cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coset codes viewed as terminated convolutional codes

Coset codes are considered as terminated convolutional codes. Based on this approach, three new general results are presented. First, it is shown that the iterative squaring construction can equivalently be defined from a convolutional code whose trellis terminates. This convolutional code determines a simple encoder for the coset code considered, and the state and branch labelings of the associated trellis diagram become straightforward. Also, from the generator matrix of the code in its convolutional code form, much information about the trade-off between the state connectivity and complexity at each section, and the parallel structure of the trellis, is directly available. Based on this generator matrix, it is shown that the parallel branches in the trellis diagram of the convolutional code represent the same coset code C/sub 1/ of smaller dimension and shorter length. Utilizing this fact, a two-stage optimum trellis decoding method is devised. The first stage decodes C/sub 1/ while the second stage decodes the associated convolutional code, using the branch metrics delivered by stage 1. Finally, a bidirectional decoding of each received block starting at both ends is presented. If about the same number of computations is required, this approach remains very attractive from a practical point of view as it roughly doubles the decoding speed. This fact is particularly interesting whenever the second half of the trellis is the mirror image of the first half, since the same decoder can be implemented for both parts.
Evaluation of IEEE 754 floating-point arithmetic compliance across a wide range of heterogeneous computers

Scientific applications rely heavily on floating-point arithmetic and, therefore, are affected by the precision and implementation of floating-point operations. Although the computers we use are IEEE compliant, this only assures the same representation of floating-point numbers; it does not guarantee that floating-point operations will be performed in the same way on all computers. As a result the same program run on different computers may yield different results. This paper is a first step in understanding the reason for this, in particular, different results for the execution of the application Charmm on different computers. We report on our use of a well-known test suite, IeeeCC754, to evaluate IEEE 754 compliance across a wide range of heterogeneous computers with different architectures, operating systems, precisions, and compilers.
Microsensor Integration Into Systems-on-Chip

Sensing systems-on-chip (SSoCs), combining micromachined sensing structures and microelectronic building blocks on a single chip, are reviewed. While single-chip pressure and inertial sensing systems have been commercially available for more than a decade, the recent expansion of SSoC into new application areas, ranging from chemical and biochemical sensing to atomic force microscopy, demonstrates the full potential of this microsensor integration approach. Available fabrication processes for integrated sensing systems are summarized, categorizing them into pre-, intra-, and post-CMOS approaches depending on the way the micromachining module is merged with the integrated circuit (IC) technology. Examples of SSoCs are presented to highlight the different integration options, ranging from cointegration of micromachined sensors with purely analog signal chains to microsystems with cointegrated digital signal processors and digital interfaces.
Computer Simulation of Feed Costs for Milk Production in Relation to Dietary Ingredient Prices

Abstract Feed costs were determined using linear programming techniques to produce least cost dairy diets. Effects of alfalfa hay and corn silage price and maturity of alfalfa hay on daily diet costs were determined. The influence of soybean meal price on the effects of alfalfa hay and corn silage price was also included. Regression equations were generated defining the responses in diet costs to changes in prices of these feeds and to maturity of alfalfa hay. Increasing alfalfa hay price from $40 to $120/909kg increased feed cost per cow daily less ($.34) with low priced soybean meal (120/909kg) than with high priced soybean meal ($.77). As corn silage price increased from $12.60 to $32.20/909kg, daily feed cost per cow increased between $.81 and .96 daily with various price combinations for alfalfa hay and soybean meal. The response in diet cost to increasing the price of corn silage was affected little by alfalfa hay or soybean meal price. Increasing alfalfa hay maturity from immature to mature increased the cost of all diets. However, the effect of maturity on diet costs was greater with higher priced corn silage and with higher priced soybean meal. Advancing maturity increased diet cost more with $40 hay than with $120 hay. These results emphasize the importance of early harvest of alfalfa hay as one of the major factors in reducing the feed cost for producing milk.
Experimental evaluation of an adaptive inverse compensation technique for real-time simulation of a large-scale magneto-rheological fluid damper

Magneto-rheological (MR) dampers are semi-active control devices whose characteristics are varied under different current inputs in accordance with semi-active control laws to achieve optimized vibration control of a structural system. Experimental evaluation of the effectiveness of MR dampers for seismic hazard mitigation using selected control laws is necessary to enable performance-based design procedures to be developed and for these devices to become accepted by the practical design community. Real-time hybrid simulation provides an economical and efficient experimental technique which enables both the damper rate dependence and the damper–structure interaction to be accounted for. A successful real-time hybrid simulation requires accurate actuator control to achieve reliable experimental results. A time delay and actuator time lag (referred to hereafter as simply the delay) can be introduced into the actuator response due to state determination, communication, and servo-hydraulic dynamics. The variable current inputs and resulting variable forces induced by semi-active control laws pose additional challenges for actuator control by introducing variable delay in a real-time hybrid simulation. In this paper a newly developed adaptive inverse compensation technique is experimentally evaluated for application in real-time hybrid simulation involving an MR damper subjected to band-limited white noise-generated random displacements and variable current inputs. Actuator control is assessed using different evaluation criteria. The adaptive inverse compensation method is demonstrated to achieve good actuator control and therefore shows good potential for use in real-time hybrid simulation of structural systems with semi-active MR dampers.
A primary culture system of adult rat heart cells for the study of toxicologic agents

