cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Partially linearized algorithms in gyrokinetic particle simulation

Abstract In this paper, particle simulation algorithms with time-varying weights for the gyrokinetic Vlasov-Poisson system have been developed. The primary purpose is to use them for the removal of the selected nonlinearities in the simulation of gradient-driven microturbulence so that the relative importance of the various nonlinear effects can be assessed. It is hoped that the use of these procedures will result in a better understanding of the transport mechanisms and scaling in tokamaks. Another application of these algorithms is for the improvement of the numerical properties of the simulation plasma. For instance, implementations of such algorithms (1) enable us to suppress the intrinsic numerical noise in the simulation, and also (2) make it possible to regulate the weights of the fast-moving particles and, in turn, to eliminate the associated high frequency oscillations. Examples of their application to drift-type instabilities in slab geometry are given. We note that the work reported here represents the first successful use of the weighted algorithms in particle codes for the nonlinear simulation of plasmas.
The interiors of Pluto and Charon: Structure, composition, and implications

Recent models of the internal structure of Pluto and Charon, made possible by analysis of the Pluto/Charon mutual events are reviewed. At a mean density of just over 2 g/cu cm and a predicted rock mass fraction of roughly 0.7, the Pluto/Charon system is significantly rockier than the icy satellites of the giant planets, a contrast which may reflect its formation in a CO-rich outer solar nebula rather than a circumplanetary nebula. Pluto and Charon may in fact be so rocky that they lost volatiles early in their history (possibly during a Charon-forming impact event), although this is still an open issue.
Differences in physiology and growth between coastal and inland varieties of Douglas-fir seedlings in a common garden

Abstract In a common garden study, seedlings of Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir) var. menziesii (coastal) from Lacomb, Oregon and P. menzeisii var. glauca (interior) from Clearwater National Forest, Idaho, and their F 2 hybrids were grown in nursery beds in the coastal climate near Corvallis, OR. The coastal variety was from an elevation of 245 m with a mean annual rainfall of 1400 mm. The interior variety was from an elevation of 871 m and a mean annual rainfall of 600 mm. Height, stem diameter, and bud burst percent were determined. Metabolic heat rate and respiration rate were measured on apical meristems at 30, 35, and 40 °C. Similar tissue was dried, ground, combusted, and analyzed for carbon isotope ratios. The two varieties differed from one another in growth traits, bud burst, carbon isotope ratios, and respiration traits. The F 2 hybrid progeny of the varieties had isotope ratios similar to the interior variety, but respiration traits of the hybrids were similar to the coastal variety. Respiratory heat rate and height growth were the only significant trait differences found between families within varieties. The faster growing coastal variety showed less carbon isotope discrimination relative to the slower growing and more stressed (when grown at Corvallis) interior variety.
Catabolism of Lipid-Free Recombinant Apolipoprotein Serum Amyloid A by Mouse Macrophages In Vitro Results in Removal of the Amyloid Fibril-Forming Amino Terminus

Serum amyloid A fibrils are formed when the normally rapid catabolism of the acute-phase reactant apolipoprotein serum amyloid A (apoSAA) is incomplete; thus amyloidosis may be viewed as a condition of dysregulated proteolysis. There is evidence that apoSAA is dissociated from plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) prior to fibril formation. The objective of this study was to investigate degradation of lipid-free apoSAA by tissue macrophages derived from amyloid-susceptible CBA/J mice in vitro. Peritoneal macrophages derived from untreated (normal) mice converted apoSAA (12 kDa) to a single 4 kDa C-terminal peptide while splenic macrophages converted apoSAA to 10, 7 and 4 kDa C-terminal peptides and a 4 kDa peptide that lacked the C- and N-terminal regions. Similar patterns of proteolysis occurred when peritoneal and splenic macrophages from amyloidotic CBA/J mice were used. Conditioned medium prepared from peritoneal, but not splenic macrophages, degraded apoSAA. Specific sites of cleavage indicated activity of cathepsin G- and elastase-like neutral proteases. The data indicate that lipid-free apoSAA can be degraded by secreted or cell-associated neutral proteases that are generated by macrophages to yield peptides that lack fibrillogenic potential.
Osteocytes, bone remodeling and parathyroid hormone

Osteocytes, the longest living bone cells, have garnered much of the attention in the part they play in skeletal biology to orchestrate bone homeostasis. Although the multifunctional role of osteocytes in bone remodeling has been recognized, knowledge about the activity of important signaling molecules in osteocytes in this process are limited and far from being clearly depicted than osteoblast’s and osteoclast’s involvement. Stimulating the function of bone-forming osteoblasts and controlling osteoclastic activity are the preferred pharmacological intervention for skeletal repair. A large variety of studies have been conducted in osteoblasts and osteoclasts on recombinant parathyroid hormone (PTH), an anabolic drug which proved to be effective for bone strength and clinical therapy. Studies in relation to newly functioning signaling molecules in osteocytes and PTH’s mode of action is becoming an intense area of investigation suggesting further the importance of these cells in bone anabolic action. The goal of this review is to discuss briefly the function and physiological roles of osteocytes and highlight a few recent findings on the PTH’s action in osteocyte signaling in health and disease. In this context this review in addition to Pubmed searches also borrows many literatures in bone and related fields from various publications.
Tesselation of a triangle by repeated barycentric subdivision

