cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Formulation for the Bowen Ratio over Saturated Surfaces

Abstract Analytical expressions are presented for calculating the Bowen ratio, Bo = Hs/HL, from a quantity Bo* that is derived primarily from the surface temperature Ts and the assumption that the near-surface air is saturated (but not supersaturated) with water vapor. Here Hs is the surface sensible heat flux, and HL is the surface latent heat flux. These analytical expressions obtained from 17 tabulations of Hs, HL, and Ts taken from the literature were examined. These data came from experiments over snow-covered ground and sea ice and over water in the Great Lakes, the marginal seas, and the open ocean at a variety of latitudes. Surface temperatures ranged from −41° to 29°C. Over 90% of the data fell into one of three heat flux cases: Hs > 0 and HL > 0, Hs 0. From the tabulated data, a single equation that relates Bo to Bo* (Ts) for each case is developed, unifying the prediction of Bo from Ts for most saturated surfaces on earth. Last, the sensitivity of Bo to uncert...
Effects of phenylpropanolamine on regulatory and nonregulatory ingestion in adult rats

Abstract This experiment examined the effects of phenylpropanolamine (0.0, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0 mg/kg PPA) on regulatory (RG) and nonregulatory (NRG) eating and drinking in rats using a within-subjects design. Administration of PPA produced dose-dependent reductions in eating in animals deprived to 80–85% of baseline weight, and reduced drinking after 23.5-h of water deprivation. Nonregulatory eating, elicited by tail pinch in nondeprived animals, was similarly inhibited. Nonregulatory drinking was elicited in the schedule-induced polydipsia (SIP) paragigm. Water consumption, locomotion, licking, lick efficiency (licks/ml water), and entries into the food magazine were simultaneously measured. At the lowest dose, only locomotion was significantly reduced. At 10.0 mg/kg, lick efficiency and entries into the food magazine were also significantly reduced, while all measured behaviors, including licking and water consumption, were decreased by the highest dose of PPA. The reduction in lick efficiency suggested a PPA-induced motor impairment in the capacity for licking. Considered together, these results indicated that the observed decreases in regulatory and nonregulatory eating and drinking could be at least partially accounted for by the drug's effects on behaviors contributing to ingestion, as well as apparent motor impairments in ingestive behavior at higher doses.
Treatment of pituitary adenomas using radiosurgery and radiotherapy: a single center experience and review of literature.

Fractionated radiotherapy (FRT) and gamma knife stereotactic radiosurgery (GKSRS) are used as adjuvant therapies to surgical resection for functional and non-functional pituitary adenomas, although their optimum role in the treatment algorithm, as well as long-term safety and efficacy, still awaits further study. We report a single center experience with 33 patients with non-functional (16 patients), ACTH- (five patients), GH- (four patients), or prolactin-secreting (eight patients) tumors treated with FRT or SRS. The median tumor diameter was 1.9 cm, and the median follow-up was 36 months. For GKSRS, the median dosage was 16 Gy for non-functional adenomas and 23 Gy for hormone-secreting tumors. The median total dose for FRT was 50.4 Gy over 28 fractions (median). Two patients (6%) demonstrated radiographic evidence of tumor progression, three patients (9%) demonstrated radiation-induced visual field deficits on neuro-ophthalmic evaluation, and two patients (6%) suffered from radiation-induced hypopituitarism. Biochemical control, defined as normalized hormone values in the absence of medical therapy, was achieved in five out of eight prolactinoma patients and two out of five patients with Cushing’s disease, but none of the four patients with acromegaly. These results are presented with a review of the relevant literature on the differential characteristics of FRT versus SRS in the treatment of functional and non-functional pituitary adenomas and validate postoperative irradiation as a potentially safe and effective means for tumor control.
MAGPI hypospadias repair: Ambulatory versus inpatient surgery

Over a one-year period, 96 consecutive children with distal hypospadias underwent mental advancement and glanuloplasty (MAGPI) for hypospadias repair. In a prospective study, 56 were operated on as inpatients, and 40 underwent repair as outpatients. It was determined that MAGPI can be performed safely and cost-effectively on an ambulatory basis.
Infectious diseases in pediatric transplantation: Literature review 2005–2006

