cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Computerized tomographic radar target imaging behind opaque walls

The paper deals with the computer-aided tomographic reconstruction of radar images of objects behind opaque dielectric walls that are illuminated by microwave radiation emerging from moving ultrawideband (UWB) radars. Tomographic techniques such as filtered backprojections are used here, in conjunction with some available electromagnetic computational codes such as X-Patch, to create the desired target images. The use of UWB radars to penetrate through the walls and image the objects behind them is novel and of obvious desirability. It is only possible if the walls are not too thick and not too lossy. In the present work, several wall types of different dielectric compositions and thicknesses are used to simulate a room that encloses two human targets placed at specified locations. The UWB radar moves along the room's front wall in a straight path with its beams directed normal to the wall and pointing towards its interior. Some basic principles of classical tomography are reviewed, and the reconstruction process via the X-Patch computational code and present-day backprojection techniques is completed for all the walls and targets here considered. This simulation demonstrates that under the specified conditions, the reconstruction of the radar images of the two humans is clearly achievable in all but in very adverse conditions. Furthermore, the dimensions and wall characteristics of the rooms can be estimated from the resulting radar images.
Skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle failure in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

The goals of this study were to describe the clinical course of skeletal, cardiac, and gastrointestinal muscle manifestations and trends in age at diagnosis and survival of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) patients. A retrospective cohort of 33 male patients with DMD, born between 1953 and 1983 and followed at the Mayo Clinic during their second decade of life, was studied. The mean age at DMD diagnosis was 4.6 years. Skeletal muscle weakness present in all patients at diagnosis progressed to wheelchair dependency in 32 patients (97%) by the age of 13 years (median age 10 years). Cardiac muscle failure developed in 5 patients (15%) (median age 21.5 years). Smooth muscle manifestations related to the digestive and urinary tracts occurred in 7 (21%) and 2 (6%) patients (median age 15 years), respectively. The gastrointestinal dilatations were primary in 2 patients or secondary to surgery or acute respiratory illness in 5 patients. By the end of the study period, 17 deaths had occurred (median age 17 years). Over time, there was a decrease in the time to DMD diagnosis (P = .05) but no significant change in survival (P = .44). Cardiac and smooth muscle manifestations occur late in the course of DMD. Clinical gastrointestinal symptoms related to smooth muscle function most often were secondary to surgery or a respiratory illness. In recent years, the diagnosis of DMD has been made at a younger age, but survival has not changed.
cGMP-dependent protein kinase Iα associates with the antidepressant-sensitive serotonin transporter and dictates rapid modulation of serotonin uptake

Background The Na+/Cl--dependent serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) transporter (SERT) is a critical element in neuronal 5-HT signaling, being responsible for the efficient elimination of 5-HT after release. SERTs are not only targets for exogenous addictive and therapeutic agents but also can be modulated by endogenous, receptor-linked signaling pathways. We have shown that neuronal A3 adenosine receptor activation leads to enhanced presynaptic 5-HT transport in vitro and an increased rate of SERT-mediated 5-HT clearance in vivo. SERT stimulation by A3 adenosine receptors derives from an elevation of cGMP and subsequent activation of both cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. PKG activators such as 8-Br-cGMP are known to lead to transporter phosphorylation, though how this modification supports SERT regulation is unclear.
A NEW SPECIES OF SKRJABINGYLUS PETROV, 1927 (NEMATODA: METASTRONGYLOIDEA) FROM THE FRONTAL SINUSES OF THE HOODED SKUNK, MEPHITIS MACROURA (MUSTELIDAE)

Skrjabingylus santaceciliae n. sp. is described based on specimens from the frontal sinuses of a hooded skunk, Mephitis macroura, collected from the Area de Conservacion Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Skrjabingylus santaceciliae n. sp. differs from the other 5 species in the genus in having pointed spicule tips that lack a rounded or lobed formation and by lacking a prominent distal projection at the tail tip. Morphometric comparisons show that S. santaceciliae n. sp. is much smaller than the only other valid species from Mephitis, Skrjabingylus chitwoodorum Hill, 1939. Likewise, morphometric comparisons also distinguish S. santaceciliae n. sp. from other described Skrjabingylus species.
Nanoindentation Analysis of Mechanical Properties of Low to Ultralow Dielectric Constant SiCOH Films

Carbon-doped oxide SiCOH films with low to ultralow dielectric constants were prepared on a Si substrate by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) from mixtures of SiCOH precursors with organic materials. The films have different levels of nanoscale porosity resulting in different dielectric constants and mechanical properties. The mechanical properties of the films have been characterized by continuous-stiffness nanoindentation measurements. To study the effect of film thickness, each group of samples with the same dielectric constant was composed of samples prepared with different film thicknesses. It is shown that the effective hardness and modulus of the SiCOH/Si substrate system depends significantly on indentation depth due to substrate constraint effects. The “true” film properties were determined using both an empirical formulation of the effective modulus and direct inversion based on a finite element model. The hardness and modulus of three groups of samples with different degrees of dielectric constants have been measured. The hardness increases from 0.7 to 2.7 GPa and modulus from 3.6 to 17.0 GPa as the dielectric constants change from 2.4 to 3.0. While for stiffer films the modulus measured at an indentation depth 10% of the film thickness is close to the “true” value for films thicker than 0.5 µm, the measured value can give an overestimate of up to 35% for softer films. Thin film cracking and film–substrate debonding have been observed with scanning electron and atomic force microscopy at the indentation sites in softer films. The damage initiation is indicated by pop-in events in the loading curve and sharp peaks in the normalized contact stiffness curves versus indentation depth.
On Low-Dimensional Galerkin Models for Fluid Flow

