cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Strictly discordant quantum probes of the qubit depolarizing channel

Quantum mutual information defined in terms of von Neumann entropy captures and quantifies all correlations, quantum and classical, between the two parts of a bipartite quantum system. Within this framework entanglement is the most distinguished type of quantum correlation, and a rich body of theory and experiment establishes that entanglement is a potent and fungible resource for quantum information processing broadly. Bipartite systems can exhibit quantum correlations beyond entanglement. Such non-classical states are called discordant in general and strictly discordant (or dissonant) when the quantum state is separable. We show that strict discord can increase the amount of information available from probing a quantum channel. We focus in this study on the qubit depolarizing channel, using quantum Fisher information to measure the information available about the channel depolarizing probability. We consider channel probes prepared, along with an ancilla, in a separable two-qubit Bell-diagonal state. We prove for Bell-diagonal probes of the qubit depolarizing channel that, in the absence of entanglement and controlling for marginal purity and degree of classical correlation, any increase in strict discord between the probe and ancilla yields an accompanying increase in available statistical information about the channel depolarizing probability.
Sewing Polyakov amplitudes. I. Sewing at a fixed conformal structure

We consider the problem of reconstructing the correlation functions of a conformal field theory on a surface Σ from the correlation functions on a surface Σ′ obtained from Σ by cutting along a closed curve. We show that under quite general conditions, the correlation functions on the cut surface can be “sewn” by integrating over appropriate boundary valuess of the field.
Residual value of copper fertilization

Abstract The residual effect of Cu fertilization is not well quantified. The change in extractable soil Cu with time after a single fertilization was determined in five soils (four Ultisols and one Inceptisol) with humic matter (HM) content ranging from 3.8 to 21.4 g/L. Rates of Cu to 4.48 kg/ha were broadcast in solution and incorporated to 20 cm on each soil. The soils were sampled for six years after application and extracted with Mehlich‐3 solution. The data were fitted to a model based on the fraction of fertilizer Cu predicted to be extractable immediately after application and an exponential decrease in extractable Cu with time. Considerable variation in extractable Cu concentration was found, both among soils and among years within a soil. The model predicted that 47% to 74% of the applied Cu could be extracted from the soil immediately after fertilization. Extractable Cu decreased exponentially with time, but at a very slow rate. Neither the percentage found immediately after fertilization nor th...
Estimating Error in an Analysis of Forest Fragmentation Change Using North American Landscape Characterization (NALC) Data

We describe an approach for estimating measurement error in an analysis of forest fragmentation dynamics. We classified North American Landscape Characterization (NALC) images in four path-row locations in the Upper Midwest to characterize changing patterns of forest cover. To estimate error, we calculated the differences in values of forest fragmentation metrics for overlapping scene pairs from the same time frame (or epoch). The overlapping image areas were subdivided into landscape partitions. We tested the effects of amount of forest cover, landscape phenology, atmospheric variability (e.g., haze and clouds), and alternative processing approaches on the consistency of metric values calculated for the same place and approximate time but from different images. Two of the metrics tested (average patch size and number of patches) were more sensitive to image characteristics and contained more measurement error in a change detection analysis than the others (percent forest cover and edge density). Increasing the landscape partition size moderately reduced the amount of error in landscape change analysis, but at the cost of reduced spatial resolution. Processes used to generalize the forest map, such as small-polygon sieving and majority filtering, were not found to consistently decrease measurement error in metric values and in some cases increased error. Predictive models of error in a forest fragmentation change analysis were developed and significantly explained up to 50% of the variation in error. We demonstrate how, in a change analysis, predicted error can be used to identify locations that exhibit change substantially greater than the error in value estimation.
Sharp Switching by Field-Effect Bandgap Modulation in All-Graphene Side-Gate Transistors

Graphene is a 2-D electronic material that has drawn intensive interest due to its high carrier mobility, film flexibility, and tunable bandgap. The unique bandgap modulation by the transverse electrical field in the graphene nanoribbon (GNR) offers new opportunity to pursue switches with steep subthreshold not limited by thermal voltage. In this paper, we demonstrate a graphene routing process (GRP), which can implement the side-gate GNR transistor with field-effect bandgap modulation (FEBM). The GRP precisely aligns the side gates to the transistor channel, and provides scalable W/L without registry concerns. Besides, by controlling the pattern sizing, the metallic source/drain, side gates, and semiconducting channel are all defined on the large-area graphene thin-film by one-critical lithography step. The GRP process thus can be adapted to the backend process with thin-film transfer even on flexible substrates. The double side-gate GNR transistors exhibit FEBM and a negative temperature coefficient for the ON-state conductance which can stabilize thermal runaway. In addition, the single-layer routing for simple circuit topology can improve package density and reduce number of contact vias. Combining FEBM with the electrostatic control can bring forth higher ON current and sub-60 mV/decade switching. These device characteristics offer a potential power-gating technology in low-power applications.
Extracellular antimutagenic activities of selected probiotic Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus spp. as a function of growth phase.

