor margins. "Skin-to-skin" registration using the skin surface to produce alignment was performed earlier but was difficult in areas with few prominent registration landmarks. For this reason, "vessel-to-vessel" registration using the cortical vessels as fiducials was applied to 17 cases, to improve accuracy. This article presents the advantages and limitations of vessel-to-vessel registration, as determined from the data for these cases. The accuracy is also estimated. METHODS A three-dimensional model was reconstructed from magnetic resonance imaging data, and a two-dimensional projection was superimposed on the video image of the actual surgical field. The tumor was resected with guidance from the registered video image. The two-dimensional projection accuracy of vessel-to-vessel registration was compared with that of skin-to-skin registration by using a phantom study. RESULTS All 17 tumors underwent gross total resection, and the patients experienced no major permanent neurological deficits. In the phantom study, the two-dimensional, projected, target registration error of a tumor with skin-to-skin registration was estimated as 8.9 +/- 5.3 mm and that with vessel-to-vessel registration was 1.3 +/- 1.4 mm (99th percentile confidence intervals, 24.8 and 5.5 mm, respectively). CONCLUSION Video registration using cortical surface vessels is practical and improves two-dimensional projection accuracy significantly, compared with skin registration.
Quine's Logic and the Class Paradox

so that both 'xXx' and '{x: Fx } 0 {x: Fx }' are notationally well formed in SL-even though the two predicates are not the same. As Quine puts it, 'the two sorts of '"E are prima facie the merest accidental homonyms' (p. 40). We can of course resolve the ambiguity contextually, by inspection of what follows 'e' (p. 33), but a difficulty emerges in expressions of the type 'Foe' wbere predicate letters are employed and where there is no immediate indication of the exact context in which the hidden predicate 'e' is used. rhe difficulty is that 'Foe' is not logically well formed if 'F' is the predicate '(c)e(J)' with 'e' primitive and if oc is a class abstract that cannot be replaced by an individual constant. Indicating the primitive or derived status of 'e' by a subscript, we must say that 'F{x:xOx}' is ill formed if it means '{x:xXx} 0 {x:xXx}', since any 'e' before a class abstract must be derived. But if 'F {x:xox}' is construed to mean the well formed expression '{x::xOx } d {x:xx }', then F cannot be the same predicate as F in 'xXx' where the 'e' is primitive. In this connection it is significant that Quine introduces the 'Foc' locution (pp. 40-4I) with no explanatory rubric apart from the designation of 'oc' and 'P' as ranging over class abstracts as well as variables. Although the rules of derivation (SL2.i) and (SL5.5) justify the use of expressions in which class abstracts are preceded by a derived 'e', they do not legitimatize such expressions in which the 'e' is primitive. If such rules were provided, then (4) would yield not a contradiction but an expression such as (5). (5) {x:xXx} Ed {X:X?X} *{X:X0X} Op {X:Xf} In (5) a clarification of the difference between the use of class abstracts after a derived 'e' and their use after a primitive 'e' would be sufficient to resolve the apparent contradiction. But if no definition is provided for the use of class abstracts after a primitive 'e', then expressions of the type 'F {x :Fx }', when {x:Fx } is an ultimate class and F the predicate which determines it, will be ill formed-and the naive abstraction rule (4) will hold. The above argument does not claim that 'Foc' expressions as such are ill formed in SL, since the predicate letter 'F' can be viewed as standing for one place predicates in which 'e' may be either primitive or derived. For example, the derivation of 'Foc' might be defined as either (6) or (7). (6) 'Foc' for 'oce {x:Fx}' (7) 'Foc' for '(3y) (y-oc. Foc)' This content downloaded from 207.46.13.176 on Mon, 20 Jun 2016 06:11:46 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Self-reflexivity – Transversal Competence in Teachers’ Training☆