In this paper some implications of the technique of projecting the Navier–Stokes equations onto low-dimensional bases of eigenfunctions are explored. Such low-dimensional bases are typically obtained by truncating a particularly well-suited complete set of eigenfunctions at very low orders, arguing that a small number of such eigenmodes already captures a large part of the dynamics of the system. In addition, in the treatment of inhomogeneous spatial directions of a flow, eigenfunctions that do not satisfy the boundary conditions are often used, and in the Galerkin projection the corresponding boundary conditions are ignored. We show how the restriction to a low-dimensional basis as well as improper treatment of boundary conditions can affect the range of validity of these models. As particular examples of eigenfunction bases, systems of Karhunen–Loeve eigenfunctions are discussed in more detail, although the results presented are valid for any basis.
High throughput screening as a discovery tool in the pharmaceutical industry

The popularity of high throughput screening (HTS) in discovery programs has continued to rise in recent years. The application of rigorous process controls to biological assays in conjunction with advances in automation and data handling have increased the testing rates and accuracies to the point where major pharmaceutical companies cannot afford to be without HTS programs. Although the internal structure of these programs may differ radically, they generally share many common features in terms of equipment and techniques. The HTS program at Sphinx Pharmaceuticals and Eli Lilly and Company is presented in detail as a model. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
UDP-glucose dehydrogenase: Substrate binding stoichiometry and affinity

Abstract The direct binding of UDP-glucose and NAD+ to bovine liver UDP-glucose dehydrogenase has been measured by equilibrium dialysis and differential fluorescence. At saturation the hexameric enzyme binds only three molecules each of UDP-glucose and NAD+. The binding of NAD+ is virtually characteristic of that for noninteracting identical sites with a binding constant of about 0.47 × 104. UDP-Glucose, however, binds more avidly than NAD+ and exhibits negative cooperativity characterized by unrestricted Adair constants of 16.1, 3.7, and 0.37, all × 104.
Extracranial linear localized scleroderma associated with longstanding epileptic encephalopathy unresponding to methotrexate and prednisone

We report a boy, who achieved developmental milestones without delay, presenting complex partial seizures (left-deviation of the head, staring gaze, oral automatism and tonic-clonic generalization) at 7 years: his blood/cerebrospinal fluid tests were all within normal limits, enclosed those for inborn errors of metabolism. Progressive signs of psycho-motor regression were simultaneously observed by caregivers in combination with a band of linear ivory-coloured indurated lesion on the dorsal region of the right foot, which was diagnosed as linear localized scleroderma (LS). Immunological tests performed at 8 years revealed only low-titre positivity of anti-nuclear antibodies. Various brain CT and MRI scans resulted negative. In the following years tonic-clonic seizures were observed with daily recurrence in spite of different antiepileptic drugs. At 16 years we evaluated this patient for the first time: asymmetrical tonic fits had multiple daily frequency and therapy consisted of clobazam/methsuximide; EEG revealed dysrupted electrical cerebral activity; brain MRI was normal; the skin lesion was extended to the whole right inferior limb. Methotrexate (MTX) and prednisone were instituted (respectively at the dosage of 15 mg/m2/week and 1.5 mg/kg/day): MTX was maintained for 1,5 year with low-dose prednisone (0.5 mg/kg/day). Semeiological features of seizures remained unchanged and no control upon their frequency could be reached, whilst LS remained stable. The exact nature of multi-resistant epilepsy associated with extra-cranial linear LS remains a matter of debate and the immunologic process leading to the pathologic collagen deposition might be dissociated from the specific neurological disturbance.
Coordination of Cell Signaling, Chromatin Remodeling, Histone Modifications, and Regulator Recruitment in Human Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Gene Transcription

Transcriptional activation of eukaryotic genes depends on the precise and ordered recruitment of activators, chromatin modifiers/remodelers, coactivators, and general transcription factors to the promoters of target genes. Using the human matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) gene as a model system, we investigated the sequential assembly and dynamic formation of transcription complexes on a human promoter under the influence of mitogen signaling. We find that, coincident with activation of the MMP-9 gene, activators, chromatin remodeling complexes, and coactivators are recruited to the preassembled MMP-9 promoter in a stepwise and coordinated order, which is dependent on activation of MEK-1/extracellular signal-regulated kinase and NF-kappa B signaling pathways. Conversely, corepressor complexes are released from the MMP-9 promoter after transcriptional activation. Histone modifications shift from repressive to permissive modifications concurrent with activation of the MMP-9 gene. Chromatin remodeling induced by Brg-1 is required for MMP-9 gene transcription, which is concomitant with initiation of transcription. Therefore, coordination of cell signaling, chromatin remodeling, histone modifications, and stepwise recruitment of transcription regulators is critical to precisely regulate MMP-9 gene transcription in a temporally and spatially dependent manner. Given the important role of MMP-9 in both normal development and pathological conditions, understanding MMP-9 gene regulation is of great relevance.
Stability and phase speed for various finite element formulations of the advection equation