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are currently used in the treatment of mental depression and nocturnal enuresis. Clinically, these drugs are useful; however, cardiotoxicity can occur even with therapeutic dosages. For example, TCAs are known to alter myocardial function, induce arrhythmias, and produce heart block in individuals with a normal cardiovascular history. The present study was undertaken to establish a culture system of spontaneously contracting adult primary myocardial cells for toxicologic testing and to examine their contractility, morphology, and lactate dehydrogenase release (LDH) after treatment with one of the most cardiotoxic TCAs, amitriptyline. Primary myocardial cell cultures were obtained from approximately 60- to 90-day-old Sprague-Dawley rats. After the cells had been grown in culture for 11 days, they were treated with amitriptyline (1 × 10−3, 1 × 10−4, and 1 × 10−5 M) for 2 to 24 h. The highest concentration of amitriptyline (1 × 10−3 M) completely destroyed the cardiac muscle cells. In addition to moderate and severe vacuole, granule, and pseudopodia formation, all contractile activity was inhibited as early as 2 h after exposure to the intermediate concentration of 1 × 10−4 M amitriptyline. Significant LDH release did not occur until 8 h after treatment with this intermediate concentration. Even though there was no significant LDH release at all 3 time points tested, there was a 50% decrease in beating activity (154±9 to 77±5 beats/min) and initiation of vacuole formation by 2 h with the lowest concentration of amitriptyline (1 × 10−5 M). This study presents a new apparatus for the isolation of adult cardiac myocytes for the establishment of primary cell cultures for toxicologic testing. Furthermore, these data demonstrate that amitriptyline induces a concentration- and time-dependent cardiotoxic profile in a model of spontaneously contracting adult cardiac muscle cells in culture.
Study of the initial oxidation of single-crystal aluminum by inter-atomic Auger yield spectroscopy

Abstract Adsorbate-substrate interactions in the initial oxidation of the (100), (110), and (111) single-crystal faces of aluminum have been studied by partial photoyield spectroscopy with the final-state energy tuned to coincide with an inter-atomic Auger transition [A1 (2p) O (2s) V.B.]. This higher energy final state is shown to provide significantly better surface sensitivity than that obtained with typical constant final-state spectroscopy using low-energy, secondary electrons. Models for the initial oxidation are discussed.
How much do we pay for using default parameters

This paper explores the potential benefit of using tuned parameter settings for integer programming instances. Three metrics are considered for selecting parameters: Time-to-Optimality, Proven-Gap and Best-Integer-Solution. Good parameter settings for each metric are found using the open-source software tool Selection Tool for Optimization Parameters. Computational tests are presented using CPLEX solver (version 9.0) on MIPLIB test instances, showing substantial improvements over the default parameter setting. Although the benefit of a tuned parameter setting on an individual instance is outweighed by the cost of identifying the tuned setting, these results indicate that substantial benefit may be achieved in cases where the cost of tuning parameter settings is justified.
Existence Results for Large Deformations of Magnetostrictive Materials

The proof of existence results for the equations describing deformable solid materi als with coupled electromagnetic and elastic effects is complicated by two contradictory technical re quirements.1. The descriptions of the constitutive equations and elastic effects are best done using a material (Lagrangian) coordinate formulation.2. Because electromagnetic fields produced by unshielded materials must be described outside of the deformed body (actually on all of space), it is natural to use a spatial (Eulerian) coordinate formulation for these effects.In order to avoid this problem, many authors have studied only small motions of the material so that material coordinates could be extended to all of space. While this approach has sometimes been successful, it has clear drawbacks in many of the applications suggested for magnetostrictive sensors and actuators.This article describes technical tools in which material coordinates are used to describe elastic ef fects, spatial coordinates are used to describe ...
Use of concentration profiles in creaming emulsions to determine phase coexistence

Abstract Concentration profiles are presented for 20% alkane-in-water emulsions in the presence of hydroxyethylcellulose (HEC). The non-adsorbing, high molecular weight HEC (Natrosol 250HR) is present in the continuous phase at up to 0.04% w/w. At ≤0.02% HEC a diffuse lower meniscus is apparent during creaming, consistent with the movement of individual polydisperse droplets. At 0.04% HEC a sharp lower meniscus forms and rises rapidly, indicating that the droplets are flocculated. At 0.03% HEC both sharp and diffuse lower menisci are observed, corresponding to the coexistence of ∼ 5% oil as unflocculated droplets with ∼ 15% oil as aggregates. The results are thought to be consistent with phase separation induced by a polymer depletion mechanism.
Endotoxin‐Stimulated Human Monocyte Secretion of Interleukin 1, Tumour Necrosis Factor Alpha, and Prostaglandin E2 Shows Stable Interindividual Differences