Under iterated barycentric subdivision of a triangle, most triangles become flat in the sense that the largest angle tends to $\pi$. By analyzing a random walk on $SL_2(\mathbb{R})$ we give asymptotics with explicit constants for the number of flat triangles and the degree of flatness at a given stage of subdivision. In particular, we prove analytical bounds for the upper Lyapunov constant of the walk.
NMR Imaging of Solvent Diffusion in Polymers

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) imaging is sensitive to the mobile protons of solvent molecules and, as such, is well suited for studying the solvent diffusion in polymers. The fundamentals of NMR imaging are described, providing a platform for application of NMR imaging to diffusion processes in polymers. The constraints on the imaging experiment imposed by the diffusion process are discussed with respect to sample geometry and the rate of diffusion. A fast imaging scheme known as FLASH is described as an alternative method which reduces the influence of the diffusion rate and NMR relaxation parameters. Example images are given with regard to each of the constraints. An example of the successful application of NMR imaging to the study of Case II diffusion in PMMA is also given. The advantages and disadvantages of NMR imaging as applied to diffusion in polymers, as well as examples of the diffusion process that NMR imaging is uniquely qualified to study, are given in the conclusion.
The Business of Testing

Theodore Millon was a brilliant man: erudite, thoughtful, confident, deliberate, and curious. He was an integrative thinker. It is widely known how these characteristics manifested themselves in his landmark work in the areas of personality theory, personality development, and personality assessment. What is likely less well known is that he displayed these same characteristics in and to the world of business; in particular, his relationships with those who published and distributed his assessment measures. This article traces those relationships. Various components are explored, ranging from product development to product marketing, from the protection of intellectual property to the development and execution of contracts, from deciding how and when to revise a test to ensuring that his legacy continues long into the future. Although the primary dynamic of these relationships was commercial, the reasons for their success were personal. Common goals, clarity of communication, persistence, respect, and trust allowed these relationships to develop, prosper, evolve, and endure.
Comparison of Standard Methods for Assessing Dietary Intake of Benzo[a]pyrene

Background: Inconsistent presence and strength of associations between dietary benzo[ a ]pyrene (BaP) exposure and cancers may be due to differences in exposure assessment methods. Thus, we determined correlations of usual meat and BaP intake among three methods: food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), diet diaries, and a biomarker. Methods: Thirty-six nonsmokers were recruited in Baltimore, MD during 2004–2005. Meat and BaP intake estimated from baseline and follow-up FFQs combined with a BaP residue database (FFQ-RD), mean meat and BaP intake estimated from three diet diaries coupled with the residue database (Diary-RD), and mean of three urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG) measurements were compared using Spearman correlations. Collections spanned approximately nine months. Results: BaP intakes from meat from the baseline [median = 6.4, interquartile range (IQR) = 13.9 ng/d] and follow-up FFQ-RD (median = 7.3, IQR = 35.7 ng/d) were higher than the Diary-RD (median = 1.1, IQR = 7.4 ng/d). Mean 1-OHPG concentration was weakly correlated with mean meat intake ( r = 0.33, P = 0.05) and BaP intake from meat ( r = 0.27, P = 0.11) from the Diary-RD. Mean BaP intake estimated from the Diary-RD was positively correlated with the follow-up ( r = 0.35, P = 0.04) but not baseline ( r = 0.20, P = 0.24) FFQ; the converse was true for meat intake. Conclusions: Diary-RD estimates were supported by biomarker measurements, but considerable unexplained variability remained. Limited correlation among the dietary BaP exposure assessment methods could be due to differences in timeframes covered by the assessments, interpersonal variability in metabolism, deficiencies in the residue database, or nondietary exposures to BaP. Impact: Limited correlation in estimated BaP intake among standard methods may contribute to inconsistent epidemiology of BaP and cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(5); 962–70. ©2011 AACR .
Exploiting the Extraordinary Genetic Polymorphism of Ciona for Developmental Genetics with Whole Genome Sequencing

Studies in tunicates such as Ciona have revealed new insights into the evolutionary origins of chordate development. Ciona populations are characterized by high levels of natural genetic variation, between 1 and 5%. This variation has provided abundant material for forward genetic studies. In the current study, we make use of deep sequencing and homozygosity mapping to map spontaneous mutations in outbred populations. With this method we have mapped two spontaneous developmental mutants. In Ciona intestinalis we mapped a short-tail mutation with strong phenotypic similarity to a previously identified mutant in the related species Ciona savignyi. Our bioinformatic approach mapped the mutation to a narrow interval containing a single mutated gene, α-laminin3,4,5, which is the gene previously implicated in C. savignyi. In addition, we mapped a novel genetic mutation disrupting neural tube closure in C. savignyi to a T-type Ca2+ channel gene. The high efficiency and unprecedented mapping resolution of our study is a powerful advantage for developmental genetics in Ciona, and may find application in other outbred species.
Infection of gastrointestinal tract macrophages by HIV‐1