Abstract As self-reflecting human beings, we generate thoughts on our perceptions, ideas and emotions. The mechanism that coordinates our ability to take a meta-position towards ourselves and to pass to a meta-level of analysis of our own subjective experience is the self-reflective conscience. Its products are known to us as meta-cognition, meta-communication, meta-states, and so on. By the meta-levels model we can discover how our conscience works and we can train it methodically for productive and resourceful states.This conceptualization of the meta-levels uses the insights of Korzybski, Gregory Bateson and Michael Hall on the logical abstracting levels and offers a theoretical foundation for the conceptualization of “the states about states”. It also allows us to draw a methodological approach for the training of teachers in building resourceful meta - states in order to increase the efficiency of the educational process. A meta-state, in an operational definition, is a state of conscience “above” or “beyond”, relative to any primary state of conscience. For example, the curiosity about curiosity (intense curiosity), the acceptance of confusion (as a gate to knowledge). This study aims to set a new methodological direction in training teachers, education at a meta-level, that points towards the cultivation of self-reflective conscience. This type of conscience will allow the teachers to be trained for accessing resourceful states for teaching thei r clients. From the standpoint of the developmental psychology, students are in full process of formal thinking building, a good time for cultivating post-formal thinking and building abstractions on the abstract things they emit or learn in the field of e ducational sciences. By training these skills, the teacher-to-be adds a cross-competence to the portfolio of skills, the self-reflective conscience that will facilitate flexible adaptation to the permanent changes of the inner system, his/her own personality and the external one, the educational system in permanent reform.
Iteration of expansions — unambiguous semigroups

New expansions for global semigroup theory are developed. Many expansions have a left and a right version, each with specific (dual) properties; e.g., the Rhodes expansions ŜL, resp. ŜR, have unambiguous L-resp. R-order. In applications one sometimes needs expansions having both properties simultaneously; these can be constructed by alternately applying the left and the right expansion (possibly infinitely often) while keeping the same set of generators. Thus one obtains an expansion which is invariant under application of the old two expansions and thus has the properties of both (e.g., one obtains -+ with , and so -+ has unambiguous L-and R-order). It is proved that, in the case of the Rhodes expansion, the new expansion is ‘close’ to the original semigroup; in particular (and this is the main result of the paper), Ŝ+A is finite (resp. finite J-above) if S is finite (resp. finiteJ-above).
Rapid growth of cartilage rudiments may generate perichondrial structures by mechanical induction

Experimental and theoretical research suggest that mechanical stimuli may play a role in morphogenesis. We investigated whether theoretically predicted patterns of stress and strain generated during the growth of a skeletal condensation are similar to in vivo expression patterns of chondrogenic and osteogenic genes. The analysis showed that predicted patterns of compressive hydrostatic stress (pressure) correspond to the expression patterns of chondrogenic genes, and predicted patterns of tensile strain correspond to the expression patterns of osteogenic genes. Furthermore, the results of iterative application of the analysis suggest that stresses and strains generated by the growing condensation could promote the formation and refinement of stiff tissue surrounding the condensation, a prediction that is in agreement with an observed increase in collagen bundling surrounding the cartilage condensation, as indicated by picro-sirius red staining. These results are consistent with mechanical stimuli playing an inductive or maintenance role in the developing cartilage and associated perichondrium and bone collar. This theoretical analysis provides insight into the potential importance of mechanical stimuli during the growth of skeletogenic condensations.
Evolutionary theories of aging: confirmation of a fundamental prediction, with implications for the genetic basis and evolution of life span.