The secretions of interleukin 1 (IL-1), tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) of low-dose E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human monocytes (M phi) were investigated in an endotoxin (ET)-free milieu (less than 1.6 pg LPS/ml). Human M phi cultures from nine healthy men were stimulated with 0, 12.5-500, and 250,000 pg LPS/ml as measured by a very sensitive Limulus test. The IL-1 activity was tested by the mouse costimulatory thymocyte (LAF) assay, which was thoroughly standardized and characterized (interassay variation 22-24%, intra-assay variation 3-7%). Spontaneous M phi secretions of IL-1, TNF, and PGE2 were negligible, but 12.5 pg LPS/ml significantly stimulated the secretions of these M phi products and the monokine responses to 500 and 250,000 pg LPS/ml were almost in the same range. It was demonstrated that the secretions of IL-1-TNF and TNF-PGE2 were strongly correlated. Pronounced interindividual differences in LPS responsiveness were demonstrated, and two low-responders, one of whom was HLA-DR1,2-positive, were identified. Three first-degree relatives of the DR1,2-positive low-responder had similar low responses. Furthermore, M phi cultures were prepared weekly for 4 weeks from four HLA-DR different men and the only DR2,2 homozygous individual had low monokine responses. In conclusion, stable interindividual differences in in vitro monokine and PGE2 secretions of LPS-stimulated M phi were demonstrated. It is suggested that HLA-DR2-positive individuals may be low responders.
Reliability evaluations of ECP tools and chemistries

Microstructural considerations were studied in a tool qualification for ECP in a dual-damascene 110nm Cu/low-k BEOL process. Wafer Level tests (HTS, Isothermal EM) using standard SM/SIV and EM test structures were used to compare two ECP tools and chemistries, and sensitivities were further investigated with materials analysis consisting of Elemental (TOF-SIMS), EBSD (texture analysis) and grain-size analysis. It is found that the differences in the relative grain-size, and impurity content both contributed to the improvement of the TTF for EM and SM/SIV. Interpretation of the SIV data used a proportional hazards model, incorporating basic elements of stochastic geometry to find a scaling form which can be used to extract the relative change in Cu mobility.
Ionization dynamics in ionic liquids probed via self-diffusion coefficient measurements

Abstract Ionic liquids contain ions and ion pairs with fast exchange between them. We propose a novel process to deduce the fraction of ions present in an ionic liquid and the equilibrium constants of ionization processes from measured ion self-diffusion coefficients using Pulsed Field Gradient (PFG) NMR. The enthalpy and entropy changes of ionization and ion self-diffusion processes are obtained for a series of ionic liquids using this method. These data were used to explain the interactions between cations and anions of ionic liquids. The interactions are also interpreted by the delocalization of the ion’s charge densities. The self-diffusion coefficients of cations and anions for measured ionic liquids are discussed.
Rats selectively bred for high and low swim-test activity show differential responses to dopaminergic drugs.

Rationale: Selective breeding of Sprague-Dawley rats has been used to generate a line of animals with very low swim-test activity (SwLo) in an attempt to model certain characteristics of depression. For comparison with the SwLo animals, a line bred for high swim-test activity (SwHi) and a non-selectively bred line (SwNS) have been generated. Previous studies using these lines suggested an inverse relationship between dopamine (DA) function in the brain and inactivity in the swim test. Objectives: The current experiments investigated the possibility that SwLo and SwHi rats show differences in central DA processes, as suggested by responsiveness to DA agonists. Results: The increase in ambulation produced by d-amphetamine (0.25– 1.0 mg/kg) was largest in SwHi rats and smallest in SwLo rats, with SwNS rats showing an intermediate response. Amphetamine levels in plasma and brain tissue were similar in SwHi and SwLo rats, indicating that pharmacokinetic differences were not responsible for the behavioral differences. Repeated amphetamine administration produced enhancement in the ambulation-increasing effects of this drug (i.e., sensitization), with significant enhancement seen in all three lines. Apomorphine in doses that stimulate postsynaptic receptors (0.25– 4.0 mg/kg) produced mainly increased sniffing behaviors in SwHi and SwNS rats and oral behaviors in SwLo rats, suggesting that the lines differ in proportions of D1, D2, and D3 postsynaptic receptors. Conclusions: The findings suggest that DA function differs in lines of rats selectively bred for differences in swim behavior, a feature that may make these lines useful for studying certain depressive symptoms that might be related to DA function.
Infinite-scale percolation in a new type of branching diffusion process

We give an account and (basically) a solution of a new class of problems synthesizing percolation theory and branching diffusion processes. They lead to a novel type of stochastic process, namely branching processes with diffusion on the space of parameters distinguishing the branching “particles” from each other.
Morphological responses to local CNS trauma: sprouting and synaptogenesis within membranes implanted into mature cerebral cortex of the rat