As the largest lymphoid organ and the largest reservoir of macrophages in the body, the gas- trointestinal tract mucosa is probably the largest organ reservoir ofmacrophages infected with HIV-1. To elu- cidate the biology of HIV-1 infection ofintestinal macro- phages, we isolated lamina propria macrophages from normal human jejunum by neutral protease digestion, purified the cells by counterfiow centrifugal elutria- tion, and then infected the cells with WV-i. The lamina propria macrophages were permissive to macrophage- tropic isolates of HIV-1 and substantially less perinis- sive to lymphocyte-tropic isolates. Compared with blood monocytes, mucosal macrophages produced 2-3 logs less p24 antigen at peak infection. The reduced level of infection was not due to impaired macrophage vi- ability, reduced CD4 expression, or the isolation pro- cedure. These results confirm that macrophages iso- lated from the gastrointestinal tract mucosa can support HIV-1 production, albeit at a lower level than blood monocytes. The reduced level ofvirus production may reflect the unique biology ofintestinal lamina propria macrophages. J. Leukoc. Biol. 62: 72-.-77; 1997.
Variation in a/sub 1/ saturation in SSC collider dipoles

Analysis of the variation in the saturation of the skew quadrupole (a/sub 1/) is presented for the 15 m long, 50 mm aperture SSC collider dipole magnet prototypes built at BNL. The variations within a magnet are shown to be correlated with local top-bottom asymmetry in the iron yoke weight. On the other hand, magnet to magnet variations in the saturation of integral skew quadrupole are shown to be correlated with the geometric a/sub 1/. >
Analogue modeling of transverse drainage mechanisms

Fifteen physical experiments on a stream table replicated four general mechanisms proposed to explain transverse drainage development, namely antecedence, superimposition, overflow, and piracy. The experimental design encompassed multiple strategies to effectively replicate the different mechanisms. These experiments roughly emulate natural fluvial processes including aggradation, lateral erosion, degradation, knickpoint retreat, ponding, and overflow. The experiments address landscape morphology and depositional field criteria associated with antecedence, overflow, and piracy. Antecedence experiments showed that defeat of streams by a tectonically growing structure could result from a combination of upstream ponding and diversion into a trunk drainage, insufficiently fast retreating knickpoints, and downstream deposition of eroded sediments. Piracy can result from stream aggradation until it overtops a low divide by headward erosion of a stream through a divide and by sapping processes. For piracy driven by headward erosion, asymmetrically sloped ridges allow the drainage divide across the ridge to retreat from headward erosion, but a symmetric divide hinders the ability of a stream to retreat across the ridge apex. Aggradationally driven piracy is potentially hindered because the slope across the divide needs to be sufficiently steep compared to the uncaptured stream. Otherwise, deposition occurs across the divide and a levee is formed which prevents capture. For transverse drainages produced by overflow, knickpoints retreat across the overflow outlet producing a high probability of downstream flooding. A positive feedback develops where added discharge to the drainage from lake water increases erosion and knickpoint retreat, further eroding and undermining the basin outlet and releasing even more lake water. The result is rapid incision and dramatic flooding downstream of the bedrock high during lake outlet erosion. Two superimposition experiments were unsuccessful. Most of the field criteria for antecedence, overflow, and piracy were either directly replicated or implied based on observations during each experimental run.
Pillar structured thermal neutron detector

This work describes an innovative solid state device structure that leverages advanced semiconductor fabrication technology to produce an efficient device for thermal neutron detection which we have coined the ?Pillar Detector?. State-of-the-art thermal neutron detectors have shortcomings in simultaneously achieving high efficiency, low operating voltage while maintaining adequate fieldability performance. By using a three dimensional silicon PIN diode pillar array filled with isotopic 10boron (10B), a high efficiency device is theoretically possible. Here we review the design considerations for going from a 2-D to 3-D device and discuss the materials trade-offs. The relationship between the geometrical features and efficiency within our 3-D device is investigated by Monte Carlo radiation transport method coupled with finite element drift-diffusion carrier transport simulations. To benchmark our simulations and validate the predicted efficiency scaling, experimental results of a prototype device are illustrated. The fabricated pillar structures reported in this work are composed of 2 ?m diameter silicon pillars with a 2 ?m spacing and pillar height of 12 ?m. The pillar detector with a 12 ?m height achieved a thermal neutron detection efficiency of 7.3% at a reverse bias of - 2 V.
Immunity to Acanthamoeba