: Staying up to date with the medical literature has become increasingly challenging in the current era of expanded peer review publications and new biomedical journals. Contributing to this issue, research related to infectious diseases and transplantation appear in a wide selection of available journals. This review is intended to highlight the aspects of infectious diseases related to solid organ or bone marrow transplantation.
High-order ENO schemes for unstructured meshes based on least-squares reconstruction

High-order accurate schemes for conservation laws for unstructured meshes are not nearly so well advanced as such schemes for structured meshes. Consequently, little or nothing is known about the possible practical advantages of high-order discretization on unstructured meshes. This article is part of an ongoing effort to develop high-order schemes for unstructured meshes to the point where meaningful information can be obtained about the trade-offs involved in using spatial discretizations of higher than second-order accuracy on unstructured meshes. This article describes a high-order accurate ENO reconstruction scheme, called DD-L{sub 2}-ENO, for use with vertex-centered upwind flow solution algorithms on unstructured meshes. The solution of conservation equations in this context can be broken naturally into three phases: (1) solution reconstruction, in which a polynomial approximation of the solution is obtained in each control volume. (2) Flux integration around each control volume, using an appropriate flux function and a quadrature rule with accuracy commensurate with that of the reconstruction. (3) Time evolution, which may be implicit, explicit, multigrid, or some hybrid.
Renal Cell Carcinoma in a Patient with Mesenteric Lipodystrophy

Mesenteric lipodystrophy is a rare disorder not previously known to be associated with urological abnormalities. We report on a man with stage T3a renal cell carcinoma and congenital mesenteric lipodystrophy. To our knowledge our case represents the first concurrence of these entities.
Cyclic homopentapeptides 2. Synthetic modifications of viomycin

Abstract This paper describes synthetic modifications of the C-19 position of tuberactinomycin B (viomycin) and related analogs. The in vitro antibacterial activity of selected analogs against Pasteurella multocida, Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is also discussed. Although C-19 arylation and thiolation did not improve antibacterial activity, C-19 benzyl carbamates, benzyl- and phenyl ureas were found to be more potent than the parent antibiotic.
Application of pnet-cn/chess to a spruce stand in Solling, Germany

Abstract The forest-soil-water model pnet-cn / chess was applied to an intensive data base available for a spruce stand at Solling, Germany. Model results of hydrology, forest growth (net primary production of foliage, wood and fine roots) and element cycling, as well as soil and drainage water chemistry generally showed good agreement with measured values. pnet-cn / chess was able to predict average concentrations and the increases of NO−3 in Solling drainage waters over the 20-year study period (1970–1990), but was not able to simulate some of the dynamics in the overall record. A minor discrepancy between measured and predicted concentrations of SO2−4 seems to be attributed to a missing source of S in the ecosystem S budget. Model calculations were not able to predict a large decline in pools of exchangeable basic cations observed at the site. Hypothetical simulations of the impact of atmospheric deposition on drainage water chemistry suggest that the Norway spruce (Picea abies) site at Solling is experiencing conditions of N saturation. Future decreases in S and N loading will likely result in marked declines in leaching losses of SO2−4 and NO−3, causing an increase in pH.
BM-14A PARADIGM SHIFT IN DETERMINING BRAIN METASTASIS TREATMENT: DOES NUMBER REALLY MATTER?