Abstract This paper analyzes the stability and accuracy of various finite element approximations to the linearized two-dimensional advection equation. Four triangular elements with linear basis functions are included along with a rectangular element with bilinear basis functions. In addition, second-and fourth-order finite difference schemes are examined for comparison. Time is discretized with the leapfrog method. The criss-cross triangle formulation is found to be unstable. The best schemes are the isosceles triangles with linear functions and the rectangles with bilinear basis functions.
Oxytocin and the oxytocin receptor underlie intrastrain, but not interstrain, social recognition.

We studied three lines of oxytocin (Oxt) and oxytocin receptor (Oxtr) knockout (KO) male mice [Oxt−/−, total Oxtr−/− and partial forebrain Oxtr (OxtrFB/FB)] with established deficits in social recognition to further refine our understanding of their deficits with regard to stimulus female's strain. We used a modified social discrimination paradigm in which subjects are singly housed only for the duration of the test. Additionally, stimulus females are singly housed throughout testing and are presented within corrals for rapid comparison of investigation by subject males. Wild-type (WT) males from all three lines discriminated between familiar and novel females of three different strains (C57BL/6, BALB/c and Swiss-Webster). No KO males discriminated between familiar and novel BALB/c or C57BL/6 females. Male Oxt−/− and Oxtr−/− mice, but not OxtrFB/FB mice, discriminated between familiar and novel Swiss-Webster females. As this might indicate a global deficit in individual recognition for OxtrFB/FB males, we examined their ability to discriminate between females from different strains and compared performance with Oxtr−/− males. WT and KO males from both lines were able to distinguish between familiar and novel females from different strains, indicating the social recognition deficit is not universal. Instead, we hypothesize that the Oxtr is involved in ‘fine’ intrastrain recognition, but is less important in ‘broad’ interstrain recognition. We also present the novel finding of decreased investigation across tests, which is likely an artifact of repeated testing and not because of stimulus female's strain or age of subject males.
Supply Chain Collaboration Through Shared Capacity Models

Collaboration between companies in a supply chain has been the subject of a great deal of discussion supported by a surprisingly small number of documented successful implementations. To help Intel to procure production materials, we applied multiple mathematical optimization models, each facilitated by shared capacity models developed in collaboration with material suppliers. One decision tool supports the weekly process of ordering materials. A second tool forecasts capacity rearrangements that suppliers need to consider over the next few quarters. Supplier capacity expansion spanning the next few years is the focus of a third tool. All parties have realized productivity and profitability gains using this set of integrated tools.
Addressing challenges of identifying geometrically diverse sets of crystalline porous materials.

Crystalline porous materials have a variety of uses, such as for catalysis and separations. Identifying suitable materials for a given application can, in principle, be done by screening material databases. Such a screening requires automated high-throughput analysis tools that calculate topological and geometrical parameters describing pores. These descriptors can be used to compare, select, group, and classify materials. Here, we present a descriptor that captures shape and geometry characteristics of pores. Together with proposed similarity measures, it can be used to perform diversity selection on a set of porous materials. Our representations are histogram encodings of the probe-accessible fragment of the Voronoi network representing the void space of a material. We discuss and demonstrate the application of our approach on the International Zeolite Association (IZA) database of zeolite frameworks and the Deem database of hypothetical zeolites, as well as zeolitic imidazolate frameworks constructed f...
S-systems: Efficient solution of nonlinear models expressed in S-system canonical form

The S-system is emerging as a general canonical form for analysis of nonlinear models. Models expressed within this regularly structured system of nonlinear ordinary differential equations are obtained by applying either of two different strategies: (A) Direct derivation of an S-system utilizing the Power Law Formalism; or (B) exact recasting of an existing, well established model into S-system form. By capitalizing on the regular structure of S-systems, efficient formulas for numerical solution of this general class have been developed. For any S-system it can be shown that these formulas are more efficient than conventional multistep formulas of the same order. For implemented methods, the actual improvements in efficiency are considerably more than the minimum estimates. Preliminary tests show that time required for solution of S-systems is reduced by one or two orders of magnitude - the relative improvement in efficiency increases with size and complexity of the problem, and with degree of accuracy required.
Diversification of furanocoumarin-metabolizing cytochrome P450 monooxygenases in two papilionids: Specificity and substrate encounter rate