Human serum contains antibodies, mainly of the IgM and IgG isotypes, to pathogenic species of Acanthamoeba. This, as well as the capacity of these amebas to activate complement via the alternative pathway, may be a first-line defense against acanthamoeba infections in humans. Both antibody and complement appear to be important in promoting recognition of these amebas by phagocytic cells such as neutrophils. However, killing of amebas by neutrophils is dependent on lymphokine/monokine priming of the neutrophil. This priming augments the respiratory-burst activity and release of lysosomal enzymes of neutrophils in their response to the ameba. The products of the oxygen-dependent respiratory burst appear to be of prime importance in the killing of this free-living ameba. Antibodies also may prevent tissue invasion by Acanthamoeba by inhibiting its adherence, phagocytic activity, and migration and by neutralizing cytopathogenic amebic agents. Studies on experimental Acanthamoeba infections in mice showed marked species and strain specificity with regard to induction of protection with amebic antigens. Immune compromise or, alternatively, invasion at unique body sites in healthy individuals may form the basis for human infection with Acanthamoeba.
An Architecture for Privacy Preserving Collaborative Filtering on Web Portals

Popular E-commerce portals such as Amazon and eBay require user personal data to be stored on their servers for serving these users with personalized recommendations. These recommendations are derived by virtue of collaborative filtering. Collaborative filtering (CF) is a method to perform automated recommendations based upon the assumption that users who had similar interests in past, will have similar interests in future too. Storing user personal information at such servers has given rise to a number of privacy concerns [13] which are effecting business of these services [15]. In this paper, we present a novel architecture for privacy preserving collaborative filtering for these services. The proposed architecture attempts to restore user trust in these services by introducing the notion of 'distributed trust'. This essentially mean that instead of trusting a single server, a coalition of servers is trusted. Distributions of trust makes the proposed architecture fault resilient and robust against security attacks. Moreover, the architecture employs an efficient crossing minimization based biclustering algorithm for collaborative filtering. This algorithm is easily amenable to privacy preserving implementation. The privacy preserving implementation makes use of a threshold homomorphic cryptosystem. The proposed algorithm is fully implemented and evaluated with encouraging results.
Facile syntheses of surface‐functionalized micelles and shell cross‐linked nanoparticles

Block copolymer micelles and shell cross-linked nanoparticles (SCKs) pre- senting Click-reactive functional groups on their surfaces were prepared using two sep- arate synthetic strategies, each employing functionalized initiators for the controlled radical polymerization of acrylate and styrenic monomers to afford amphiphilic block copolymers bearing an alkynyl or azido group at the a-terminus. The first route for the synthesis of the azide-functionalized nanostructures was achieved via sequential nitro- xide-mediated radical polymerization (NMP) of tert-butyl acrylate and styrene, originat- ing from a benzylic chloride-functionalized initiator, followed by deprotection of the acrylic acids, supramolecular assembly of the block copolymer in water and conversion of the benzylic chloride to a benzylic azide. In contrast, the second strategy utilized an alkynyl-functionalized reversible addition fragmentation transfer (RAFT) agent directly for the RAFT-based sequential polymerization of tetrahydropyran acrylate and styrene, followed by selective cleavage of the tetrahydropyran esters to give the a-alkynyl-func- tionalized block copolymers. These Click-functionalized polymers, with the functionality located at the hydrophilic polymer termini, were then self-assembled using a mixed-mi- celle methodology to afford surface-functionalized \Clickable" micelles in aqueous solu- tions. The optimum degree of incorporation of the Click-functionalized polymers was investigated and determined to be ca. 25%, which allowed for the synthesis of well- defined surface-functionalized nanoparticles after cross-linking selectively throughout the shell layer using established amidation chemistry. Functionalization of the chain ends was shown to be an efficient process under standard Click conditions and the resulting functional groups revealed a more \solution-like" environment when com- pared to the functional group randomly inserted into the hydrophilic shell layer. V
An Arctic Moon

Elderly, hard of hearing, and sporting a chart full of comorbidities, Doc had driven his ATV into the back of a road grader. The piece of heavy machinery rolled backward, crushing him beneath its w...
Potent and selective inhibition of membrane-type serine protease 1 by human single-chain antibodies.

Specific human antibodies targeting proteases expressed on cancer cells can be valuable reagents for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of cancer. To this end, a phage-displayed antibody library was screened against a cancer-associated serine protease, MT-SP1. A protein inhibitor of serine proteases that binds to a defined surface of MT-SP1 was used in an affinity-based washing procedure. Six antibodies were selected on the basis of their ELISA profiles and ability to serve as useful immunological reagents. The apparent Ki, indicative of the potency of the antibodies at inhibiting human MT-SP1 activity, ranged from 50 pM to 129 nM. Two of the antibodies had approximately 800-fold and 1500-fold selectivity when tested against the most homologous serine protease family member, mouse MT-SP1, that exhibits 86.6% sequence identity. Surface plasmon resonance was used as an independent means of determining the binding constants of the six antibodies. Association rates were as high as 1.15 10 7 s -1 M -1 , and dissociation rates were as low as 3.8 10 -4 s -1 . One antibody was shown to detect denatured MT-SP1 with no cross reactivity to other family members in HeLa or PC3 cells. Another antibody recognized the enzyme in human prostate tissue samples for immunohistochemistry analysis. The mode of binding among the six antibodies and the protease was analyzed by competition ELISA using three distinctly different inhibitors that mapped the enzyme surface. These antibodies constitute a new class of highly selective protease inhibitors that can be used to dissect the biological roles of proteolytic enzymes as well as to develop diagnostic and therapeutic reagents.
The Structure of Intrinsically Disordered Peptides Implicated in Amyloid Diseases: Insights from Fully Atomistic Simulations