BACKGROUND: Local treatment including stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or surgical resection is indicated for patients with 1-3 brain metastases (mets). Whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is indicated for patients with 4+ brain mets. WBRT aims to treat local disease and prevent distal recurrence; however, WBRT may impair quality of life (QOL) through post treatment cognitive deficits. For patients who have 4+ mets, SRS may be an appropriate alternative to WBRT without impacting overall survival (OS) and QOL. We analyzed how survival outcome is affected by the number of mets and total volume of mets for patients treated with surgery and SRS. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed pre-treatment brain MRIs and survival data of 48 patients with brain mets from primary melanoma (N = 13) or lung cancer (N = 35). Patients had an average of 2.5 mets (range 1-17). Treatment included resection of the largest met followed by SRS to the tumor bed and remaining mets. Univariate cox proportional hazard analysis was performed for volume of mets and number of mets. Iterative log-rank analysis was utilized to determine if there was a threshold for number of mets or volume that significantly dichotomized OS and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Univariate cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that volume (p < 0.05) was significant for OS but not number of mets (p = 0.27). Contrary to the current treatment paradigm, there was not a single threshold for number of mets that clearly dichotomized OS for patients; however, a threshold of 1 met optimally dichotomized PFS (p = 0.007). Univariate analysis revealed that number of mets (p = 0.02) was significant for PFS but volume (p = 0.26) was not. OS was significantly shorter for the 4 patients who had 40 cm3 or more total brain met volume (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: The number of mets did not impact OS for patients treated with SRS, however, volume may affect OS.
SSW library: an SIMD Smith-Waterman C/C++ library for use in genomic applications.

Background The Smith-Waterman algorithm, which produces the optimal pairwise alignment between two sequences, is frequently used as a key component of fast heuristic read mapping and variation detection tools for next-generation sequencing data. Though various fast Smith-Waterman implementations are developed, they are either designed as monolithic protein database searching tools, which do not return detailed alignment, or are embedded into other tools. These issues make reusing these efficient Smith-Waterman implementations impractical. Results To facilitate easy integration of the fast Single-Instruction-Multiple-Data Smith-Waterman algorithm into third-party software, we wrote a C/C++ library, which extends Farrar’s Striped Smith-Waterman (SSW) to return alignment information in addition to the optimal Smith-Waterman score. In this library we developed a new method to generate the full optimal alignment results and a suboptimal score in linear space at little cost of efficiency. This improvement makes the fast Single-Instruction-Multiple-Data Smith-Waterman become really useful in genomic applications. SSW is available both as a C/C++ software library, as well as a stand-alone alignment tool at: https://github.com/mengyao/Complete-Striped-Smith-Waterman-Library. Conclusions The SSW library has been used in the primary read mapping tool MOSAIK, the split-read mapping program SCISSORS, the MEI detector TANGRAM, and the read-overlap graph generation program RZMBLR. The speeds of the mentioned software are improved significantly by replacing their ordinary Smith-Waterman or banded Smith-Waterman module with the SSW Library.
Gene expression in a young multigene family: Tissue-specific differences in the expression of the human alcohol dehydrogenase genes ADH1, ADH2, and ADH3

Three human alcohol dehydrogenase genes, ADH1, ADH2, and ADH3, were formed by tandem duplications and have diverged in their tissue-specific and developmental expression. Their proximal promoters remain 80-84% identical in sequence, approximately the same degree of identity as at synonymous sites in the coding regions of these three genes. To understand the evolution of tissue specificity, gene expression must be studied in many different cells and tissues. A systematic comparison of their promoters reveals the effects of subtle sequence differences on the binding of nuclear proteins to their cis-acting elements. There are differences in the affinity with which some proteins are bound to altered sites including C/EBP sites, USF/MLTF sites, and the G3T site (which binds Sp1). There are also differences in the sites that are occupied, e.g. CTF/NFI-related sites. These sequence differences are reflected in differences in gene expression in three cell lines. In H4IIE-C3 hepatoma cells, the ADH1 promoter was more active than the ADH2 promoter, and the ADH3 promoter was nearly nonfunctional. In HeLa cells, both ADH1 and ADH2 promoters directed expression; again the ADH3 promoter was extremely weak. None of the three promoters had much activity in CV-1 cells. Coexpression of C/EBP alpha greatly stimulated expression of the ADH1 promoter in HeLa cells and in CV-1 cells, but only weakly stimulated expression in H4IIE-C3 cells. The stimulation of the ADH1 promoter by C/EBP alpha was comparable to that of ADH2, despite the weaker binding to the C/EBP sites that flank the TATA box in ADH1. The ADH3 promoter was not greatly stimulated by C/EBP alpha, despite good binding of C/EBP alpha. These results demonstrate that small differences in the cis-acting elements affect affinity of binding by transcription factors and the pattern of gene expression.
A Crisper Look at Genome Editing: RNA-guided Genome Modification