Diversification of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) is thought to result from antagonistic interactions between plants and their herbivorous enemies. However, little direct evidence demonstrates the relationship between selection by plant toxins and adaptive changes in herbivore P450s. Here we show that the furanocoumarin-metabolic activity of CYP6B proteins in two species of swallowtail caterpillars is associated with the probability of encountering host plant furanocoumarins. Catalytic activity was compared in two closely related CYP6B4 and CYP6B17 groups in the polyphagous congeners Papilio glaucus and Papilio canadensis. Generally, P450s from P. glaucus, which feeds occasionally on furanocoumarin-containing host plants, display higher activities against furanocoumarins than those from P. canadensis, which normally does not encounter furanocoumarins. These P450s in turn catalyze a larger range of furanocoumarins at lower efficiency than CYP6B1, a P450 from Papilio polyxenes, which feeds exclusively on furanocoumarin-containing host plants. Reconstruction of the ancestral CYP6B sequences using maximum likelihood predictions and comparisons of the sequence and geometry of their active sites to those of contemporary CYP6B proteins indicate that host plant diversity is directly related to P450 activity and inversely related to substrate specificity. These predictions suggest that, along the lineage leading to Papilio P450s, the ancestral, highly versatile CYP6B protein presumed to exist in a polyphagous species evolved through time into a more efficient and specialized CYP6B1-like protein in Papilio species with continual exposure to furanocoumarins. Further diversification of Papilio CYP6Bs has likely involved interspersed events of positive selection in oligophagous species and relaxation of functional constraints in polyphagous species.
Fragment assignment in the cloud with eXpress-D.

Background Probabilistic assignment of ambiguously mapped fragments produced by high-throughput sequencing experiments has been demonstrated to greatly improve accuracy in the analysis of RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq, and is an essential step in many other sequence census experiments. A maximum likelihood method using the expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm for optimization is commonly used to solve this problem. However, batch EM-based approaches do not scale well with the size of sequencing datasets, which have been increasing dramatically over the past few years. Thus, current approaches to fragment assignment rely on heuristics or approximations for tractability.
Emancipating the nation (again): Notes on nationalism, “modernization,” and other dilemmas in post‐colonial Jamaica

This paper is a preliminary discussion of some of the issues raised by the restoration of Emancipation Day to the calendar of public holidays in 1997, the 35th anniversary of independence in Jamaica, in relation to the ways in which cultural nationalism has evolved during the post‐colonial period. Based on fieldwork both amongst members of the artistic community and in a rural village, it addresses the multiple and complicated relationships between blackness, Africanness, and Jamaicanness, and the articulation of these with ideas about progress, development, and modernization. It concludes that the extent to which purveyors of an officially designated Jamaican nationalism maintain a hegemony that appears fundamentally inpenetrable at the institutional level is dependent upon the extent to which they can (1) control the ways in which Africa is inserted into discourse regarding Jamaica's heritage, and (2) accommodate racialized understandings of citizenship while never giving them explicit priority.
Pro416Arg cherubism mutation in Sh3bp2 knock-in mice affects osteoblasts and alters bone mineral and matrix properties

Cherubism is an autosomal dominant disorder in children characterized by unwarranted symmetrical bone resorption of the jaws with fibrous tissue deposition. Mutations causing cherubism have been identified in the adaptor protein SH3BP2. Knock-in mice with a Pro416Arg mutation in Sh3bp2 exhibit a generalized osteoporotic bone phenotype. In this study, we examined the effects of this "cherubism" mutation on spectroscopic indices of "bone quality" and on osteoblast differentiation. Fourier-transform infrared imaging (FTIRI) analysis of femurs from wild-type and Sh3bp2 knock-in mice showed decreased mineral content, decreased mineral crystallinity/crystal size, and increased collagen maturity in homozygous mutants. To assess osteoblast maturation in vivo, knock-in mice were crossed with transgenic mice over-expressing GFP driven by 3.6-kb or 2.3-kb Col1a1 promoter fragments. Reduced numbers of mature osteoblasts were observed in homozygous mice. Neonatal calvarial cultures, which were enriched for osteoblasts by depletion of hematopoietic cells (negative selection for Ter119- and CD45-positive cells) were investigated for osteoblast-specific gene expression and differentiation, which demonstrated that differentiation and mineralization in homozygous osteoblast cultures was impaired. Co-cultures with calvarial osteoblasts and bone marrow macrophages showed that mutant osteoblasts appear to increase osteoclastogenesis resulting in increased bone resorption on bone chips. In summary, the Sh3bp2 mutation in cherubism mice alters bone quality, reduces osteoblast function, and may contribute to excessive bone resorption by osteoclasts. Our data, together with previous osteoclast studies, demonstrate a critical role of Sh3bp2 in bone remodeling and osteoblast differentiation.
Finite element approximation analysis for a steady state two-phase transport model of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

In this paper, we study a 2D steady state two-phase transport model of water species which occurs in the cathode gas diffusion layer of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). The reformulation of water transport equation is described by Kirchhoff transformation to deal with the discontinuous and degenerate water diffusivity due to phase change. Finite element approximation is developed for the present model and the optimal error estimate in H1 norm and the sub-optimal error estimate in L2 norm are obtained for the multiphase mixture model of PEMFC for the first time. Numerical experiments are also performed to verify the theoretical results.
Degree of burn, location of burn, and length of hospital stay as predictors of psychosocial status and physical functioning.