Evolutionary considerations predict that rate of aging should vary in direct relation to the mortality rate of presenescent young adults (extrinsic mortality rate) independently of differences in physiology, such as rate of metabolism. This prediction emerges from theory irrespective of the particular genetic mechanisms responsible for variation in aging. Yet this critical relationship has not been confirmed in comparative studies of natural populations. In the present analysis, rate of aging is estimated by the rate of increase in mortality rate (mx) with age (x). Comparisons between natural and captive populations of birds suggest that the Weibull model (mx = m0 + alphaxbeta) provides a better description of aging than the Gompertz model (mx = m0esigmax). Rate of aging is quantified by the parameter omega (dimension: 1/time), which is calculated from the Weibull parameters alpha and beta (omega = alpha1/(beta+1)). In this analysis, rate of aging in birds and mammals is directly related to extrinsic mortality (estimated by the initial mortality rate, m0) independently of taxonomic group and of variation in body size and, by implication, metabolic rate. When time is expressed in years, rate of senescence is related to initial mortality rate by omega = 0.294m0(0.367). This result implies that natural selection in response to variation among taxa in m0 has resulted in the evolutionary modification of factors that influence the rate of aging in natural populations. The potential strength of selection on factors that could further reduce rate of aging is indicated by the proportion of deaths due to aging-related causes. Although species with low initial mortality rates also exhibit reduced rates of increase in mortality rate with age (i.e., delayed senescence), the relatively high proportion of aging-related deaths in such species suggests that further evolutionary responses leading to long life are severely constrained. This argues against mutation accumulation and antagonistic pleiotropy as genetic mechanisms underlying senescence and suggests, instead, that rate of aging represents a balance between wear and tear, on the one hand, and genetically controlled mechanisms of prevention and repair, on the other. Evidently, remedies for extreme physiological deterioration in old age either are not within the range of genetic variation or are too costly to be favored by selection.
Japan's Nuclear Disaster: Its Impact on Electric Power Generation Worldwide [In My View]

The Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster on 11 March 2011, 32 years after the Three Mile Island accident in the United States and 25 years after the Chernobyl meltdown, refocused the world's attention on the potentially catastrophic effects of a nuclear power plant failure. The Japanese disaster revealed the effects of the failure of the electric supply, pumps, valves, and other components of the nuclear plant infrastructure. The six Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant reactors were designed to automatically shut down in case of an earthquake higher than magnitude 6.2 on the Richter scale. This earthquake had an intensity of 9 and, as designed, the safety systems shut down the nuclear fission reactions in the three reactors (out of a total of six) that were in operation. However, the plant design did not have sufficient safeguards to deal with the impact of the tsunami that followed. The disaster mobilized the geopolitical world, non-government organizations (NGOs) in general, and environmentalists in particular, as well as national nuclear energy regulatory commissions. The disaster required the ultimate international authority, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to respond rapidly and straightforwardly to the Japanese public and the entire world about the impacts of the nuclear disaster.
Importance of the Rab3a-GTP Binding Domain for the Intracellular Stability and Function of Rabphilin3a in Secretion

We had previously demonstrated that Rab3a-GTP inhibits and the Rab3a-binding protein Rabphilin3a enhances secretion in bovine chromaffin cells. In this study, we investigated the role of Rab3a-GTP binding in the intracellular expression and the function of Rabphilin3a in regulated exocytosis in bovine chromaffin cells. Using transient transfections, we found that a minimal domain, Rp(51-190), that inhibits secretion coincides with a minimal domain that effectively binds Rab3a-GTP and allows intracellular stability of the construct. This domain includes a cysteine-rich, Zn2+-binding domain whose integrity is also required for Rab3a-GTP binding and the ability to inhibit secretion. A Rabphilin3a mutant, containing both C2 domains but defective in Rab3a-GTP, and wild-type Rabphilin3a both localized to chromaffin granules and stimulated secretion similarly despite lessened intracellular expression of the mutant protein. The data are consistent with a sequence of events in which a Rab3a-GTP x Rabphilin3a complex forms on the secretory granule as a precursor in a pathway that enhances secretion. The complex dissociates (perhaps because of GTP hydrolysis) to permit the enhancement of secretion by Rabphilin3a.
Perceptions of Men, Women, and Ceos: The Effects of Gender Identity