There is an exciting new player in the ever-expanding field of genome editing. In a study reported in the January 2013 issue of Science, two groups—Cong et al.1 and Mali et al.2—explored the limits and adaptability of a prokaryotic RNA-based system for mammalian genome-wide editing. This new method of genome engineering is derived from an adaptive immune system known as CRISPR (Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) that bacteria and archaea use as a means to protect themselves against foreign invasive elements. These two studies show that the CRISPR system is an efficient method to alter mammalian genomes. At present, four types of discrete systems have been shown to generate, to different degrees of specificity and efficiency, genome-wide editing: three distinct protein-based nuclease systems,3,4,5 a chemical-based nuclease system,6 an adeno-associated virus (AAV)–based system,7 and now a protein RNA–based system.1,2
Role of residual anterior neocortex in recovery from neonatal prefrontal lesions in the rat

Abstract Lesions of mediofrontal cortex in adult rats produce behavioral impairments on spatial alternation tasks as well as retrograde degeneration in the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus. The severity of the behavioral deficits and of the thalamic degeneration correlates positively with lesion size. In contrast, similar lesions in neonatal rats (10 days or younger) produce neither spatial alternation deficts nor thalamic degeneration, even after extensive lesions removing all of the mediofrontal cortex. This study examined the possibility that residual anterior cortex remaining intact after early mediofrontal lesions might be involved in the observed anatomical and behavioral sparing. The results show that the sparing of spatial alternation after neonatal frontal cortex lesions does not depend on functional substitution by intact regions of anterior cortex. Neonatal rats receiving extensive lesions including both the medial and orbital frontal cortex or the entire anterior neocortex remained unimpaired on this task. However, these same animals suffered severe retrograde degeneration in the mediodorsal thalamus. Therefore, although some form of neural plasticity cannot be entirely dismissed as the basis for the behavioral results, it seems more likely that behavioral rather than neural plasticity is involved. We suggest that rats deprived of frontal cortex from infancy are able to perform the spatial alternation task in a manner that differs from that used by most intact rats.
The logic engine development system support for microprogrammed bit-slice development

The Logic Engine Development System is an integrated hardware and software system that aids the designer in many phases of microprogrammed bit-slice hardware design. It is the first commercially-available system to provide, direct support for the microprogram sequencer, or to supply a built-in host computer for the designer's use. The Logic Engine includes a new microassembler that encourages structured coding while remaining simple to use.Microprogramming permits the designer to tackle complex control tasks, but this ability to deal conceptually with complex designs brings with it numerous implementation problems. On what type of breadboard should we build the architecture? How will we debug the architecture? How will we produce the microcode? How will we load the microcode into a control store? How will we design and build the microinstruction sequencer? How will we debug the microcode? How will we modify the microcode?These questions imply that the designer will need a powerful support system to allow him to manage microprogrammed control. The control unit itself is only one part of a good development system. Such a system must provide support for the development and debugging of both the architecture and the control algorithm. The system should suppress the usual design headaches and subtleties of hardware construction. A development system should provide the convenience of wire-wrap for initial testing. It should provide lights and switches to assist the designer in displaying and controlling individual signals during the testing stages of design. Of course, it should give powerful support to the development, debugging, and modification of the control program.The Logic Engine Development System, manufactured by Logic Design, Inc., offers a high standard of performance for development systems for microprogrammed bit-slice design.
Towards equitable distributions via proportional equity constraints

We propose a new approach to the formulation of models for solving problems of equitable distribution. Equity is achieved by the use of “proportional equity constraints” which require that each recipient must receive ashare of the total distribution which falls within a prespecified range. The algorithmic implications of this new approach are illustrated using two mathematical models. We consider the problem of maximizing total flow in a multiterminal network with proportional equity constraints. An efficient algorithm for solving this problem is provided. As a further application, we show that the introduction of such constraints still permits easy solutions for the linear knapsack problem.
Supporting augmented and alternative communication using a low-cost gestural device