The purpose of this study was to identify predictors of psychologic and physical functioning of the victim with burn injuries from initial hospitalization to discharge. Thirty-one patients admitted to a burn center participated in the study and completed the Burn-Specific Health Scale. Most patients were men between 17 and 45 years of age. Length of stay in the hospital was bimodal, i.e., although about half stayed in the hospital for less than 15 days, about one fifth were hospitalized for more than 28 days. The study hypothesized that degree of burn, location of burn, and length of hospital stay would be associated with psychologic and physical functioning at the first-alert stage (stage of first orientation after burn injury) and the predischarge stage (immediately before discharge from the hospital). At the predischarge stage, the degree of the burn strongly predicted the patient's functioning. Patients with first-degree burns reported lower physical and psychologic functioning on every area of the Burn-Specific Health Scale. Conversely, at the first-alert stage, patients with third-degree burns reported higher psychologic functioning in certain areas (mental and social domains). Having a second-degree burn was not associated with reported psychologic or physical functioning. If the burn involved either the patient's hand or head, the location of the burn predicted certain areas of physical functioning at the first-alert and predischarge stage. Length of hospital stay predicted physical functioning; patients who stayed longer in the hospital reported lower mobility and hand function.
Optical sensor for sodium based on ion-pair extraction and fluorescence

Abstract A reagent phase that responds to sodium ion is used in a sodium-selective fiber-optic sensor. The components of the reagent phase are the ammonium salt of 8-anilino-1- naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS), copper(II)—polyethyleneimine, and a commercial sodium-selective ionophore [ N , N ′, N ″-triheptyl- N , N ′, N ″-trimethyl-4,4′,4″-propylidyne- tris(3-oxabutyramide)] immobilized on silica. In the absence of sodium, the ANS binds to the copper(II) polyelectrolyte and fluorescence is quenched. When sodium (20– 200 mM) is added, it forms a cationic complex which forms ion-pairs with some of the ANS, causing it to fluoresce. Response is linear at the lower sodium concentrations but tends to curve toward the concentration axis at higher concentrations. The sensitivity and the range of linear response depend on ANS concentration. Typically, it takes 1–3 min to reach 90% of steady-state response. The response time increases with decreasing temperature, increasing amounts of immobilized ionophore, and higher sodium concentrations. The selectivity of the sensor is established by the selectivity of the ionophore.
Accurate de-embedding technique for on-chip small-signal characterization of high-frequency optical modulator

A simple and accurate de-embedding technique has been developed for characterizing the microwave circuit behavior of noninsertable multiple quantum well waveguide modulators with on-chip two-port S-parameter measurements. The small signal equivalent circuit parameters extracted from the error corrected modulation response show an excellent agreement with both one-port microwave reflection coefficient measurement and CV data measured at 1 MHz.
Calculator Use in the Community College Arithmetic Course.

The hand-held calculator has the potential for making a great impact on the curriculum at all levels of mathematics instruction, as has been recognized in An Agenda for Action (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, 1980). Recommendation 3 of this report advocates access to calculators for students at all grade levels and integration of their use into the core curriculum (p. 9). These recommendations also seem very relevant for students at the community college level, especially those in the arithmetic course. Several factors make calculator use in such a course appropriate:
Characterization of endogenous and recombinant forms of laccase-2, a multicopper oxidase from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.

Abstract Laccases belong to the group of multicopper oxidases that exhibit wide substrate specificity for polyphenols and aromatic amines. They are found in plants, fungi, bacteria, and insects. In insects the only known role for laccase is in cuticle sclerotization. However, extracting laccase from the insect's cuticle requires proteolysis, resulting in an enzyme that is missing its amino-terminus. To circumvent this problem, we expressed and purified full-length and amino-terminally truncated recombinant forms of laccase-2 from the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta . We also purified the endogenous enzyme from the pharate pupal cuticle and used peptide mass fingerprinting analysis to confirm that it is laccase-2. All three enzymes had pH optima between 5 and 5.5 when using N-acetyldopamine (NADA) or N-β-alanyldopamine-alanyldopamine (NBAD) as substrates. The laccases exhibited typical Michaelis–Menten kinetics when NADA was used as a substrate, with K m values of 0.46 mM, 0.43 mM, and 0.63 mM, respectively, for the full-length recombinant, truncated recombinant, and cuticular laccases; the apparent k cat values were 100 min −1 , 80 min −1 , and 290 min −1 . The similarity in activity of the two recombinant laccases suggests that laccase-2 is expressed in an active form rather than as a zymogen, as had been previously proposed. This conclusion is consistent with the detection of activity in untanned pupal wing cuticle using the laccase substrate 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). Immunoblot analysis of proteins extracted from both tanned and untanned cuticle detected only a single protein of 84 kDa, consistent with the full-length enzyme. With NBAD as substrate, the full-length recombinant and cuticular laccases showed kinetics indicative of substrate inhibition, with K m values of 1.9 mM and 0.47 mM, respectively, and apparent k cat values of 200 min −1 and 180 min −1 . These results enhance our understanding of cuticle sclerotization, and may aid in the design of insecticides targeting insect laccases.
Structural Properties and Oxygen Stoichiometry of (Pr1.5Ce0.5)Sr2Cu2TaO10−δand (R1.5−xPrxCe0.5)Sr2Cu2NbO10−δ,R=Nd, Sm, Eu: Correlations with Electronic and Magnetic Properties