The purpose of this study was to document in vivo neuronal sprouting in response to local trauma of the mature cerebral neocortex. The experimental approach enabled direct and unequivocal ultrastructural identification of newly sprouted neuronal processes and their synaptic relationships. Morphologically detectable factors that influence neuronal sprouting were also assessed. Tiny fragments of porous, synthetic membrane were implanted into the mature neocortex of the rat. After one week, axons, dendrites, growth cone-like structures, synapses, and processes from astrocytes and microglia were present deep within the interstices of the implant. Morphometric analysis of synapses within the implant, support the qualitative impression of active neuronal ingrowth and de novo synaptogenesis by these sprouted elements. Astrocytic processes appear to comprise the major barrier to neuronal invasion of the implant. Morphometric analysis of synapses within the implant, support the qualitative impression of active neuronal ingrowth and de novosynaptogenesis by these sprouted elements. Astrocytic processes appear to comprise the major barrier to neuronal invasion of the implant. Several observations suggested that glia sometimes may facilitate neuronal ingrowth. These findings provide direct morphological documentation of axonal and dendritic plasticity in the mature rat neocortex. The work demonstrates a strategy that could be useful for further evaluating the cellular mechanism of in vivo neuronal regeneration.
Serco Health’s reply to article on lack of transparency in NHS commissioning

Serco Health is properly resourced to deliver a safe high quality service in Suffolk.1 A Care Quality Commission inspection in May found us compliant with all essential standards, including staffing. Our standards of care are excellent, this shows in our friends and family test results—more than 90% of patients and carers are willing to recommend our services. Serco …
On-Line Immunoaffinity Extraction-Coupled Column Capillary Liquid Chromatography/Tandem Mass Spectrometry: Trace Analysis of LSD Analogs and Metabolites in Human Urine

An on-line immunoaffinity extraction-coupled column capillary liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (IAE/LC/LC/MS/MS) method is described. The system involves three columns, a 2.1-mm-i.d. protein G immunoaffinity column with noncovalently immobilized antibody specific to the analytes of interest, a packed capillary trapping column, and a packed capillary analytical column. With use of a short packed capillary trapping column, the protein G column could be operated at flow rates of 2.5−4 mL/min while the packed capillary analytical column was maintained at a flow rate of 3.5 μL/min. Human urine diluted 1:1 with phosphate-buffered saline was pumped directly onto the immunoaffinity column without pretreatment and was analyzed by electrospray mass spectrometry following the column switching process. Sample handling and transfer procedures were eliminated. The system was optimized and evaluated for the determination of LSD, its analogs, and metabolites in spiked human urine at low part-per-trillion (p...
Putting local features on a manifold

Local features have proven very useful for recognition. Manifold learning has proven to be a very powerful tool in data analysis. However, manifold learning application for images are mainly based on holistic vectorized representations of images. The challenging question that we address in this paper is how can we learn image manifolds from a punch of local features in a smooth way that captures the feature similarity and spatial arrangement variability between images. We introduce a novel framework for learning a manifold representation from collections of local features in images. We first show how we can learn a feature embedding representation that preserves both the local appearance similarity as well as the spatial structure of the features. We also show how we can embed features from a new image by introducing a solution for the out-of-sample that is suitable for this context. By solving these two problems and defining a proper distance measure in the feature embedding space, we can reach an image manifold embedding space.
Analysis of a predicted nuclear localization signal: implications for the intracellular localization and function of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae RNA-binding protein Scp160

Gene expression is controlled by RNA-binding proteins that modulate the synthesis, processing, transport and stability of various classes of RNA. Some RNA-binding proteins shuttle between the nucleus and cytoplasm and are thought to bind to RNA transcripts in the nucleus and remain bound during translocation to the cytoplasm. One RNA-binding protein that has been hypothesized to function in this manner is the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Scp160 protein. Although the steady-state localization of Scp160 is cytoplasmic, previous studies have identified putative nuclear localization (NLS) and nuclear export (NES) signals. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that Scp160 is a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling protein. We exploited a variety of yeast export mutants to capture any potential nuclear accumulation of Scp160 and found no evidence that Scp160 enters the nucleus. These localization studies were complemented by a mutational analysis of the predicted NLS. Results indicate that key basic residues within the predicted NLS of Scp160 can be altered without severely affecting Scp160 function. This finding has important implications for understanding the function of Scp160, which is likely limited to the cytoplasm. Additionally, our results provide strong evidence that the presence of a predicted nuclear localization signal within the sequence of a protein should not lead to the assumption that the protein enters the nucleus in the absence of additional experimental evidence.
Leveraging the talent of hand animators to create three-dimensional animation