Protein aggregation involves the self-assembly of proteins into large β-sheet-rich complexes. This process can be the result of aberrant protein folding and lead to “amyloidosis,” a condition characterized by deposits of protein aggregates known as amyloids on various organs of the body [1]. Amyloid-related diseases include, among others, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, and type II diabetes [2, 3, 4]. In other instances, however, protein aggregation is not a pathological process, but rather a functional one, with aggregates serving as structural scaffolds in a number of organisms [5].
Distinct Components of Janus Kinase/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription Signaling Pathway Mediate the Regulation of Systemic and Tissue Localized Renin-Angiotensin System

In an attempt to demonstrate the linkage between the Janus kinase (Jak)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling and the activity of the systemic or local renin-angiotensin system in vivo, we produced transgenic mice harboring angiotensinogen (ANG) promoter containing the wild-type or mutant STAT target site (St-domain) fused to the luciferase reporter. The ANG-promoter-driven luciferase expression was dependent upon phosphorylation of Jak2, as administration of tyrphostin AG490, a potent inhibitor of Jak2, down-regulated the ANG promoter activity and abolished the stimulated endogenous ANG mRNA level in the liver. Administration of angiotensin II peptide to the mice resulted in prominent expression of luciferase in the liver and heart of animals containing wild type St-domain, but not in transgenes with mutant St-domain. Angiotensin II-induced signaling caused activation of STAT proteins in the liver (systemic), the pattern of which was distinct from that in the heart (local). The inducible expression of ANG promoter appears to be mediated by physical association of p300 with STAT 5B in liver and STAT 3 and STAT 5A in heart. Taken together, these results point to the differences in signaling mechanisms in the circulating and localized renin-angiotensin system and identify at least two molecular steps, the tyrosyl phosphorylation of Jak2 and the STAT/St-domain interaction, as pivotal in the regulation of ANG gene transcription.
Smarter memory: improving bandwidth for streamed references

Processor speeds are increasing so much faster than memory speeds that within a decade processors may spend most of their time waiting for data. Most modern DRAM components support modes that make it possible to perform some access sequences more quickly than others. The authors describe how reordering streams can result in better memory performance.
SHP-1 As a Critical Regulator of Mycoplasma pneumoniae-Induced Inflammation in Human Asthmatic Airway Epithelial Cells

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease in which airway epithelial cells are the first line of defense against exposure of the airway to infectious agents. Src homology protein (SHP)-1, a protein tyrosine phosphatase, is a negative regulator of signaling pathways that are critical to the development of asthma and host defense. We hypothesize that SHP-1 function is defective in asthma, contributing to the increased inflammatory response induced by Mycoplasma pneumoniae, a pathogen known to exacerbate asthma. M. pneumoniae significantly activated SHP-1 in airway epithelial cells collected from nonasthmatic subjects by bronchoscopy with airway brushing but not in cells from asthmatic subjects. In asthmatic airway epithelial cells, M. pneumoniae induced significant PI3K/Akt phosphorylation, NF-κB activation, and IL-8 production compared with nonasthmatic cells, which were reversed by SHP-1 overexpression. Conversely, SHP-1 knockdown significantly increased IL-8 production and PI3K/Akt and NF-κB activation in the setting of M. pneumoniae infection in nonasthmatic cells, but it did not exacerbate these three parameters already activated in asthmatic cells. Thus, SHP-1 plays a critical role in abrogating M. pneumoniae-induced IL-8 production in nonasthmatic airway epithelial cells through inhibition of PI3K/Akt and NF-κB activity, but it is defective in asthma, resulting in an enhanced inflammatory response to infection.
Modulation properties of VCSEL with intracavity modulator