The capabilities of selected strains from genera Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium to produce extracellular bioactive compounds with antimutagenic properties against benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and sodium azide (SA) were tested as a function of growth phase. The bacterial supernatants from exponential and stationary phases were characterized with different patterns of antimutagenic activity against the two mutagens. All lactobacilli exhibited either no effect or low antimutagenicity against BaP during exponential growth. Higher antimutagenic activities of lactobacilli supernatants were observed in the stationary phase against SA as well. An exception was Lactobacillus sakei 23K which expressed a relatively low percent of inhibition of mutagenesis (PI = 28.14 ± 7.41) in the exponential phase and no antimutagenic activity in the stationary phase. Of the bifidobacteria, only Bifidobacterium adoleascentis ATCC 15703 exhibited higher antimutagenecity against BaP in the exponential phase. The same bacterial supernatan...
A JIT lot-splitting model for supply chain management: Enhancing buyer–supplier linkage

Abstract This study develops a buyer–supplier coordination model to facilitate frequent deliveries in small lot sizes in a manufacturing supply chain. The proposed model, based on the integrated total relevant costs of both buyer and supplier, determines optimal order quantity, the number of deliveries/setups, and shipping quantity over a finite planning horizon in a relatively simple JIT single buyer single supplier scenario. Under deterministic conditions for a single product, we show that the optimal delivery policy adopted by both buyer and supplier in a cooperative manner can be economically beneficial to both parties. It is shown that the optimal delivery size can be unique, regardless of the order quantity and the number of deliveries. Numerical results are also presented.
Young Voices on Climate Change: The Paul F-Brandwein 2010 NSTA Lecture

Lynne Cherry Brandwein Lecture March 2010 National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) Conference, Philadelphia, PA. Young Voices on Climate Change: Inspired and Empowered Youth Tackle Climate Science and Find Climate Solutions. As a child, Lynne Cherry was profoundly connected to the natural world and a special place. She watched the destruction of her world. Now, through her Young Voices on Climate Change project, she is trying to give teachers and young people the tools to prevent planetary meltdown on a greater scale. Global climate change is upon us and the need for education and action is immediate. Outreach, visual storytelling, and scientific understanding are especially necessary in light of the recent polls that show that the public is becoming more confused and less concerned about climate change. Cherry’s climate book, co-authored with photojournalist Gary Braasch, and her Young Voices on Climate Change films feature climate solutions. They’re about win–win—save the environment, protect human health, reduce global warming gases, demonstrate youth making a difference with practical tools, motivate engagement in climate science, take pride in increased science literacy, reach young people through their hearts as well as their minds, and save money. Although young people can help their parents, peers and communities understand climate science, they can also show them that reducing CO2 is in their economic interest, and spur them to take action. School carbon reduction initiatives are spilling over into communities yielding measurable results in both global warming gas reductions and significant monetary savings.
Growth of Finiteness in the Third Year of Life: Replication and Predictive Validity

Purpose The authors of this study investigated the validity of tense and agreement productivity (TAP) scoring in diverse sentence frames obtained during conversational language sampling as an alter...
Sparse model learning for high dimensional diffusion MRI data in traumatic brain injury

The estimation of multivariate distributions of from high dimensional data with low sample size is at the core of many image analysis applications. Here, we present a method to estimate a multivariate Gaussian distribution of diffusion tensor features in a set of brain regions based on 45 healthy individuals. This distribution is used to identify the imaging abnormalities in subjects with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The model receives apriori knowledge in the form of a neighborhood graph, and maximizes the likelihood of the distribution while putting an additional L1 sparsity constraint on the model parameters. This leads to an interpretable model where the interactions of brain regions are encoded into the estimated model coefficients. The likelihoods of normal and TBI subjects under the estimated distribution are used as features to evaluate discriminatory power of model, using the area under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Our experiments show that the addition of the neighborhood graph constraint results in significant improvements in classification compared to a model which does not take into account the brain region interactions. In addition, our prior graph leads to a better model than one using a fully connected prior graph as it provides similar classification performance with 10 times fewer parameters (model order), and significantly lower Bayesian information criterion (BIC).
The Moving Average Ratio and Momentum

I show the ratio of the short-term moving average to the long-term moving average (moving average ratio, MAR) has significant predictive power for future returns. The MAR combined with nearness to the 52-week high explains most of the intermediate-term momentum profits. This suggests that an anchoring bias, in which investors use moving averages or the 52-week high as reference points for estimating fundamental values, is the primary source of momentum effects. Momentum caused by the anchoring bias do not disappear in the long-run even when there are return reversals, confirming that intermediate-term momentum and long-term reversals are separate phenomena.
Modulation of the inhibitor properties of dipeptidyl (acyloxy)methyl ketones toward the CaaX proteases.