The skills required to create compelling three-dimensional animation using computer software are quite different from those required to create compelling hand animation with pencil and paper. The three-dimensional medium has several advantages over the traditional medium---it is easy to relight the scene, render it from different view-points, and add physical simulations. In this work, we propose a method to leverage the talent of traditionally trained hand animators to create three-dimensional animation of human motion, while allowing them to work in the medium that is familiar to them. The input to our algorithm is a set of hand-animated frames. Our key insight is to use motion capture data as a source of domain knowledge and 'lift' the two-dimensional animation to three dimensions, while maintaining the unique style of the input animation. A motion capture clip is projected to two dimensions. First, time alignment is done to match the timing of the hand-drawn frames and then, the limbs are aligned to better match the pose in the hand-drawn frames. Finally the motion is reconstructed in three dimensions. We demonstrate our algorithm on a variety of hand animated motion sequences on different characters, including ballet, a stylized sneaky walk, and a sequence of jumping jacks.
Targeting Adults Who Provide Alcohol to Underage Youth: Results from a National Survey of Local Law Enforcement Agencies

We investigated what local enforcement agencies are doing to target adults who provide alcohol to underage youth; what types of enforcement activities are being conducted to target adult providers; and factors that encourage enforcement activities that target adult providers. We surveyed 1,056 local law enforcement agencies in the US and measured whether or not the agency conducted enforcement activities that target adults who provide alcohol to underage youth. We also measured whether certain agency and jurisdiction characteristics were associated with enforcement activities that target adults who provide alcohol to underage youth. Less than half (42%) of local enforcement agencies conducted enforcement efforts targeting adults who provide alcohol to underage youth. Agencies that conducted the enforcement activities targeting adult providers were significantly more likely to have a full time officer specific to alcohol enforcement, a division specific to alcohol enforcement, a social host law, and to perceive underage drinking was very common. Results suggest that targeting social providers (i.e., adults over 21 years of age) will require greater law enforcement resources, implementation of underage drinking laws (e.g., social host policies), and changing perceptions among law enforcement regarding underage drinking. Future studies are needed to identify the most effective enforcement efforts and to examine how enforcement efforts are prospectively linked to alcohol consumption.
Actinobacillus suis-like organisms associated with septicemia in neonatal calves

mune electron microscopy and genome electropherotyping techniques for detection of turkey rotaviruses and rotaviruslike viruses in intestinal contents. J Clin Microbiol 23:695-699. 11. Theil KW, Saif LJ, Moorhead PD, Whitmoyer RD: 1985, Porcine rotavirus-like virus (group B rotavirus): characterization and pathogenicity for gnotobiotic pigs. J Clin Microbiol 21:340345. Ward ACS, Bulgin MS, Anderson BC: 1991, Early detection of K99 piliated Escherichia coli in field outbreaks of lamb diarrhea. Agri-Practice 12(5):40-45.
PRACTICE-ORIENTED APPROACH TO DEVELOPING A DATA REQUIREMENTS MODEL FOR BRIDGE CONDITION ASSESSMENT

Data collection activities in the bridge management process have not been designed. Rather, they have evolved over time, creating inconsistencies within and between agencies in data collection methods, data items collected, data quality, and data uses. The development of a data requirements model for bridge condition assessment, based on an investigation of the state of the practice and the desired state, is described. Using data flow diagrams and influence diagrams as structuring tools, a process has been developed that an agency can use to assess and improve its data collection practices.
Measurements of vortex pair interaction with a clean or contaminated free surface

Laminar vortex pairs with small Froude number were generated by a submerged delta wing at negative angle of attack or by a pair of vertically oriented, counter-rotating flaps. The vortex pairs thus generated rise and interact with the free surface. The surface and subsurface flow field was studied using flow visualization and particle image velocimetry. Initial surface deformations, striations, are shown to be caused by stretching and interaction of cross-stream vortices near the surface. With small amounts of surface contamination, contamination fronts (producing Reynolds ridges) form on the surface and secondary vorticity, generated beneath the surface beyond the fronts, rolls up to form vortices with opposite rotation outboard of the primary vortices. The circulation associated with the secondary vortices is as much as 1/3 that of the primary vortices. The secondary vortices cause the primary vortex pair to rebound from the surface. Slight surface deformations, scars, are caused by the primary and secondary vortices.
Reactive diffusion in a prototype system : nickel-aluminum. I: Non-constant diffusion coefficient

Abstract The formation of new solid phases by diffusion between two interacting elements is analyzed on the basis of observations made (by others) on the well characterized aluminum-nickel system. Variations of the diffusion coefficients with composition have dramatic effects on the growth of AlNi and Al3Ni2. These phases are split into relatively sharply defined regions of different compositions, but not, as one may think, into separate phases. The effects of internal stresses, due to changes in lattice parameters with composition, on the actual composition profile of a growing phase are analyzed in the light of considerations relating to parallel effects of stresses on diffusion in simple solid solutions. The similar results reported for aluminum-nickel reactions carried out at 1000°C and 220°C provide the motivation for a review of what is known about lattice and grain boundary diffusion in intermetallic compounds. The conclusions are presented in the form of rules and observations believed to be generally valid for all diffusive reactions in the solid state.
Oligodendrocyte and astrocyte development in rodents: An in situ and immunohistological analysis during embryonic development