The structural parameters, phase purity, and oxygen stoichiometry of the (Pr 1.5 Ce 0.5 )Sr 2 Cu 2 TaO 10-δ and (R 1.5 - x Pr x Ce 0.5 ) Sr 2 Cu 2 NbO 10-δ , R = Nd, Sm, Eu, compounds are investigated with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Rietveld refinements, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The XRD data indicate that all the (R 1.5-x Pr x Ce 0.5 )Sr 2 Cu 2 NbO 10-δ compounds are isostructural and typically 98% pure. Rietveld refinements reveal a contraction of the c lattice parameter and features in the rare earth-planar oxygen bond length (as functions of Pr doping) that are correlated with the unusual electronic and magnetic transitions induced by the Pr ion in these materials. Results for deoxygenated samples show that the lattice expands upon deoxygenation and suggest that the oxygen is removed primarily from the SrO layers. TGA results reveal reliable techniques for determining oxygen stoichiometries and deoxygenating these compounds and that these compounds are oxygen deficient with δ's of typically 0.045. The structural features of these compounds are compared to similar high T c cuprates, and related to the electronic and magnetic transitions and the suppression of superconductivity induced by the Pr ion in these materials. We discuss our results in terms of the current understanding of high Tc cuprates and models for the suppression of superconductivity by the Pr ion in the related (R 1-x Pr x )Ba 2 Cu 3 O 7 system.
Codes with bounded synchronization delay

In this paper we study “bounded delay codes,≓ which have the property that every message can be uniquely decoded by examining a segment of bounded length, from any starting point. This class is shown to attain the upper bound on codebook size previously encountered (but not always attained) for the familiar subclass of “comma-free codes.≓ The problem of determining the smallest message length s0 which guarantees unique decipherability for such codes is discussed. The bounded delay codes are classified according to the value of s0. An extension is made to the case of variable length codes, in which the upper bound formula of the uniform word-length case is replaced by a system of inequalities.
Implementing a High School Level Geospatial Technologies and Spatial Thinking Course.

Understanding geospatial technologies (GSTs) and spatial thinking is increasingly vital to contemporary life including common activities and hobbies; learning in science, mathematics, and social science; and employment within fields as diverse as engineering, health, business, and planning. As such, there is a need for a stand-alone K–12 curriculum in this area rather than the more piecemeal integration of GSTs and spatial thinking that is more common in today's schools. This article discusses the development of a systematic GST/spatial thinking course and analyzes how this course promoted student learning in these areas as well as developing problem-solving skills in other fields and applications.
Variations of the v = 0, 1, 2, and 3, J = 1-0 SiO Masers of R Cassiopeia

The v = 0, 1, 2, and 3, J = 1–0 SiO maser spectra of R Cassiopeia have been observed with high phase resolution over a time span of approximately 2.6 stellar periods. A time lag cross-correlation analysis has been performed on the entire data set and on two subsets of the data. The analysis indicates that the variations in the emission of the v = 1 and 2 states were most highly correlated at lag zero during the entire period of observation. During one complete cycle of the star, the v = 0, J = 1–0 emission was most highly correlated with the v = 1 and 2 at a lag of –1, indicating that the v = 0 emission varied in advance of the excited vibrational state emission. The lags represented 0.1 pulsation periods of the star, or a 43 day time period for these analyses. During a second cycle of the star the v = 0 and v = 2 emissions did not exhibit a maximum near the phase of 0.2 and were not highly correlated with the v = 1 emission. The lags represented 0.05 periods of the star for this analysis. The v = 0 emission generally had relatively low contrast between its maximum and minimum and had several relative maxima during a stellar period. The v = 3 emission was observed to occur at various phases of the star. These observations further constrain possible models of maser pumping.
Problems and Progress in Junior High Reading Programs

The growth of reading programs in junior high schools is in the hands of teachers having two . different educational orientations. What must be done to overcome this apparent difficulty is explained and explored in this article.
Microfluidics for generation and characterization of liquid and gaseous micro- and nanojets