Abstract Dipeptidyl (acyloxy)methyl ketones (AOMKs) have been identified as mechanism-based inhibitors of certain cysteine proteases. These compounds are also inhibitors of the integral membrane proteins Rce1p and Ste24p, which are proteases that independently mediate a cleavage step associated with the maturation of certain isoprenylated proteins. The enzymatic mechanism of Rce1p is ill-defined, whereas Ste24p is a zinc metalloprotease. Rce1p is required for the proper processing of the oncoprotein Ras and is viewed as a potential target for cancer therapy. In this study, we synthesized a small library of dipeptidyl AOMKs to investigate the structural elements that contribute to the inhibitor properties of this class of molecules toward Rce1p and Ste24p. The compounds were evaluated using a fluorescence-based in vitro proteolysis assay. The most potent dipeptidyl AOMKs contained an arginine residue and the identity of the benzoate group strongly influenced potency. A ‘warhead’ free AOMK inhibited Rce1p and Ste24p. The data suggest that the dipeptidyl AOMKs are not mechanism-based inhibitors of Rce1p and Ste24p and corroborate the hypothesis that Rce1p is not a cysteine protease.
Degradation of monoterpenes in orange juice by gamma radiation.

Single-strength orange juice was irradiated with 0, 0.89, 2.24, 4.23, and 8.71 gGy of gamma radiation at 5 °C and then stored at 7 °C for 21 days. Volatile compounds, isolated by solid-phase microextraction, were separated and identified using a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass selective detector. The majority of the volatile compounds were terpenes, and the most abundant volatile compounds were ethanol and limonene. Most volatile compounds were stable during the 21-day storage period except geranial and neral which decreased over time. Irradiation reduced the concentration of acyclic monoterpenes, such as geranial, neral, myrcene, and linalool 1 and 7 days after irradiation, but did not affect other monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, or other volatile compounds. The reduction of acyclic monterpenes increased linearly with radiation dose, and correlated with an increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substrates (TBARS) content. Reduction in the concentration of monoterpenes induced by irradiation was no...
Water‐Management Studies of a Stream‐Aquifer System, Arkansas River Valley, Coloradoa

A mathematical model was developed and used to simulate the stream-aquifer system in the Arkansas River valley in southeastern Colorado, from Pueblo to the Colorado-Kansas State line. The model simulates the interrelations among ground water and surface water including reservoirs, losses, and transmountain diversions, utilizing various water-distribution rules. The model was used to analyze 24 water-management plans designed to reduce shortages in the irrigation supply. One management plan simulated salvage of water from phreatophyte evapotranspiration, different reservoir operation regulations, use of imported ground and surface water, a new reservoir, additional ground-water use, and application of excess streamflow. The resulting annual dependable supply was increased from 610,000 acre-feet to 870,000 acre-feet in relation to an annual demand of 1,100,000 acre-feet. The model can be used as a tool to analyze other water-management plans.
Time-dependent photon migration using path integrals.

We present an approach to the problem of light propagation in turbid media based on the path integral formalism. The method of analysis provides solutions to the time-dependent equation of radiative transfer for a number of cases for which known approximations, including the diffusion approximation, are not applicable. The theory and experiments show that trajectories of photon traversing a turbid medium cluster around a well defined, time-resolved path called a classical path. This concept is a powerful tool, and it provides physical insight into optical propagation in turbid media.
Neonatal Cardiac Care, a Perspective

Every year in the United States approximately 40,000 infants are born with congenital heart disease. Several of these infants require corrective or palliative surgery in the neonatal period. Mortality rates after cardiac surgery are highest amongst neonates, particularly those born prematurely. There are several reasons for the increased surgical mortality risk in neonates. This review outlines these risks, with particular emphasis on the relative immaturity of the organ systems in the term and preterm neonate.
Effects of hydrophobic modification of chitosan and Nafion on transport properties, ion-exchange capacities, and enzyme immobilization

This research compares the mass transport and ion-exchange properties of two hydrophobically modified micellar polymers, chitosan and Nafion. It was shown that hydrophobically modified micellar polymers alter the transport properties of redox species to the electrode surface as a function of the size and charge of the redox species. This research details the first use of hydrophobically modified chitosan to modify electrode surfaces, along with evidence that oxidoreductase enzymes can be effectively immobilized in the polymers while maintaining enzymatic activity. Glucose oxidase was immobilized within the hydrophobically modified chitosan and the resulting enzyme activity was compared to buffer measurements and immobilization within hydrophobically modified Nafion. It was shown that the increase in hydrophobicity increases the enzyme activity, resulting in a more optimal membrane for enzyme immobilization.
An abundance of tubulins.