We have studied the modulation properties of VCSEL with intracavity multiple quantum well (MQW) electroabsorption modulator integrated into the top distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) [1]. Small signal analysis of rate equations for loss modulation shows an intrinsic high-frequency roll-off slope of 1/o instead of 1/o 2 in directly modulated laser diodes, and consequently bandwidths in excess of 40 GHz are obtainable with this configuration [2]. Possible limiting factors to high bandwidth were examined by fitting high frequency characteristics to a multi-pole transfer function, and include RC delay and carrier drift-limited time of flight (TOF) in the modulator intrinsic region. Intracavity loss modulation shows a strong (+20dB) relaxation oscillation resonant feature in both theory and experiment. As demonstrated, this feature can be significantly reduced in amplitude using parasitics. We have extracted relative contribution of TOF and parasitic capacitance by varying the modulator intrinsic region width (105 and 210 nm) and lateral size of the modulator (18 and 12mm). It was estimated that the small size modulator exhibits parasitics f -3dB at 8GHz. To estimate the carrier TOF contribution to bandwidth limits, low temperature growth of a 210 nm absorber i-region and MQW was employed to reduce photogenerated carrier lifetime. Bandwidth limitations were found to be mostly due to diode and metallization capacitances, in addition to one pole set by the optoelectronic resonance frequency. We have used p-modulation doping of the gain region to increase the relaxation frequency. Pronounced active Q-switching was observed, yielding pulse widths of 40 ps at a 4 GHz rate.
Pulmonary fluid extraction and osmotic conductance, ςK, measured in vivo

The change in aortic blood density in an in vivo rabbit preparation was measured to assess fluid movement at the pulmonary capillaries caused by infusion of hypertonic solution (NaCl, urea, glucose...
Optimized Design of the Original Surface Heat Exchanger of a Micro Gas Turbine by Using the Genetic Algorithm

A method combining the thermal performance design with the genetic algorithm-based searching process was presented for optimizing in structure the herringbone staggered corrugated plate type original surface heat exchanger of a 100 kW micro gas turbine.With the lightest weight and the maximum heat exchange compactness degree/weight serving as the target functions respectively,the overall dimensions of the core and the structural dimensions of the heat exchange surfaces of the heat exchanger in question,employed as the optimization variables of which the optimum values were to be sought,were optimized.The genetic algorithm-based program adopted the binary coding,championship choice,uniform crossover,single point variation,share technology and best choice strategy in a niche.The optimization results show that compared with the original data,the weights and heat exchange compactness degrees under the two target functions decrease and increase respectively to various extents,and the total pressure drops at both sides somewhat decrease compared with the original ones.It has been found through a comparison of the optimization results obtained by using the two target functions that the optimization method with the maximum compactness degree/weight serving as the target function can achieve an effectiveness better than that with the lightest weight serving as the target function.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for biliary dyskinesia in children: report of 100 cases from a single institution.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is increasingly performed in the pediatric population. Biliary dyskinesia (BD) is largely responsible for this increase and is presently the most common indication...
Regulation of SERCA 2 expression by thyroid hormone in cultured chick embryo cardiomyocytes

We investigated the role of thyroid hormone in the physiological perinatal increase in cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+)-adenosinetriphosphatase (ATPase) expression. We isolated and cultur...
Styles of Tension

Montage is not the only way for a filmmaker to create tension; the Holocaust experience can be expressed or approached through disorienting camera angles and movement, heightened lighting, distorting visual texture or color, stylized acting, contrapuntal soundtrack ormusic, and unconventional narrative structure. Films as seemingly disparate as The Serpent's Egg, Cabaret, Kanal, Ambulance, Passenger, The Boxer and Death, Commissar , and Wherever You Are proceed via dislocation and discomfort, refusing to simplify or prettify painful reality through filters. They suggest that the shocking dimensions of the Holocaust demand stylistic devices of disturbance rather than complacency. The Serpent's Egg (1977) is not a pleasing film. Ingmar Bergman's English language study of pre-Nazi Germany is morbid, depressing, and relentless in its tone of paranoia and inescapability. Through the relationship of an unemployed and alcoholic circus acrobat and a cabaret singer, the film presents three ominous aspects of 1923 Berlin: anti-Semitism; a ravaged economy; and scientific curiosity gone wild, severed from moral considerations. The serpent is an ancient animal; likewise, Nazism did not simply hatch: it was nurtured by historical antecedents, both economic and psychological. Beyond the story, however, Bergman weaves into The Serpent's Egg a troubled self-consciousness, questioning his own cinematic methods and purposes. By incorporating the films of a mad scientist within The Serpent's Egg , the director invites comparison between his images and those recorded by this chilling character. Abel Rosenberg (David Carradine) is an American Jew – thus doubly an outsider in Berlin – who finds his brother Max dead in their hotel room. He informs Max's ex-wife, Manuela (Liv Ullmann), that Max shot his brains out. The singer, distraught and naiively generous, takes Abel into her apartment.
High-Quality combinatorial approaches for protein discovery and development

W the emergence of recombinant technology, molecular biology, drug formulation and delivery; proteins are increasingly being developed and utilized as biotherapeutics to treat a wide-array of diseases. However for the widespread use of proteins for these applications, often we are limited by their evolved physical and functional properties, as well as production costs. To overcome these limitations, in order to expedite discovery and streamline development, technologies are needed which successfully incorporate large collections of synthetic sequences into robust protein structural scaffolds. Here we present the application of high-quality protein library design approaches to generate large synthetic collections of soluble and highly expressible protein-binding proteins, free of incorporation of deleterious genotypic frameshifts and deletions, to facilitate the identification of proteins with novel and specific binding to non-physiological, and medically-relevant binding targets. Collectively, these findings support that high-quality combinatorial approaches are a platform technology for easily and productively generating large collections of functionally-rich proteins for emerging biotherapeutic applications.
Effects of voice‐sparing cricotracheal resection on phonation in women