In this paper, we describe an exploratory study to determine the feasibility of using a low-cost gestural headset to support communication. Findings have shown tasks involving facial gestures, such as blinks and smiles, can be performed and detected by an Augmented and Alternative Communication (AAC) system within a shorter period of time compared to brow movements. As tasks increase in complexity, rates of accuracy and time taken remain relatively constant for blinking gestures, highlighting their potential in AAC interfaces. We aim to refine such a system to better address the needs of individuals with disabilities, by limiting input errors from involuntary movements and examining ways to reduce interface navigation time. Insights gained from the study offer promise to interface designers seeking to widen access to their interfaces using gestural input.
Susceptibility weighted imaging of stroke brain in response to normobaric oxygen (NBO) therapy

The neuroprotective effect of oxygen leads to recent interest in normobaric oxygen (NBO) therapy after acute ischemic stroke. However, the mechanism remains unclear and inconsistent outcomes were reported in human studies. Because NBO aims to improve brain tissue oxygenation by enhancing oxygen delivery to ischemic tissue, monitoring the oxygenation level changes in response to NBO becomes necessary to elucidate the mechanism and to assess the efficacy. Susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) which provides a new MRI contrast by combining the magnitude and phase images is fit for purpose. SWI is sensitive to deoxyhemoglobin level changes and thus can be used to evaluate the cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen. In this study, SWI was used for in vivo monitoring of oxygenation changes in a rat model of permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) before, during and after 30 min of NBO treatment. Regions of interest in ischemic core, penumbra and contralateral normal area were generated based on diffusionweighted imaging and perfusion imaging. Significant differences in SWI indicating different oxygenation levels were generally found: contralateral normal > penumbra > ischemic core. Ischemic core showed insignificant increase in oxygenation during NBO and returned to pre-treatment level after termination of NBO. Meanwhile, the oxygenation levels slightly increased in contralateral normal and penumbra regions during NBO and significantly decreased to a level lower than pre-treatment after termination of NBO, indicating secondary metabolic disruption upon the termination of transient metabolic support from oxygen. Further investigation of NBO effect combined with reperfusion is necessary while SWI can be used to detect hemorrhagic transformation after reperfusion.
Reynolds-averaged equations for free-surface flows with application to high-Froude-number jet spreading

The goals of this study were to develop a set of Reynolds-averaged governing equations for turbulent free-surface flow, and to use the resulting equations to determine the origin of the surface current in high-Froude-number jet flows. To develop the Reynolds-averaged equations, free-surface turbulent flow is treated as a two-fluid flow separated by an interface. It is shown that the general Navier–Stokes equations written for variable property flow embody the field equations applicable to each fluid, as well as the boundary conditions for the interface and, therefore, can be applied across the entire fluid domain, including the interface. With this as a starting point, a formulation of the Reynolds-averaged governing equations for turbulent free-surface flows can be developed rigorously. The resulting Reynolds-averaged equations are written in terms of density-weighted averages, their derivatives, and the probability density function for the free-surface position. These equations are similar to the conventional Reynolds-averaged equations, but include additional terms which represent the average effect of the forces acting instantaneously on the free surface, forces normally associated with the boundary conditions. These averaged equations are applied to the interaction of a turbulent jet with the free surface in order to establish, for arbitrary-Froude-number flows, the origin of the surface current, the large outward velocity which occurs in a thin layer adjacent to the surface. It is shown via an order-of-magnitude analysis that the outward acceleration associated with the surface current results from a combination of the Reynolds-stress anisotropy and the free-surface fluctuations. For low Froude number, the surface current is mainly driven by the Reynolds stress anisotropy, consistent with the results of Walker (1997); when the Froude number is large, the Reynolds-stress anisotropy is smaller and the free-surface fluctuations make a significant contribution.
Kolchin seminar in differential algebra

The productive past and lively present of the Kolchin Seminar in Differential Algebra, as well as its perspectives are touched on in this article.
Vulgar Habits and Hume's Double Vision Argument