Lineally related multipotent neuroepithelial cells (NEP), neuronal restricted precursors (NRP), and glial restricted precursors (GRP) have been identified in the spinal cord. To determine the sequence of differentiation and identify lineage and stage-specific markers, we have examined the spatiotemporal expression of established glial markers during rodent embryonic development and within fetal cell culture. In this report, we show that proliferating stem cells in the developing neural tube do not express any glial markers at E10.5. By E11, however, glial precursors have begun to differentiate and at least two regions of the ventral neural tube containing glial precursor cells can be distinguished, an Nkx2.2/Neurogenin 3 (Ngn3) domain and a platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRalpha)/Olig2/Sox10 domain. Radial glia, as identified by RC1 immunoreactivity, develop in concert with other glial precursors and can be distinguished by their morphology, spatial distribution, and antigen expression. Astrocytes as assessed by glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity are first detected at E16. A novel dorsal domain of CD44 immunoreactivity that can be distinguished from the more ventral glial precursor domains can be detected as early as E13.5.
FORMAL POWER SERIES RINGS OVER ZERO-DIMENSIONAL SFT-RINGS

ABSTRACT: Let R be a zero-dimensional SFT-ring. It is proved that the minimal prime ideals of the formal power series ring A=R[[x 1, …, xn ]] are the ideals of the form [[x 1, …, xn ]], where is a (minimal) prime of R. It follows that A has Krull dimension n and is catenarian. If R⊆T where T is also a zero-dimensional SFT-ring, the lying-over, going-up, incomparable, and going-down properties are studied for the extension A⊆T[[x 1, …, xn ]].
Progress on control experiments of flexible structures

Progress at the NASA Langley Research Center in the area of control experiments for flexible structures is described. First the author presents the experimental results for a linear model which represents slewing maneuvers of a generic space station solar panel carried out to evaluate experimentally some control technologies. Then, the status of the rotational/translational maneuvering experiment of a flexible steel panel carried by a translation cart is presented. Finally, experimental results of the NASA minimast testbed using velocity command stepper motors as reaction mass reactors are shown. All the test configurations are briefly described, including actuators and sensors, test setup, and test software. The status of some research activities oriented primarily to the experimental methods for control of flexible structures is presented. >
HSP70 heat shock protein induction following global ischemia in the rat.

Abstract Stress proteins, including the 70 kD heat shock protein (HSP70), are induced in injured cells. The present study was designed to characterize the cells injured by global ischemia in rat brain. Adult rats were subjected to forebrain ischemia using bilateral carotid occlusion and systemic hypotension. HSP70 protein immunostaining of brain sections was performed using the C92 monoclonal antibody one day later. HSP70 immunoreactive cells were found in many brain regions including cortex. HSP70 positive neurons in cortex were found in certain laminae, especially layers 2 and 3. Acid fuchsin positive neurons, cells presumed to be dead, were located only in the layers of cortex where HSP70 immunoreactive neurons were found and were infrequent compared to the large number of HSP70 positive neurons. HSP70 immunoreactive glial cells were detected at the margins of ischemic areas, and were mostly OX42 immunoreactive microglia plus some GFAP immunoreactive astrocytes. In some animals HSP70 stained bipolar cells were detected in the striatum and in white matter which may be type 2 astrocytes. These findings confirm that global ischemia injures microglia and astrocytes, and that cells in a given ischemic region sustain varying degrees of injury — from the HSP70 stained neurons that likely survive the ischemia to acid fuchsin stained cells that die.
NMOS Dynamic Shift Registers in CO2 Laser-Crystallized Silicon Thin-Films on Fused Quartz

High-speed NMOS depletion-load ring oscillators and dynamic shift registers have been fabricated from laser-crystallized silicon thin-film transistors (TFT’s) on fused quartz. We report on optimization of circuit fabrication process involving ion implantation and high temperature cycles to achieve inverter gains, logic thresholds, and input noise margins appropriate for logic operation. Characteristics of discrete devices are also used to evaluate a process simulator and a device simulator as tools for future designs.
Simulation with respect to solid fluid systems

Abstract This paper presents an overview of computer-aided modeling of processes containing solids. Traditional flowsheeting systems have been used for many years to simulate vapor-liquid processes. Solids containing processes, however, are unique because of: the need to compute phase and chemical equilibria of systems with solids, the need to represent the state of aggregation of the solid phase (e.g. by a particle-size distribution), and because solids processes frequently involve complex substances not readily described in terms of molecular composition. The paper discusses the capabilities and structures required in a simulator for solids processes.
Reoperative esophageal surgery.

Reoperative esophageal surgery can be a very challenging endeavor. Preoperative evaluation, planning and preparation are essential to optimize results. A general reoperative approach and the range of reconstructive options are outlined. Management of specific problems is discussed including stricture, recurrent gastroesophageal reflux, recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula, esophageal interposition, and recurrent achalasia.
Magnetic-field dependence of the level spacing of a small electron droplet.