Previous studies (e.g., Heilman, Block, & Martell, 1995; Heilman, Block, Martell, & Simon, 1989; Kunkel, Dennis, & Waters, 2003; Schein, 1973, 1975; Schein & Mueller, 1992) have detected differences in how participants perceive the characteristics of males and females in general and those of male and female managers, though sex-based stereotyping dissipated with the consideration of successful managers. This study, an administration of the Schein Descriptive Index (SDI, Schein, 1973) and the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI; Bem, 1974) to 220 participants (125 women and 95 men), is the second to extend the operationalization of the extant program beyond the commonplace label of manager to that of chief executive officer (CEO) and the first to find that participants' gender identities may be critical to their perceptions of similarities and differences between the sexes. While males and masculinity continue to be associated with organizational leadership attributes, individuals of either sex who express feminine orientations perceive little difference between the sexes.
Counterintuitive Effect of Molecular Strength and Role of Molecular Rigidity on Mechanical Properties of Layer-by-Layer Assembled Nanocomposites

Molecular engineering of multilayered composites by layer-by-layer assembly (LBL) made possible easy replication of mechanical properties of nacre. Taking advantage of the ability of LBL to finely control the structure of the composite, one can further improve the mechanical properties of the multilayers, e.g., increase the strength and stiffness, and gain better understanding of the nanoscale and molecular scale mechanics of the materials critical for a variety of advanced technologies. In this study, we have replaced poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) (σUTS ∼12 MPa, E ∼0.2 GPa) with a much stronger polysaccharide polycation, chitosan (CH, σUTS ∼108 MPa, E ∼2 GPa), considering that its superior molecular strength will improve the macroscale mechanical properties of the nanocomposite: strength and stiffness. Free-standing films of the CH and montmorillonite (MTM) have been successfully made, and the resulting films revealed high uniformity with very high loading of MTM closely comparable to th...
Atomic force microscope based two-dimensional assembly of micro/nanoparticles

This research aims at achieving two-dimensional micro/nanomanipulation and assembly of micro/nanoscale particles using atomic force microscope (AFM). Unlike prior works, the presented manipulation models include friction models based on both the normal forces as well as the adhesion forces. Pull-off forces are modeled using the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts (JKR) contact mechanics model. This model is used to determine whether critical conditions for particle motion are achieved. Pushing manipulation experiments are performed on polystyrene microparticles. A top-view high resolution optical microscope, used for probe and particle position and motion detection, facilitated real-time visual feedback. A piezoelectric XYZ positioning stage with few nanometers precision enabled the two-dimensional precise assembly of the polystyrene microparticles. Using the real-time visual feedback, the behavior of particles manipulated by an AFM probe, is investigated. The results from the experiments matched those from the simulation, successfully verifying the developed models. The modeling, simulation and the experiments have enhanced the understanding of the interaction forces at the micro/nanoscale during micro/nanoassembly and particle manipulation
Influence of Aircraft Maneuver Preference Variability on Airspace Usage

Human factors constitute a core aspect of air traffic control concepts and must be addressed when dealing with traffic flow stability problems. This paper aims to evaluate how the usage of airspace depends on the degree of flexibility in pilot decision-making. Specifically, we study the airspace usage of two intersecting flows of aircraft when pilot maneuver preferences vary. The amount of airspace required for the two flows to cross without conflict can reveal certain aspects of traffic complexity of this specific traffic pattern. To simplify the analysis, we use models of instantaneous lateral and longitudinal position changes to approximate the heading-change and speed-change maneuvers of the aircraft, respectively. Pilot preferences, which are expressed as preferred heading or speed changes, are reflected by different penalty functions of position displacements that the pilots attempt to minimize during conflict resolution. Under the same pilot preferences, the aircraft flow stability is preserved using a decentralized conflict-resolution scheme. However, when the pilot preferences are allowed to vary so that individual aircraft have more control freedom in conflict resolution, the intersecting flows require a much larger fraction of airspace to ensure conflict-free and stable flows of aircraft.
Binding of the Priming Nucleotide in the Initiation of Transcription by T7 RNA Polymerase