Abstract Recent data have revealed that the tubulin superfamily of proteins is much larger than was thought previously. Six distinct families within the tubulin superfamily have been discovered and more might await discovery. α-, β- and γ-tubulins are ubiquitous in eukaryotes. α- and β-tubulins are the major components of microtubules, and γ-tubulin plays a major role in the nucleation of microtubule assembly. δ- and e-tubulins are widespread but not ubiquitous, and ζ-tubulin has been found so far only in kinetoplastid protozoa. δ-Tubulin has an important role in flagellar assembly in Chlamydomonas, but its role in other organisms is just beginning to be investigated, as are the functions of the recently discovered e- and ζ-tubulins.
Cross species inoculation of Chewings and strong creeping red fescues with fungal endophytes.

An effective technique was developed to inoculate mature Chewings fescue [Festuca rubra L. subsp. fallax (Thuill) Nyman] and strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L. subsp. rubra) tillers with fungal endophytes (Epichloe festucae Leuchtm., Schardl, & Siegel and Neotypodium spp.). Six fine fescue genotypes were successfully inoculated with endophytes originating from fine fescues and Poa ampla Merr. Eleven percent of the tillers were successfully inoculated, and all inoculated plants transmitted the endophytes to their offspring. This set of inoculated plants, with various combinations of genotypes and endophyte strains, allowed us to compare the effects of different endophytes on one host, and one endophyte on several hosts. When evaluated in the field, the growth characteristics of these plants were dependent on endophyte and host genotype. Considerable interaction between the genotypes was seen. For example, one host inoculated with the Poa ampla endophyte showed enhanced performance, while another host inoculated with the same endophyte performed poorly.
NADPH Oxidase Activity Is Independent of p47phox in Vitro

The neutrophil superoxide generating NADPH oxidase is activated by the assembly of cytosolic protein components with a membrane-associated flavocytochrome. The activity can be reconstituted in vitro using purified cytosolic factors p47(phox), p67(phox), and Rac plus the phospholipid-reconstituted flavocytochrome b558. Here, we demonstrate that activity is reconstituted in the absence of p47(phox) when high concentrations of p67(phox) and Rac are used. Vmax values were the same in the presence or absence of p47(phox), yet p47(phox) increases the affinity of both p67(phox) and Rac for the oxidase complex by nearly 2 orders of magnitude. p67(phox)-(1-246), a truncated form of the protein which eliminates SH3 domains involved in binding to p47(phox), also supports superoxide generation, both in the presence and absence of p47(phox), providing further evidence for p47(phox) independent activity. In the absence of p47(phox), p67(phox)-(1-246) binds to the NADPH oxidase complex 3-fold more tightly than does native p67(phox), indicating that the C terminus contains a region which masks binding to the oxidase complex. Results indicate that p47(phox) does not play a direct role in regulating electron transfer. Rather, its function is to serve as an adaptor protein to enhance the assembly of the other cytosolic components with the flavocytochrome and possibly to unmask a binding region in the N terminus of p67(phox) by binding to its C-terminal domains. p67(phox) and/or Rac play a more direct role in regulating electron transfer.
Developmental patterning in the wrong context: The paradox of epithelial ovarian cancers

In contrast to many other types of cancer, epithelial ovarian cancers often exhibit differentiation patterns that are more specialized than those of the tissue of origin. Many epithelial ovarian cancers assume morphologic features reminiscent of the mullerian duct-derived epithelia, but are thought to arise from cells of the simple ovarian surface epithelium that is not of mullerian duct origin. This article discusses recent studies that implicate aberrant activation of embryonic pathways in ovarian cancer histogenesis, and highlights the intimate relationship between developmental plasticity and neoplasia.
Designing for resilience

The motivation for this work comes from a desire to improve resilience of mission critical cyber enabled systems including those used in critical infrastructure domains such as cyber, power, water, fuel, financial, healthcare, agriculture, and manufacturing. Resilience can be defined as the ability of a system to persistently meet its performance requirements despite the occurrence of adverse events. Characterizing the resilience of a system requires a clear definition of the performance requirements of the system of interest and an ability to quantify the impact on performance by the adverse events of concern. A quantitative characterization of system resilience allows the resilience requirements to be included in the system design criteria. Resilience requirements of a system are derived from the service level agreements (SLAs), measures of effectiveness (MOEs), and measures of performance (MOPs) of the services or missions supported by the system. This paper describes a methodology for designing resilient systems. The components of the methodology include resilience characterization for threat models associated with various exposure modes, requirements mapping, subsystem ranking based on criticality, and selective implementation of mitigations to improve system resilience to a desired level.
Identifying genomic and developmental causes of adverse drug reactions in children