Abstract This paper reports a microfluidic system for the generation and characterization of liquid and gaseous micro- and nanojets. The system comprises in-plane silicon micro/nanonozzles with dimensions ranging from 500 nm to 12 μm, a micro-to-macrofluidic interface and package, and a high pressure delivery source allowing microfluidic flow at pressure drops up to 15 MPa (2200 psi). Further, the system possesses the ability to characterize the jets by use of both shadowgraphy and impinging cantilever techniques. Unlike previous work reporting the fabrication of nano-orifices defined within the thickness of the substrates [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , the in-plane nanonozzles presented in this paper are designed to sustain the high pressures necessary to obtain substantial nanofluidic jet flows. This approach also allows important three-dimensional features of nozzle, channel and fluidic reservoir to be defined by design and not by fabrication constraints, thereby meeting important fluid-mechanical criteria such as a fully developed flow. The shrinking jet dimensions demand new metrology tools to investigate their flow behavior. A laser shadowgraphy technique is used to visualize and image the jet flows. Micromachined heated and piezoresistive cantilevers are used to investigate the thrust and heat flux characteristics of the jets.
Equity, Egoism, and Egocentrism: The Formation of Distributive Justice Judgments

Previous research on distributive justice judgments has come to the conclusion that these judgments are often formed based on an equity norm, or a self-serving, egoistic motive (e.g., Adams, 1965; Greenberg, 1983). In this article, we propose egocentrism as a third mechanism for the formation of these judgments. In two experiments, above and beyond the influence of equity, perceptions of distributive justice were influenced by egocentrism. Furthermore, egocentrism at times overpowered the effects of egoism. When egocentric perception of contribution was high, results were consistent with the notion that distributive justice judgments are egoistic. However, the effect of egoism was reversed when egocentric perception of contribution was low. Additional analyses suggest that these results were due to egocentric attentional processes.
Heinrich der Teichner: Commentator and Critic of the Worlds of the Court and the Aristocracy

In the late Middle Ages poets increasingly voiced severe criticism of the social conditions of their time; they especially targeted the world of the courts and aristocracy at large. One of the most outspoken representatives of this criticism was the fourteenth-century Austrian poet Heinrich der Teichner, heretofore fairly little studied and even less known among the reading public today. He certainly relied on the traditional topos of court criticism that can be traced back at least to the twelfth and eleventh centuries, but his comments about the courts and the nobility are extremely biting and explicit. This article identifies some of the key passages in Teichner’s voluminous poetic oeuvre in which he offers poignant social, moral, and political commentary about the shortcomings of his time. Teichner can be counted among the leading voices of his time particularly because of his unabashed and outspoken discussion of fundamental shortcomings among the upper level of late medieval society.1
Overview of scientific investigations at Yucca Mountain—the potential repository for high-level nuclear waste

Abstract The US Department of Energy (DOE) has been evaluating the unsaturated zone (UZ) at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as a potential repository site for high level nuclear waste. A large number of boreholes have been drilled at the site, and an underground tunnel, the exploratory studies facility (ESF), has been constructed. A variety of boreholes and underground tests have been conducted that have provided large amounts of data from the UZ. This paper summarizes some of the current knowledge of geological and hydrological characteristics of the site and provides the framework for a series of technical papers that follow in this issue. A brief discussion is also given to the repository safety strategy for Yucca Mountain and the UZ site-scale flow model.
Uplink Control Channel Design for 3GPP LTE

Long term evolution (LTE) of the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access and Radio Access Network is aimed for commercial deployment in 2010. Goals for the evolved system include support for improved system capacity and coverage, high peak data rates, low latency, reduced operating costs, multi-antenna support, flexible bandwidth operations and seamless integration with existing systems. To reach these goals, a new design for the air interface is currently being specified in the 3GPP standards body. The Uplink (UL) for LTE is based on Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access. The UL control channel carries non-data associated control signaling like CQI, ACK/NACK, Scheduling request etc. To maintain the low PA power de-rating, the single carrier property of the UL has to be maintained. As such, special consideration should be given to the UL control channel design. This paper discusses in detail the LTE UL control channel design and its performance.
Relationships between Insufficient Potassium and Crop Maturity in Cotton

Potassium deficiency in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) depresses yield by decreasing late season growth and is reportedly more harmful to early maturing cotton genotypes. Research objectives were to determine if the accelerated maturity caused by K deficiency was partially caused by earlier flowering and to further evaluate whether early maturity cotton genotypes are more susceptible to low K levels. Field studies were conducted from 1995 to 1997 utilizing two okra-normal leaf-type near isoline pairs and two K fertilization rates (0 and 112 kg K ha -1 ). Okra leaf-type genotypes are earlier in maturity than their normal leaf-type counterparts. White bloom counts, dry matter partitioning, light interception, lint yield, yield components, and fiber quality data were collected. Genotypes responded similarly to K rates for all of the parameters evaluated. Early season flowering rates briefly increased 11% when plants were grown without supplemental K. Late-season leaf area index (LAI) was 23% lower without supplemental K compared with plants fertilized with 112 kg K ha -1 in 2 of the 3 yr. The increased LAI of the K-fertilized plants allowed them to intercept 6% more of the late season sunlight than the 0 kg K ha -1 treatment. Potassium fertilization increased yield 9% in 2 out of 3 yr, but low K had only minor effects on fiber quality. Early maturing okra-leaf cotton genotypes are not more susceptible to low K rates because of their early maturity. The low K effect on crop maturity is due to a premature termination of reproductive growth and a brief enhancement of the early season flowering rate.
SU-E-T-626: Individualized Trade-Off of Dose Coverage and Sparing in IMRT Planning.