The temperature dependence of conductance resonances is used to measure the evolution with the magnetic field of the average level spacing {Delta}{epsilon} of a droplet containing {approximately}30 electrons created by lateral confinement of a two-dimensional electron gas in GaAs. {Delta}{epsilon} becomes very small ({lt}30 {mu}eV) near two critical magnetic fields at which the symmetry of the droplet changes, and these decreases of {Delta}{epsilon} are predicted by Hartree-Fock (HF) for charge excitations. Between the two critical fields, however, the largest measured {Delta}{epsilon}=100 {mu}eV is an order of magnitude smaller than predicted by HF but comparable to the Zeeman splitting at this field, which suggests that excitations of the spin degrees of freedom are important. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.}
Pregnancy among women with congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries.

OBJECTIVES The outcome of pregnancy in congenitally corrected transposition of the great vessels was studied in 22 women. BACKGROUND Women with congenitally corrected transposition of the great vessels often reach childbearing age. Although reports on the outcome of pregnancy in these women are available, the number of patients is small. METHODS The medical and surgical databases at the Mayo Clinic were reviewed, and 36 women >16 years old with congenitally corrected transposition of the great vessels were identified. All of them were contacted, and 22 who had pregnancies were identified and the outcome of pregnancy was evaluated. RESULTS Twenty-two women had 60 pregnancies resulting in 50 live births (83%). Forty-four deliveries (88%) were vaginal and 6 (12%) were by cesarean section. One delivery was premature at 29 weeks. There was one successful twin pregnancy. There were 11 unsuccessful pregnancies. One patient developed congestive heart failure late in pregnancy because of systemic atrioventricular valve regurgitation and required valve replacement in the early postpartum period. One patient had a total of 12 pregnancies, including 1 twin pregnancy and 2 unsuccessful pregnancies. She had multiple pregnancy-related complications, including toxemia, congestive heart failure, endocarditis and myocardial infarction (single coronary artery). No other serious pregnancy-related maternal complications and no pregnancy-related deaths occurred. The mean birth weight of the infants (n = 32) was 3.2 ± 0.4 kg. None of the 50 live offspring have been diagnosed with congenital heart disease. CONCLUSIONS Successful pregnancy can be achieved in most women with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries. The rate of fetal loss and maternal cardiovascular morbidity is increased. Because of the small number of births, the risk of congenital heart disease in offspring of women with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries is uncertain.
Driving self-assembly and emergent dynamics in colloidal suspensions by time-dependent magnetic fields.

In this review we discuss recent research on driving self-assembly of magnetic particle suspensions subjected to alternating magnetic fields. The variety of structures and effects that can be induced in such systems is remarkably broad due to the large number of variables involved. The alternating field can be uniaxial, biaxial or triaxial, the particles can be spherical or anisometric, and the suspension can be dispersed throughout a volume or confined to a soft interface. In the simplest case the field drives the static or quasistatic assembly of unusual particle structures, such as sheets, networks and open-cell foams. More complex, emergent collective behaviors evolve in systems that can follow the time-dependent field vector. In these cases energy is continuously injected into the system and striking flow patterns and structures can arise. In fluid volumes these include the formation of advection and vortex lattices. At air–liquid and liquid–liquid interfaces striking dynamic particle assemblies emerge due to the particle-mediated coupling of the applied field to surface excitations. These out-of-equilibrium interface assemblies exhibit a number of remarkable phenomena, including self-propulsion and surface mixing. In addition to discussing various methods of driven self-assembly in magnetic suspensions, some of the remarkable properties of these novel materials are described.
Cell Death in the Maintenance and Abrogation of Tolerance: The Five Ws of Dying Cells

The mammalian immune system continually faces death in the form of its own dead and dying cells that arise during normal tissue turnover, infections, cellular damage, and cancer. Complex decisions must then be made that will permit a protective response to pathogens, while at the same time destroying tumors but not attacking vital systems of the host that could lead to autoimmunity. By using an investigative technique termed the five Ws (who, what, when, where, and why), we will examine how the immune system responds to antigens generated via cell death. This analysis will give us a better understanding of the molecular differences fundamental to tolerogenic or immunogenic cell death, the cells that sense and react to the dead cells, and the consequences of these fundamental elements on the maintenance or abrogation of tolerance.
Effects of breed and wintering diet on growth, puberty and plasma concentrations of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 in heifers.