Adverse drug reactions are a concern for all clinicians who utilize medications to treat adults and children; however, the frequency of adult and pediatric adverse drug reactions is likely to be under-reported. In this age of genomics and personalized medicine, identifying genetic variation that results in differences in drug biotransformation and response has contributed to significant advances in the utilization of several commonly used medications in adults. In order to better understand the variability of drug response in children however, we must not only consider differences in genotype, but also variation in gene expression during growth and development, namely ontogeny. In this article, recommendations for systematically approaching pharmacogenomic studies in children are discussed, and several examples of studies that investigate the genomic and developmental contribution to adverse drug reactions in children are reviewed.
Robust PSS tuning through multiobjective optimization

This paper presents a technique for PSS design which is based on multiobjective optimization. The technique has the ability to tune multiple PSS controllers by simultaneously enhancing the damping based performance index and robustness index specified via the /spl par/H/spl par//sub /spl infin// norm of the system. To illustrate the proposed design technique two case studies are presented, including a two-area benchmark system and a fifty-machine test system. To allow the proposed tools to be applied for PSS control design, the authors developed a MATLAB interface to the microGA optimization solver.
Tetracycline tethered to titanium inhibits colonization by Gram-negative bacteria

As peri-prosthetic infection is one of the most devastating complications associated with implant placement, we have reasoned that such infection can be largely subverted by development of antibacterial implants. Our previous work demonstrated that covalent coupling of vancomycin to titanium alloy prevented colonization by the Gram-positive pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Some orthopedic devices, including permanent prosthesis anchors, and most dental implants are transcutaneous or transmucosal and can be prone to colonization by Gram-negative pathogens. We report here the successful covalent coupling of the broad-spectrum antibiotic, tetracycline (TET), to titanium surfaces (Ti-TET) to retard Gram-negative colonization. Synthetic progress was followed by changes in water contact angle, while the presence of TET was confirmed by immunofluorescence. Ti-TET actively prevented colonization in the presence of bathing Escherichia coli, both by fluorescence microscopy and direct counting. Finally, the Ti-TET surface supported osteoblastic cell adhesion and proliferation over a 72-h period. Thus, this new surface offers a powerful means to protect transcutaneous implants from adhesion of Gram-negative pathogens, decreasing the need for replacement of this hardware. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 103B: 1381–1389, 2015.
Denitrification in the recharge area and discharge area of a transient agricultural nitrate plume in a glacial outwash sand aquifer, Minnesota

[1] Recharge rates of nitrate (NO3−) to groundwater beneath agricultural land commonly are greater than discharge rates of NO3− in nearby streams, but local controls of NO3− distribution in the subsurface generally are poorly known. Groundwater dating (CFC, 3H) was combined with chemical (ions and gases) and stable isotope (N, S, and C) analyses to resolve the effects of land use changes, flow patterns, and water-aquifer reactions on the distributions of O2, NO3−, SO4=, and other constituents in a two-dimensional vertical section leading from upland cultivated fields to a riparian wetland and stream in a glacial outwash sand aquifer near Princeton, Minnesota. Within this section a “plume” of oxic NO3−-rich groundwater was present at shallow depths beneath the fields and part of the wetland but terminated before reaching the stream or the wetland surface. Groundwater dating and hydraulic measurements indicate travel times in the local flow system of 0 to >40 years, with stratified recharge beneath the fields, downward diversion of the shallow NO3−-bearing plume by semiconfining organic-rich valley-filling sediments under the wetland and upward discharge across the valley and stream bottom. The concentrations and δ15N values of NO3− and N2 indicate that the NO3− plume section was bounded in three directions by a curvilinear zone of active denitrification that limited its progress; however, when recalculated to remove the effects of denitrification, the data also indicate changes in both the concentrations and δ15N values of NO3− that was recharged in the past. Isotope data and mass balance calculations indicate that FeS2 and other ferrous Fe phases were the major electron donors for denitrification in at least two settings: (1) within the glacial-fluvial aquifer sediments beneath the recharge and discharge areas and (2) along the bottom of the valley-filling sediments in the discharge area. Combined results indicate that the shape and progress of the oxic NO3− plume termination were controlled by a combination of (1) historical and spatial variations in land use practices, (2) contrast in groundwater flow patterns between the agricultural recharge area and riparian wetland discharge area, and (3) distribution and abundance of electron donors in both the sand aquifer and valley-filling sediments. The data are consistent with slow migration of redox zones through the aquifer in response to recharging oxic groundwater during Holocene time, then an order-of-magnitude increase in the flux of electron acceptors as a result of agricultural NO3− contamination in the late twentieth century, to which the redox zone configuration still may be adjusting. The importance of denitrification for NO3− movement through formerly glaciated terrains should depend on the source areas and depositional environments of the glacial sediments, as well as geomorphology and recent stream-valley sediment history.
Concepts of Culture and Their Role in the Development of Culturally Competent Mental Health Services.