Introduction Individuals with idiopathic subglottic stenosis (SGS) are at risk for voice disorders prior to and following surgical management. This study examined the nature and severity of voice disorders in patients with SGS before and after a revised cricotracheal resection (CTR) procedure designed to minimize adverse effects on voice function. Method Eleven women with idiopathic SGS provided presurgical and postsurgical audio recordings. Voice Handicap Index (VHI) scores were also collected. Cepstral, signal-to-noise, periodicity, and fundamental frequency (F0) analyses were undertaken for connected speech and sustained vowel samples. Listeners made auditory-perceptual ratings of overall quality and monotonicity. Results Paired samples statistical analyses revealed that mean F0 decreased from 215 Hz (standard deviation [SD] = 40 Hz) to 201 Hz (SD = 65 Hz) following surgery. In general, VHI scores decreased after surgery. Voice disorder severity based on the Cepstral Spectral Index of Dysphonia (KayPentax, Montvale, NJ) for sustained vowels decreased (improved) from 41 (SD = 41) to 25 (SD = 21) points; no change was observed for connected speech. Semitone SD (2.2 semitones) did not change from pre- to posttreatment. Auditory-perceptual ratings demonstrated similar results. Conclusion These preliminary results indicate that this revised CTR procedure is promising in minimizing adverse voice effects while offering a longer-term surgical outcome for SGS. Further research is needed to determine causal factors for pretreatment voice disorders, as well as to optimize treatments in this population. Level of Evidence 4. Laryngoscope, 2016
Abstract B09: Loss of PTEN cooperates with mutant KRAS initiating EMT and increased stemness in a mouse model of lung cancer

We have developed a preclinical model of lung cancer associated with hyper-activated PI3K/mTOR and KRAS. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for ∼80% of all lung cancers; of which >50% have aberrant PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling and ∼30% harbor oncogenic KRAS, conferring chemo/radio-resistance and poor prognosis. KRAS inhibitors are difficult to develop, and rapalogs targeting mTOR are toxic and induce compensatory activation of AKT, causing resistance to apoptosis. Hence, development of effective inhibitors of KRAS and PI3K/mTOR pathways is imperative. Further, clinical studies implicate that tumors with aberrant KRAS and PI3K/mTOR signaling are associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), metastasis, poor differentiation, and chemo/radio-resistance. However, molecular details of EMT mediated by KRAS and PI3K/mTOR pathway is lacking, limiting the development of drugs targeting EMT-mediators. Using a CCSP-promoter driven Cre/LoxP mediated deletion of PTEN in an oncogenic KRAS status (PTENΔΔ/KRasG12D), we have developed a preclinical mouse model of lung cancer with hyper-activation of PI3K/mTOR and KRAS pathways. Microarray based RNA profiling followed by bioinformatic analysis on PTEN-null lung epithelial cells revealed transcriptional activation of RAS/RAF/MAPK/ERK pathway associated candidate genes. On the other hand, Dox-induced PTENΔΔ/KRasG12D lung tumors showed induction of SNAIL1, SLUG, ZEB-2 and SOX2 genes. Taken together, our analysis reveals that PTEN loss predisposes lung tumors to hyper-activation of the KRAS pathway, which is further accentuated by oncogenic mutation in KRAS, initiating EMT and increased stemness. Citation Format: Prerna Malaney, Vrushank Dave. Loss of PTEN cooperates with mutant KRAS initiating EMT and increased stemness in a mouse model of lung cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on RAS Oncogenes: From Biology to Therapy; Feb 24-27, 2014; Lake Buena Vista, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Res 2014;12(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B09. doi: 10.1158/1557-3125.RASONC14-B09
Neuronal excitability and network formation on optically transparent electrode materials

With the advent of genetically-encoded optical tools to trigger or report neuronal activity, new designs for multielectrode arrays (MEAs) used in neural interfacing incorporate both optical and electrical modes of stimulating or recording neural activity. Likewise, the need to improve upon the biocompatibility of implanted MEAs has moved the field towards the use of softer, more compliant materials in device fabrication. However, there is limited available information on the impact of the materials used in MEAs on the function of interfaced individual neurons and neuronal networks. We assessed the responses of rat cortical neurons on optically transparent materials commonly used in the construction of “next-generation” devices: indium tin oxide (ITO), parylene-C, and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). We found that neuronal network formation and spiking responses to electrical stimulation were enhanced in neurons cultured on ITO. We observed reduced excitability and synaptic connectivity between neurons cultured on PDMS. We hypothesize that the superior conductivity of ITO and suboptimal neuronal attachment to PDMS contributed to our results.
The Conservative Incubator of Originalism: The Reagan Department of Justice