In Treatise 1.4.2, David Hume seeks to explain how we come to believe in the external existence of bodies. He offers a complicated psychological account, where the imagination operates on the raw data of the senses to produce the ‘vulgar’ belief in the continued existence of the very things we sense. On behalf of philosophers, he presents a perceptual relativity argument that purports to show that the vulgar belief is false. I argue that scholars have failed to appreciate Hume's peculiar formulation of the perceptual relativity argument and its relation to his psychological account of the vulgar belief. On my interpretation, in order to account for all the premises that Hume explicitly offers, the argument is best interpreted as beginning with a reductio that opposes the effects of the senses and the imagination in the vulgar belief. Thus Hume can be interpreted as identifying an ‘antinomy’ in the habits of the vulgar mind that produce belief in bodies.
A generalized strain rate dependent constitutive equation for anisotropic metals

Abstract A simple strain rate dependent constitutive equation has been developed that is capable of describing history dependent inelastic deformation behavior of anisotropic metals under multiaxial loading conditions. The strain rate is defined in terms of an equivalent plastic strain rate, stress and the gradient of a plastic potential which incorporates features associated with the current stress state and material variables. In addition, the rate of change of material variables is assumed to depend on their limiting values. The general form of the equivalent strain rate equation consists of two processes that control deformation behavior at low homologous temperatures ( ≤0.4 T T m ); the equation is therefore applicable to the range of temperatures where the grain boundary sliding process is not prevalent. All the material parameters have been obtained from monotonic and load reversal experiments as well as from load relaxation tests on Zircaloy-2 and 304 stainless steel. It is shown that the results of simulation and prediction are in good agreement with experimental data obtained under different loading conditions.
Synthesis and ligand metathetical reactions of supported transesterification catalyst models

Surface-bound complexes of zirconium, titanium, or tin were prepared on hydroxylated aluminum metal in either ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) or under near ambient conditions. Ligand metathetical reactions were performed on these complexes using phenols or carboxylic acids. Reactions were monitored by FT-IR, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption in UHV, and by FT-IR and quartz crystal microbalance measurements under near ambient conditions. Ester adducts of surface tin and zirconium alkoxides were observed in UHV, and a tin transesterification catalyst was prepared based on these observations.
A Definition of Dyslexia.

This paper elaborates on the components of a working definition of developmental dyslexia. It follows the general format of a paper by Lyon published in Annals of Dyslexia in 1995, which elaborated on a working definition proposed in 1994 (Lyon, 1995). The current definition agreed on by the work group updates and expands on the working definition from 1994.
Bibliographic coupling extended in time: Ten case histories

Abstract The methods of bibliographic coupling were applied to 8186 papers in thirty-five volumes of the Physical Review (Vol. 77, 1950 to Vol. 111, 1958). The results are reported in the form of ten case histories. Each case was chosen to illustrate a problem in information retrieval.
Effects of diet composition and fasting on glucose turnover in lean and polygenic obese mice

Abstract Effects of high beef tallow (BT), high corn oil (CO) or low-fat (LF) diets upon the outcome of genetic obesity were investigated. Diets were instituted ad libitum at the time of weaning. When mice were six months of age, blood samples were taken 1, 5, 15, 30, and 60 minutes after intravenous injection of glucose-U- 14 C. Within dietary treatments, obese and lean mice showed similar plasma glucose-U- 14 C disappearance patterns. Plasma glucose disappearance always tended to be faster in ad libitum-fed mice relative to 24-hour fasted mice. Body glucose pool sizes tended to be larger in fed obese BT and LF mice compared to their lean counterparts. This pattern was not seen in non-fasted CO mice. Fasting caused a decrease in body glucose pool sizes in all mice. In contrast to CO and LF mice, lean BT mice appeared to conserve glucose during fasting the same as the obese line. Since the glucose disappearance curves can be described by a two-exponential decay function, at least a two-component or two-pool system must be involved in plasma glucose turnover. Calculated rate constants were used to express interchanges of carbon molecules between the glucose and glycogen pool and the net movement of glucose carbon to a carbon pool representing “irreversible end products”. The data indicate that differences in glucose metabolism, in part, explain the possibility that dietary energy source can overcome the genetic tendency to leanness.
Analysis of steady state Fe and MoFe protein interactions during nitrogenase catalysis