The purpose of this article is to review different ways that culture has been used in developing the notion of culturally competent mental health services and to provide an enhanced definition of culture through a critical review of these ideas. We discuss different dimensions of culture that emerge as important issues in the development of bilingual/bicultural psychiatric programs. We provide a multifaceted definition of the influences of culture on the assessment of clients in culturally competent mental health programs. We illustrate the issues raised in this review with case examples from an evaluation of three inpatient bilingual/bicultural psychiatric programs.
Abundances of Hydrogen and Helium Isotopes in Jupiter

Abundances of hydrogen and helium isotopes in Jupiter and other giant planets can answer important questions on the origin of elements in the solar system and the nature of processes in the sun. The Galileo Probe entered Jupiter in late 1995. In January of 1998, raw data from the Galileo Probe Mass Spectrometer (GPMS) were placed on the internet at the website that is given below: http://webserver.gsfc.nasa.gov/code915/gpms/datasets/gpmsdata.html. From the raw data we estimate values of 3He/4He = (2.17±0.03) × 10-4 and 2H/1H = 1.0 × 10-4. These are higher than expected if the solar system formed from a homogeneous nebula (Wood, 1999) with subsequent production of excess 3He by deuterium burning in the sun (Geiss, 1993). It appears that Jupiter formed instead from elements with some of the same chemical and isotopic irregularities observed in meteorites.
Cannabinoids in glaucoma: a primary screening procedure.

A procedure was developed for screening of cannabinoids for their ability to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) using normal rabbits. Eight animals per group were used for statistical significance of data. A negative control group was used for every screen as well as a positive control with 1.5 mg/kg delta 9-THC given intravenously (I.V.). All compounds were tested by I.V. injection and IOP measurements were taken periodically for 5 hours. Data were analyzed by a computer program which takes into account the change in IOP of the control group. Following this procedure we found that delta 8-THC, delta 9-THC, cannabinol, and nabilone were active while cannabidiol was inactive.
Compromised immune competence in free-living tree swallows exposed to mercury

Mercury is a pervasive environmental contaminant and a well-documented immunosuppressor. However, little is known about the effects of mercury contamination on health of free-living vertebrate populations. The South River in Virginia, USA was heavily contaminated with industrial mercury from 1929 to 1950, and recent studies have documented high levels of circulating mercury in riparian songbirds breeding below the site of contamination. Here we used two standardized immune assays, mitogen-induced swelling in response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) and antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), to test for effects of mercury toxicity on the immune system of female tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) which feed on terrestrial and aquatic insects along the contaminated waterway. We found that females breeding at mercury-contaminated sites mounted significantly weaker PHA-induced swelling responses than those at reference sites in both years of study. However, among females on the contaminated sites, individual bloodstream mercury concentration did not predict the extent of mitogen-induced swelling. We did not detect any differences between reference and contaminated females in the strength of antibody responses to SRBCs, but sample sizes for this assay were significantly smaller. Overall, our results suggest that mercury toxicity can exert sub-lethal immunosuppression in free-living, insectivorous songbirds. The potential fitness consequences of the detected differences in immunocompetence caused by mercury toxicity warrant further study.
Performance analysis of embedded systems in the virtual component co-design environment

Due to the increasing complexity of embedded systems in terms of functionality and architectural resources available to meet performance and cost criteria, there is an added responsibility on the designer to make the right choices. These choices can differ in terms of different hardware/software partitions, different types of architectural components, different communication architectures etc. and each choice meets certain performance metrics up to certain level. In this paper, we are exploring the design space to analyze different choices of design implementations by quantitative estimation of performance during simulation. Multicriteria decision making (MCDM) methods are used to rank our choices. To demonstrate the validity of the above exploration technique, a codesign tool from Cadence - virtual component codesign (VCC) is used. It gives us the flexibility to create the experimental frame setup and probes to measure the performance metrics during simulations. The tradeoffs between performance metrics are performed by MCDM. A safety critical example is chosen to demonstrate our approach.
Stability of linear differential equations with random coefficients

The stability of stochastic differential equations with random coefficients is considered. The coefficients are not required to be wide-band noise, but either strongly ergodic or Markovian. Results are given for almost sure sample stability and stability of moments of arbitrary order. The damned harmonic oscillator with random spring constant is considered as an example.
Finite-size effects in forced two-dimensional turbulence