Previous accounts of the Reagan Department of Justice’s role in promoting originalism are notably external: they either focus solely on the efforts of Attorney General Edwin Meese III or rely on evidence created well after the 1980s. This essay takes a different approach: it examines a plethora of the Department’s archival records, with particular emphasis given to the Office of Legal Policy. The revisionist narrative presented suggests that the Department served as a conservative incubator for originalism. That is, it compiled several abstract, fringe-right-wing legal theories, intellectually honed them, and repackaged them into a concrete and seemingly innocuous interpretive method that could be easily marketed to both the legal community and the public. While the intellectual origins of originalism within the Reagan Administration can largely be attributed to a small group of Administration elites (including Patrick Buchanan, John Roberts, Fred Fielding, and Meese), most of its popularization is thanks to the strategic, conservative plan crafted by Assistant Attorney General Stephen Markman and others within his subdivision, the Office of Legal Policy. Altogether, the written record helps lay to rest the notion that the Reagan Department of Justice did not purposefully imbue originalism with conservatism.
Interleaving angle variation analysis for variable frequency PWM drives

Generally, drive manufacturers include input filters and/or output filters to meet system requirements. Depending on damping, these filters have the potential to introduce resonant conditions. Often the switching frequency changes with the rotational speed of the drive machine leading to the possibility that switching harmonics align with the resonant peak of the filters. As the frequency of the drive decreases, the number of pulses per half cycle of the output fundamental can increase to maintain a reasonably constant switching frequency. For drives that utilize interleaving, another possibility investigated in this paper is to dynamically alter the phase angle between interleaved converters. This allows selective elimination of harmonics near the filter resonance while reducing losses due to a lower switching frequency. Typically, the phase shift is based on the number of system inverters and is used to increase the effective switching frequency. The phase-shifting strategy in this paper differs from the traditional method by targeting specific harmonics of interest. This paper1 describes the details of implementing strategies to dynamically alter the phase shift between interleaved converters to eliminate harmonics.
The Study of the Effectiveness of Scholarship Grant Program on Low-Income Engineering Technology Students.

This paper investigates the effectiveness of a National Science Foundation Scholarship in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (NSF S-STEM) program named “Scholarship for Engineering Technology (SET)” at the State University of New York in Canton (SUNY Canton). The authors seek to answer the following question: To what extent will scholarship grant program help increase the number of low-income and under-represented students attaining college education and continuing to graduate school or the workforce. The low-income students in this study were mostly first generation college students and were sixty percent under-represented groups (women and ethnic minorities). The authors were motivated for this grant study due to the low number of women and ethnic minorities at SUNY Canton’s School of Engineering Technology; and the region (St. Lawrence County) being one of the economically depressed regions in northern New York state . The findings indicate that scholarship and academic support program enhanced the achievement rate of the cohort of students in this SET program without which many of them may not be able to attain college education in STEM and are more likely to drop out.
Adaptive Control Concepts: Controllers in Adaptronics

In recent years, adaptive control of smart structures has become an important component of multidisciplinary research into vibration suppression. The design of controllers for smart structures is a challenging problem because of the presence of nonlinearities in the structural system and actuators, limited availability of control force, and nonavailability of accurate mathematical models. In this study, adaptive control algorithms are being investigated for designing active controllers for smart structures. Both conventional and neural network-based adaptive controllers have been designed and implemented on smart structure test articles. In addition, a neural-network based optimizing control algorithm with on-line adaptation capabilities has been developed that can incorporate nonlinearities in the smart structural system, accommodate the limited control effort and adapt on-line to time-varying dynamical properties. In this algorithm the control signal is computed iteratively while minimizing a Linear Quadratic (LQ) performance index with additional weighting on the control increments.
A Bacteriophage Model System for Studying Topoisomerase Inhibitors

The bacteriophage T4 provides a unique and informative system in which to study the mechanism of action of antitumor agents that inhibit type II DNA topoisomerases. The evolutionary conservation of inhibitor sensitivity provides a strong argument for a conserved inhibitor binding site at or very near the active site of the enzyme-DNA complex. Studies of the wild-type and drug-resistant T4 topoisomerases have provided several important arguments that the drug binding site is located very near the phosphodiester bonds that are cleaved by the topoisomerase. One reasonable model is that the inhibitors intercalate between the two bases on each side of the cleaved phosphodiester bond and physically block the resealing reaction. Finally, genetic analyses using the T4 system have provided some of the most detailed information concerning the role of type II topoisomerase in various aspects of DNA metabolism. The topoisomerase is involved in two distinct pathways of mutagenesis, one that generates frameshift mutations and the other involving gross DNA rearrangements. Both pathways operate precisely at the DNA sites that are cleaved by the enzyme in the presence of inhibitors. Furthermore, recombinational repair can apparently correct lesions that are generated upon inhibition of the T4 topoisomerase, and these inhibitors correspondingly stimulate homologous recombination in phage-infected cells. A complete description of the action of antitumor agents that inhibit type II topoisomerases clearly involves many diverse aspects of nucleic acid metabolism.