Steady state kinetic measurements are reported for nitrogenase from Azotobacter vinelandii (Av) and Clostridium pasteurianum (Cp) under a variety of conditions, using dithionite as reductant. The specific activities of Av1 and Cp1 are determined as functions of Av2:Av1 and Cp2:Cp1, respectively, at component protein ratios from 0.4 to 50, and conform to a simple hyperbolic rate law for the interaction of Av2 with Av1 and Cp2 with Cp1. The specific activities of Av2 and Cp2 are also measured as a function of increasing Av1 and Cp1 concentrations, producing ‘MoFe inhibition’ at large MoFe:Fe ratios. When the rate of product formation under MoFe inhibited conditions is re-plotted as increasing Av2:Av1 or Cp2:Cp1 ratios, sigmoidal kinetic behavior is observed, suggesting that the rate constants in the Thorneley and Lowe (T&L) model are more dependent upon the oxidation level of MoFe protein than previously suspected [R.N.F. Thorneley, D.J. Lowe, Biochem. J. 224 (1984) 887–894], at least when applied to Av and Cp. Calculation of Hill coefficients gave values of 1.7–1.9, suggesting a highly cooperative Fe–MoFe protein interaction in both Av and Cp nitrogenase catalysis. The T&L model lacks analytical solutions [R.N.F. Thorneley, D.J. Lowe, Biochem. J. 215 (1983) 393–404], so the ease of its application to experimental data is limited. To facilitate the study of steady state kinetic data for H2 evolution, analytical equations are derived from a different mechanism for nitrogenase activity, similar to that of Bergersen and Turner [Biochem. J. 131 (1973) 61–75]. This alternative cooperative model assumes that two Fe proteins interact with one MoFe protein active site. The derived rate laws for this mechanism were fitted to the observed sigmoidal behavior for low Fe:MoFe ratios (<0.4), as well as to the commonly observed hyperbolic behavior for high values of Fe:MoFe for both Av and Cp.
Non-Fermi liquid and spin-glass behavior of the Sc1−xUxPd3 system

Abstract Previous electrical resistivity ρ(T), magnetic susceptibility χ(T), and specific heat C(T) measurements on the Y1 − xUxPd3 system have revealed Kondo behavior for 0
Dichotomous effects of the cofilin kinase LIMK1 on the early steps of HIV-1 infection of CD4 T cells

We have previously demonstrated that binding of HIV-1 to the chemokine coreceptor, CXCR4, on resting CD4 T cells activates an actin-depolymerizing factor cofilin to promote the cortical actin dynamic critical for HIV latent infection [1]. The LIM domain kinase 1 (LIMK1) directly phosphorylates cofilin and regulates the actin cytoskeleton. Here, we investigated the role of LIMK1 in HIV-1 infection of resting CD4 T cells and found that HIV-1 infection triggered a rapid, transient activation of LIMK1. We also used siRNA knockdown to inhibit LIMK1 activity and found that knockdown of LIMK1 caused a decrease of F-actin and T cell chemotaxis. LIMK1 also had dichotomous effects on the chemokine coreceptor CXCR4 cycling (Figure ​(Figure1)1) and viral DNA synthesis (Figure ​(Figure2).2). Our findings are consistent with a model suggesting a multi-functional role of the cortical actin in mediating chemokine coreceptor density, HIV-1 DNA synthesis and intracellular migration. Figure 1 Endocytosis of CXCR4 analyzed by Western blot. Figure 2 Real-time PCR analysis HIV-1DNA synthesis in LIMK1 knockdown cells (007-LIMK knockdown cells, NTC-control cells).
A portable time-domain LED fluorimeter for nanosecond fluorescence lifetime measurements