Purpose: We present an evidence‐based approach to quantifying the dose sparing trade‐offs between different Organs‐at‐risk (OARs) and the trade‐off between OAR dose sparing and target dose coverage in IMRT plans. Methods: The interaction between dose sparing of different OARs and between target dose coverage and OAR dose sparing are modeled using high‐quality prior IMRT plans of prostate, head‐and‐neck (HN), and spine SBRT cases. The dose sparing for each OAR is modeled separately at first based on their own anatomical features and then the contributions from other OARs or PTV are added into the model to account for the possible trade‐off effects in plans whose modeled OAR DVH deviates from that of actual plans. Results: The most significant OAR dose sparing trade‐off is between bladder and rectum in prostate plans and between the left and the right parotids in HN plans. Trade‐off is most apparent when the parotid on one side has very large overlap with the PTV. In most of these plans (83%), the planer chooses to loosen the dose constraint for that parotid in exchange for lower contra‐lateral parotid median dose. The interaction between OAR dose sparing and PTV dose coverage is most significant in spine SBRT plans, (R2=0.37). Another important factor is the tightness of the geometric enclosure of PTV around OAR (R2=0.38). Conclusions: The dosimetric trade‐off between multiple OARs and between PTV and OAR in IMRT planning is quantified by studying prior plans. These findings will help physicians and planners obtain better OAR dose sparing by exploring different trade‐off options for individual patient cases. Partially supported by a master research agreement with Varian Medical Systems, Inc.
Modified iterative methods for consistent linear systems

Abstract In order to solve a linear system Ax = b , certain elementary row operations are performed on A before applying the Gauss-Seidel or Jacobi iterative methods. It is shown that when A is a nonsingular M -matrix or a singular tridiagonal M -matrix, the modified method yields considerable improvement in the rate of convergence for the iterative method. It is also shown that in some cases this method is superior to certain other modified iterative methods. The performance of this modified method on some matrices other than M -matrices is also investigated.
T24 human bladder carcinoma oncogene is an activated form of the normal human homologue of BALB- and Harvey-MSV transforming genes

A transforming gene isolated from T24 human bladder carcinoma cells is closely related to the BALB murine sarcoma virus (MSV) onc gene (v-bas). This transforming gene is localized to a 4.6 kilobase pair (kbp) region and is expressed as a 1.2-kbp polyadenylated transcript, which contains v-bas related sequences. Moreover, antisera known to detect the immunologically related onc gene products of BALB- and Harvey-MSVs recognized elevated levels of a related protein in T24 cells. The normal human homologue of v-bas was found to be indistinguishable from the T24 oncogene by heteroduplex and restriction enzyme analysis. These results imply that rather subtle genetic alterations have led to the activation of the normal human homologue of v-bas as a human transforming gene.
The friction and wear of metals and binary alloys in contact with an abrasive grit of single-crystal silicon carbide

Sliding friction experiments were conducted with various metals and iron-base binary alloys (alloying elements Ti, Cr, Mn, Ni, Rh and W) in contact with single crystal silicon carbide riders. Results indicate that the friction force in the plowing of metal and the groove height (corresponding to the wear volume of the groove) decrease linearly as the shear strength of the bulk metal increases. The coefficient of friction and groove height generally decrease, and the contact pressure increases with an increase in solute content of binary alloys. There appears to be very good correlation of the solute to iron atomic ratio with the decreasing rate of change of coefficient of friction, the decreasing rate of change of groove height and the increasing rate of change of contact pressure with increasing solute content. These rates of change increase as the solute to iron atomic radius ratio increases or decreases from unity.
Exaggerated Blood Pressure Response to Maximal Exercise in Endurance-Trained Individuals

Recent studies have suggested that an exaggerated blood pressure response to maximal exercise may be useful in detecting individuals who are prone to developing hypertension in later years. To examine the hypothesis that regular aerobic exercise results in a smaller blood pressure response to maximal exercise, 26 endurance-trained and 31 untrained individuals (matched on age and physical characteristics) performed graded maximal exercise tests on a cycle ergometer. Trained subjects achieved a significantly (P < .05) higher level of maximal oxygen uptake (mean +/- SE: 59.4 +/- 1.4 v 44.7 +/- 1.0 mL/kg/min), as well as a greater maximal work rate. Although there was no significant difference in resting blood pressure between the groups, endurance-trained individuals demonstrated significantly higher maximal systolic blood pressure levels compared to untrained subjects during maximal exercise (225 +/- 3 v 204 +/- 4 mm Hg). The group differences in systolic blood pressure were also significant (P < .05) at work rates of 180 W and higher. It is concluded that physically active individuals show higher blood pressure responses to maximal exercise, despite their reduced risk of future hypertension. This finding indicates that an exaggerated blood pressure response is not a valid prognostic test to indicate the likelihood of future hypertension in this population.