A new mechanism for the creation of structures in two-dimensional turbulence is investigated. The forced Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically in a periodic square in the limit of zero viscosity. The force is a white-in-time random noise acting in a narrow band of high wavenumbers. The inverse-cascade process and the presence of the boundary lead ultimately to a pile-up of energy in the lowest wavenumber (Bose condensation). In the asymptotic limit where the enstrophy cascade range is negligible, Bose condensation is solely responsible for the generation of coherent vortices and intermittency in the system. We present the evolution of the velocity and vorticity fields through the later stages of the condensate state, and explore the possible implications for atmospheric turbulence constrained by the periodic domain about the earth.
Observing direct CP violation in untagged B-meson decays

Direct CP violation can exist in untagged B-meson decays to self-conjugate, three-particle final states; it would be realized as a population asymmetry in the untagged decay rate across the mirror line of the Dalitz plot of the three-body decay. We explore the numerical size of this direct CP-violating effect in a variety of B-meson decays to three pseudoscalar mesons; we show that the resulting asymmetry is comparable to the partial rate asymmetry in the analogous tagged decays, making the search for direct CP violation in the untagged decay rate, for which greater statistics accrue, advantageous.
Eosinophil Biology in the Pathogenesis of Eosinophilic Disorders

In the 100+ years following the identification of the eosinophilic ­leukocyte by Paul Ehrlich in 1879, a significant number of diseases and syndromes characterized by blood or tissue eosinophilia were identified. However, specific functional roles for the eosinophil in host defense and innate immunity, allergic and related inflammatory responses, tissue injury, repair, remodeling and fibrosis have only been delineated in the past ∼30 years. These studies served to characterize many of the unique biologic characteristics of blood and activated tissue eosinophils, their preformed granule proteins, and inducible lipid, oxidative, and cytokine products, focusing initially on the eosinophil’s pro-inflammatory and cytotoxic potential in the pathogenesis of allergic, parasitic, and a variety of idiopathic eosinophil-associated syndromes. Recognition of the eosinophil as an effector cell in asthma pathogenesis fueled the initial surge in interest in this granulocyte, and the “epidemics” of eosinophil myalgia syndrome related to ingestion of tainted l-tryptophan, and more recent identification and increasing prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) have markedly increased clinical and public awareness and interest in the eosinophil. This chapter will review basic aspects of eosinophil cellular, molecular, and immunobiology that are pertinent to understanding their inflammatory and pathologic activities, the mechanisms that regulate eosinophil development and eosinophilia in the bone marrow, blood and tissues, and their relationships to the pathogenesis of eosinophil-mediated allergic disorders such as EoE.
Effect of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Infection on the Histocompatibility Antigen of L Cells

Abstract When mouse L cells are infected for 22 hr with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), a ribonucleic acid-containing enveloped virus, greater than 70% of the major histocompatibility antigen (H-2), is no longer detectable by the method of inhibition of immune cytolysis. Infected cells prelabeled with 14C-glucosamine also show a correspondingly greater loss of trichloroacetic acid-insoluble radioactivity than uninfected cells. The loss of H-2 antigenic activity is not due to the viral inhibition of host cell protein synthesis since cells cultured for 18 hr in the presence of cycloheximide have the same amount of H-2 activity as untreated controls. Also, cells infected with encephalomyocarditis virus, a picornavirus, show no loss of H-2 activity at a time when host cell protein synthesis is completely inhibited. VSV structural proteins associated in vitro with uninfected L-cell plasma membranes do not render H-2 sites inaccessible to the assay. Although antibodies may not combine with all the H-2 antigenic sites on the plasma membrane, anti-H-2 serum reacted with L cells before infection does not prevent a normal infection with VSV. H-2 activity can be detected in virus samples purified from the medium of infected L cells; this virus purified after being mixed with L-cell homogenates shows greater H-2 activity than virus purified after being mixed with HeLa cell homogenates. However, VSV made in HeLa cells shows no H-2 activity when mixed with L-cell homogenates.
Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 effects on proliferation and telomerase activity in sheep growth plate chondrocytes

Background Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) inhibits growth-plate chondrocyte proliferation and limits bone elongation. Gain-of-function FGFR3 mutations cause dwarfism, reduced telomerase activity and shorter telomeres in growth plate chondroyctes suggesting that FGFR3 reduces proliferative capacity, inhibits telomerase, and enhances senescence. Thyroid hormone (T3) plays a role in cellular maturation of growth plate chondrocytes and a known target of T3 is FGFR3. The present study addressed whether reduced FGFR3 expression enhanced telomerase activity, mRNA expression of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and RNA component of telomerase (TR), and chondrocyte proliferation, and whether the stimulation of FGFR3 by T3 evoked the opposite response.
Synthesis and determination of the absolute configuration of the enantiomers of modafinil