Unlike DNA polymerases, an RNA polymerase must initiate transcription de novo, that is binding of the initiating (+1) nucleoside triphosphate must be achieved without benefit of the cooperative binding energetics of an associated primer. Since a single Watson-Crick base pair is not stable in solution, RNA polymerases might be expected to provide additional stabilizing interactions to facilitate binding and positioning of the initiating (priming) nucleoside triphosphate at position +1. Consistent with base-specific stabilizing interactions, of the 17 T7 RNA polymerase promoters in the phage genome, 15 begin with guanine. In this work, we demonstrate that the purine N-7 is important in the utilization of the initial substrate GTP. The fact that on a template encoding AG as the first two bases in the transcript (as in the remaining two of the T7 genome) transcription starts predominantly (but not exclusively) at the G at position +2 additionally implicates the purine O-6 as an important recognition element in the major groove. Finally, results suggest that these interactions serve primarily to position the initiating base in the active site. It is proposed that T7 RNA polymerase interacts directly with the Hoogsteen side of the initial priming GTP (most likely via an interaction with an arginine side chain in the protein) to provide the extra stability required at this unique step in transcription.
Stability of whirling shafts with internal and external damping

Abstract Necessary and sufficient conditions for the stability of motion of whirling shafts are established using the direct method of Liapunov. The non-linear mathematical model employed is based on the work of V. V. Bolotin and includes the effects of both internal and external damping. A coordinate transformation is used to facilitate the analysis. In effect, this transformation establishes a mathematical equivalence between the governing equations for a whirling shaft with both internal and external damping, and the governing equations for a whirling shaft with internal damping only.
An interdisciplinary senior design course utilizing electronically guided model rockets

Electrical engineering graduates are faced with a wide variety of technological and managerial decisions. The ability of the engineer to interact with the entire spectrum of individuals involved in marketing a product is a critical component of the overall success of a project. A senior level design course is presented that integrates the numerous phases of project development in order to prepare the student for the industrial environment. The course consisted of designing and flight testing an electronically guided model rocket. An analysis of the rockets anticipated flight path was performed using a FORTRAN program which took into account such factors as stability, center of gravity, center of pressure, and engine thrust. The rocket was flight tested for three successful controlled flights and recoveries. Test flight results proved the design of the rocket to be very stable and respond quickly in flight. >
Effects of DMSO-induced differentiation on arachidonate mobilization in the human histiocytic lymphoma cell line U937: responsiveness to sub-micromolar calcium ionophore A23187 and phorbol esters.

Abstract The human histiocytic lymphoma cell line, U937, is a rich source for isolation and purification of the 85 kDa cytosolic phospholipase A 2 (cPLA 2 ). Recent studies suggest that this enzyme catalyzes the agonist-stimulated release of arachidonate from membrane phospholipids, thereby initiating eicosanoid synthesis. We therefore investigated in situ regulation of phospholipase A 2 activity in intact U937 cells. The results indicate that calcium ionophore A23187 stimulatable release in intact undifferentiated U937 is low and only weakly dose dependent. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) differentiation of U937 cells results in a dramatic increase of A23187-stimulated arachidonate mobilization. Consistent with the characteristics of cPLA 2 in vitro, A23187-stimulated arachidonate release in differentiated U937 cells is highly specific for arachidonate and is activated by submicromolar A23187 concentrations. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) further potentiates arachidonate release in differentiated U937 cells by 4–6-fold over A23187 alone. However, treatment of differentiated U937 cells with PMA alone is an ineffective stimulus for arachidonate release, suggesting that a calcium transient is necessary for in situ arachidonate mobilization. A23187-stimulated arachidonate release increases during distinct temporal phases of differentiation (0–36 h, 84–96 h). By contrast PMA enhancement of the response to A23187 develops early in differentiation, and is complete by 36 h. These results suggest that differentiation-induced alterations in cPLA 2 regulatory elements, such as intracellular free calcium and/or phosphorylation, may regulate mobilization of arachidonate in U937 cells.
Developing optimal non-linear scoring function for protein design