Abstract Twenty-five Brangus (BR) and 15 Angus (AN) heifers were used to study the effects of breed and wintering diet on average daily gain (ADG), onset of puberty and plasma concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). Wintering diets (fed for 107 days beginning November 15) consisted of the following: 1) native grass hay (NGH), 2) ammoniated NGH, 3) NGH plus cottonseed meal, 4) Diet 3 plus corn and 5) Diet 4 plus monensin. After wintering, heifers were transferred to ryegrass pasture for 70 days. Mean ADG during the wintering phase were −.20, −.10, .17, .29 and .39 kg for heifers fed Diets 1 through 5, respectively (P .10) by wintering diet but was greater (P
A Wavenumber Based Extrapolation and Interpolation Method for Use in Conjunction with High-Order Finite Difference Schemes

The errors incurred in using extrapolation and interpolation in large scale computations are analyzed and quantified in the wavenumber space. If a large extrapolation stencil is used, the errors in the low wavenumbers can be significantly reduced. However, the errors in the high wavenumbers are, at the same time, greatly increased. The opposite is true if the stencil size is reduced. Based on the wavenumber analysis, an optimized extrapolation and interpolation method is proposed. The optimization is carried out over a selected band of wavenumbers. It is known that extrapolation often leads to numerical instability. The instability is the result of large error amplification in the high wavenumber range. To reduce the tendency to trigger numerical instability, it is proposed that an extra constraint be imposed on the optimized extrapolation method. The added constraint aims to reduce error amplification over the high wavenumbers. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate that accurate and stable numerical results can be obtained in large scale simulation using a high-order finite difference scheme and the proposed optimized extrapolation method. When the same problems are recomputed using the familiar high-order polynomials extrapolation method in the Lagrange form, in one case the numerical results are plagued by large errors and ultimately instability. In another problem, it is found that the use of the Lagrange polynomials extrapolation method would lead immediately to numerical instability.
Measurement of urinary vanilmandelic acid and homovanillic acid by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection following extraction by ion-exchange and ion-moderated partition

An improved protocol has been developed to isolate homovanillic acid (HVA) and vanilmandelic acid (VMA) from urine with strong anion-exchange resin. The sample is diluted with acetate buffer and passed through a disposable column. HVA, uric acid, and many hydrophobic organic acids are removed with 1.0 M acetic acid--ethanol. Then VMA is eluted with 0.5 M phosphoric acid. Two isocratic mobile phases allow rapid high-performance liquid chromatographic measurement of VMA (5 min) and HVA (8 mins) on a 5-micron ODS column. Selective conditions were developed with dual-electrode coulometric detection to permit specific measurement of VMA, HVA, and internal standards, with less than 5% between-run variation.
Apolipoprotein E Receptor-2 (ApoER2) Mediates Selenium Uptake from Selenoprotein P by the Mouse Testis

Selenium is a micronutrient that is essential for the production of normal spermatozoa. The selenium-rich plasma protein selenoprotein P (Sepp1) is required for maintenance of testis selenium and for fertility of the male mouse. Sepp1 trafficking in the seminiferous epithelium was studied using conventional methods and mice with gene deletions. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that Sepp1 is present in vesicle-like structures in the basal region of Sertoli cells, suggesting that the protein is taken up intact. Sepp1 affinity chromatography of a testicular extract followed by mass spectrometry-based identification of bound proteins identified apolipoprotein E receptor 2 (ApoER2) as a candidate testis Sepp1 receptor. In situ hybridization analysis identified Sertoli cells as the only cell type in the seminiferous epithelium with detectable ApoER2 expression. Testis selenium levels in apoER2(-/-) males were sharply reduced from those in apoER2(+/+) males and were comparable with the depressed levels found in Sepp1(-/-) males. However, liver selenium levels were unchanged by deletion of apoER2. Immunocytochemistry did not detect Sepp1 in the Sertoli cells of apoER2(-/-) males, consistent with a defect in the receptor-mediated Sepp1 uptake pathway. Phase contrast microscopy revealed identical sperm defects in apoER2(-/-) and Sepp1(-/-) mice. Co-immunoprecipitation analysis demonstrated an interaction of testis ApoER2 with Sepp1. These data demonstrate that Sertoli cell ApoER2 is a Sepp1 receptor and a component of the selenium delivery pathway to spermatogenic cells.
Synthetic approaches toward FR-900482. I: Stereoselective synthesis of a pentacyclic model compound

Abstract An efficient synthesis of a pentacyclic compound 18 possessing all the necessary handles to construct the unique skeleton of antitumor antibiotic FR-900482 1 is described.
Anomalous XANES Spectra of Octadecanethiol Adsorbed on Ag(111)

We report on the sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectra of self-assembled monolayers for a series of n-alkanethiols adsorbed on Ag(111). We investigate the effects of chain length and incidence angle on the XANES spectra of n-alkanethiols [CH3−(CH2)x-1−SH, x = 6, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 22; hereafter referred to as Cx]. Other than that of the C18 sample, the XANES spectra were similar to one another. The C18 spectrum displayed an above-threshold feature that was absent in all of the other spectra, and the shape of the principal subthreshold peak is different than that for all of the other compounds. Moreover, the intensities of these features exhibit an atypical angular dependence, as well. These data are consistent with recent EXAFS studies of thiol adsorption on silver, and suggest that the local environment of the sulfur adatom is different for the octadecanethiol adsorbate.