Abstract The asymmetric synthesis of both enantiomers of modafinil, a unique CNS stimulant with a reduced abuse liability, is described. This approach effectively prepares modafinil on a multigram scale in several steps from benzhydrol. The described synthetic route has also been used to produce the more water soluble analogue, adrafinil. X-ray crystallographic analysis on (−)-(diphenylmethanesulfinyl)acetic acid has determined the absolute configuration to be R.
In Vivo Modeling of Biofilm-Infected Wounds: A Review

Chronic wounds continue to represent a difficult and complex problem for both patients and healthcare providers. Bacterial biofilms represent a critical component of nonhealing wounds, utilizing several different mechanisms to inhibit innate inflammatory pathways and resist traditional therapeutics. Although in vitro biofilm systems have been well described and studied, understanding the intricacies of wound biofilm pathology requires appropriate in vivo models to understand the interactions between bacteria and host. In an effort to clarify the available literature, this review describes and critically evaluates all of the in vivo wound biofilm models currently published to-date, including model advantages and clinical applicability. We will also address the need for continued therapeutic development and testing using these currently available in vivo models.
Low level amplitude modulation based sensorless operation of a switched reluctance motor

Rotor position information is critical to proper operation of a switched reluctance motor (SRM). In this paper two methods of indirect rotor position detection are presented that are compatible with alternative switching topologies. These methods are both based on amplitude modulation of an injected signal according to the phase inductance variation. An analysis of these methods along with experimental results is presented in this paper.
Oxidation of RuAl and NiAl Thin Films: Evolution of Surface Morphology and Electrical Resistance

RuAl and NiAl thin films on SiO2/Si were oxidized, and the results were compared to those from aluminum, ruthenium, and nickel films. Both aluminides are more oxidation resistant than nickel, aluminum, and ruthenium, and they form an outer layer of alumina after oxidation to 850 °C. The depth profiles differ for NiAl and RuAl, with alternating layers of alumina and a Ru-rich phase forming on RuAl, while a more complex structure forms on NiAl due to reaction with the substrate. The surface of RuAl after oxidation remains fairly smooth and reflective, whereas NiAl has a hazy appearance. However, the surface morphology changes at a slightly lower temperature in the case of RuAl (~ 500°C) . Both films remain conductive even after the surface begins to show signs of oxidation, with the NiAl remaining conductive to a higher temperature (after 1 h at 850 °C) than RuAl. The results show that NiAl and RuAl films can be used in an oxidizing atmosphere up to ~ 500°C (at least 1 h) for applications requiring a smooth reflective surface and to higher temperatures when the surface quality is less important but conductivity needs to be maintained (~ 800°C for RuAl and ~ 850°C for NiAl).
Statistics for hospital epidemiology. General design and analysis questions.

we discuss some general issues that are important in the design, analysis, and interpretation of clinical epidemiologic data. Subsequent papers in this series will deal with specific methods of analysis, examples of these methods of analysis, and limitations and interpretations of the methods. Once an investigator identifies a question that is to be studied, there are a number of statistical issues that must be carefully addressed before the data collection should begin. At the very least, these questions must be addressed prior to any meaningful analysis and summary of the data. These important questions include: What measures of disease frequency are to be used in the investigation? What measures of association are appropriate and will be used for the expression of relationships between risk factors and disease? What type of study design is most appropriate for the conduct of the investigation? What methods of statistical analysis are appropriate, given the study design and the measures of either disease frequency or association employed in the study? In this article, we briefly address these questions, leaving for subsequent articles details of specific methods of statistical analysis. Finally, for more general reference, it should be noted that there are several excellent epidemiologic texts that pay particular attention to quantitative and statistical principles. The reader may wish to consult either Kleinbaum, Kupper, and Morgenstern' or Schlesselman2 for excellent accounts of statistical meth
Cognitive training-related changes in hippocampal activity associated with recollection in older adults

Impairments in the ability to recollect specific details of personally experienced events are one of the main cognitive changes associated with aging. Cognitive training can improve older adults' recollection. However, little is currently known regarding the neural correlates of these training-related changes in recollection. Prior research suggests that the hippocampus plays a central role in supporting recollection in young and older adults, and that age-related changes in hippocampal function may lead to age-related changes in recollection. The present study investigated whether cognitive training-related increases in older adults' recollection are associated with changes in their hippocampal activity during memory retrieval. Older adults' hippocampal activity during retrieval was examined before and after they were trained to use semantic encoding strategies to intentionally encode words. Training-related changes in recollection were positively correlated with training-related changes in activity for old words in the hippocampus bilaterally. Positive correlations were also found between training-related changes in activity in prefrontal and left lateral temporal regions associated with self-initiated semantic strategy use during encoding and training-related changes in right hippocampal activity associated with recollection during retrieval. These results suggest that cognitive training-related improvements in older adults' recollection can be supported by changes in their hippocampal activity during retrieval. They also suggest that age differences in cognitive processes engaged during encoding are a significant contributor to age differences in recollection during retrieval.