Motivation. Protein design aims to identify sequences compatible with a given protein fold but incompatible to any alternative folds. To select the correct sequences and to guide the search process, a design scoring function is critically important. Such a scoring function should be able to characterize the global fitness landscape of many proteins simultaneously. Results: To find optimal design scoring functions, we introduce two geometric views and propose a formulation using a mixture of non-linear Gaussian kernel functions. We aim to solve a simplified protein sequence design problem. Our goal is to distinguish each native sequence for a major portion of representative protein structures from a large number of alternative decoy sequences, each a fragment from proteins of different folds. Our scoring function discriminates perfectly a set of 440 native proteins from 14 million sequence decoys. We show that no linear scoring function can succeed in this task. In a blind test of unrelated proteins, our scoring function misclassfies only 13 native proteins out of 194. This compares favorably with about three--four times more misclassifications when optimal linear functions reported in the literature are used. We also discuss how to develop protein folding scoring function. Availability: Available on request from the authors.
The Technical Part of the Painter’s Manuals Compiled and Used by Early Iconographers. Historic Notes

The word “icon” comes from the Greek eikon which means image. Typically icons are devotional objects representing characters or scenes from the Bible. Throughout history they have been made on different supports, using different materials and tools.
Signals for noncommutative interactions at linear colliders

Recent theoretical results have demonstrated that noncommutative geometries naturally appear within the context of string or M theory. One consequence of this possibility is that QED takes on a non-Abelian nature due to the introduction of 3- and 4-point functions. In addition, each QED vertex acquires a momentum dependent phase factor. We parametrize the effects of noncommutative space-time coordinates and show that they lead to observable signatures in several $\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{2}2$ QED processes in ${e}^{+}{e}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ collisions. In particular, we examine pair annihilation, Moller and Bhabha scattering, as well as $\ensuremath{\gamma}\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ scattering and show that noncommutative scales of order a TeV can be probed at high energy linear colliders.
Roles of the Src Tyrosine Kinases Lck and Fyn in Regulating γδTCR Signal Strength

Lck and Fyn, members of the Src family of tyrosine kinases, are key components of the αβTCR-coupled signaling pathway. While it is generally accepted that both Lck and Fyn positively regulate signal transduction by the αβTCR, recent studies have shown that Lck and Fyn have distinct functions in this signaling pathway, with Lck being a positive regulator and Fyn being a negative regulator of αβTCR signal transduction. To determine whether Lck and Fyn also differentially regulate γδTCR signal transduction, we analyzed γδ T cell development and function in mice with reduced Lck or Fyn expression levels. We found that reducing Lck or Fyn levels altered the strength of the γδTCR signaling response, with low levels of Lck weakening γδTCR signal strength and low levels of Fyn augmenting γδTCR signal strength. These alterations in γδTCR signal strength had profound effects not only on αβ/γδ lineage choice, but also on γδ thymocyte maturation and γδ T cell effector function. These results indicate that the cellular levels of Lck and Fyn play a role in regulating the strength of the γδTCR signaling response at different stages in the life of the γδ T cell.
Efficient Data-Movement for Lightweight I/O

Efficient data movement is an important part of any high-performance I/O system, but it is especially critical for the current and next-generation of massively parallel processing (MPP) systems. In this paper, we discuss how the scale, architecture, and organization of current and proposed MPP systems impact the design of the data-movement scheme for the I/O system. We also describe and analyze the approach used by the Lightweight File Systems (LWFS) project, and we compare that approach to more conventional data-movement protocols used by small and mid-range clusters. Our results indicate that the data-movement strategy used by LWFS clearly outperforms conventional data-movement protocols, particularly as data sizes increase.
The redox chemistry of neptunium in γ-irradiated aqueous nitric acid in the presence of an organic phase

The radiolytic changes in oxidation state for solutions of initially Np(V) and/or Np(VI) were investigated by gamma-irradiation in conjunction with UV/Vis spectroscopy of the aqueous phase. Samples were irradiated in varying concentrations of nitric acid, and with or without the presence of 30 % TBP in dodecane. At short irradiation times Np(V) was oxidized to Np(VI), even in the presence of the organic phase. Upon the radiolytic production of sufficient amounts of nitrous acid, reduction of Np(VI) to Np(V) occurred in both phases. This was accompanied by stripping of the previously extracted Np(VI). Nitric acid concentrations of 6 M mitigated this reduction.