Fluorescence lifetime measurements are becoming increasingly important in chemical and biological research. Time-domain lifetime measurements offer fluorescence multiplexing and improved handling of interferers compared with the frequency-domain technique. In this paper, an all solid-state, filterless, and highly portable light-emitting-diode based time-domain fluorimeter (LED TDF) is reported for the measurement of nanosecond fluorescence lifetimes. LED based excitation provides more wavelengths options compared to laser diode based excitation, but the excitation is less effective due to the uncollimated beam, less optical power, and longer latency in state transition. Pulse triggering and pre-bias techniques were implemented in our LED TDF to improve the peak optical power to over 100 mW. The proposed pulsing circuit achieved an excitation light fall time of less than 2 ns. Electrical resetting technique realized a time-gated photo-detector to remove the interference of the excitation light with fluorescence. These techniques allow the LED fluorimeter to accurately measure the fluorescence lifetime of fluorescein down to concentration of 0.5 μM. In addition, all filters required in traditional instruments are eliminated for the non-attenuated excitation/emission light power. These achievements make the reported device attractive to biochemical laboratories seeking for highly portable lifetime detection devices for developing sensors based on fluorescence lifetime changes. The device was initially validated by measuring the lifetimes of three commercial fluorophores and comparing them with reported lifetime data. It was subsequently used to characterize a ZnSe quantum dot based DNA sensor.
Effect of prepartum compensatory nutrition regimen on metabolism and performance of dairy cows

Abstract The impact of closely controlled energy management during the dry period upon general peripartum metabolism and the subsequent lactation was evaluated in multiparous dairy cows. Eight lactating, pregnant Holstein cows were paired according to current milk production and body condition score and assigned to either the control or the stair-step compensatory nutrition (SSCN) regimen 16 weeks prior to expected calving date. Control cows were fed according to National Research Council [National Research Council., 2001. Nutrient Requirements of Dairy Cattle. 7th rev. ed. Natl. Acad. Sci., Washington, DC.] recommendations and for ad libitum intake during late lactation and the far-off dry period. The SSCN cows were subjected to dietary energy restriction [80% of net energy for lactation requirements (NEL)] during late lactation in order to maintain body weight, followed by realimentation (130% of NEL) during the far-off dry period to induce a compensatory response. A common diet was fed thereafter. The SSCN cows gained less body condition during late lactation and tended to gain more body condition during the far-off dry and transition periods than control cows. There was no difference in dry matter intake during the prepartum transition period and early lactation. Milk yield was not affected by treatment. Serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were not altered by dietary treatment during late lactation and the dry period; however NEFA were lower in SSCN cows at week 4 of the subsequent lactation. Serum insulin was higher in SSCN cows 8 weeks prior to parturition (end of restriction), tended to be higher at 4 weeks (end of realimentation) before calving, and was also higher at week 12 of early lactation. An SSCN regimen stimulated body condition gain of mature dairy cows during the dry period, did not affect periparturient nutrient metabolism, and led to modest improvements in metabolic parameters later in the subsequent lactation.
Soft handoff algorithms for CDMA cellular networks

This paper discusses the design of soft handoff algorithms for cellular communication systems. The handoff process is modeled as a hybrid system and handoff design is cast as an optimization problem based on such a model. Performance is evaluated in terms of call quality, average number of active base stations, average number of active set updates, and average amount of interference. A soft handoff algorithm, which achieves a tradeoff between these performance criteria, is obtained using principles of dynamic programming. One key feature of the algorithm is that it incorporates the effects of mobility and shadow fading in the handoff decision. Different diversity combining schemes are considered including selective combining, equal gain combining (EGC), and various optimized combining (OC) methods in the soft handoff mode. For EGC and OC, Wilkinson's and Schwartz and Yeh's methods are used to compute the statistics for the power sum of the signals. Simulation results indicate that the performance of the handoff algorithm is a function of the different combining schemes and of the different methods used to compute the statistics of the power sum. Moreover, it is observed that interference cancellation is important in order for the algorithm to be viable for cellular systems which experience interference due to using nonorthogonal multiple access.
Mechanized Support for Assurance Case Argumentation

An assurance case provides an argument that certain claims (usually concerning safety or other critical properties) are justified, based on given evidence concerning the context, design, and implementation of a system. An assurance case serves two purposes: reasoning and communication. For the first, the argument in the case should approach the standards of mathematical proof (though it may be grounded on premises—i.e., evidence—that are equivocal); for the second it must assist human stakeholders to grasp the essence of the case, to explore its details, and to challenge it. Because of the scale and complexity of assurance cases, both purposes benefit from mechanized assistance. We propose simple ways in which an assurance case, formalized in a mechanized verification system to support the first purpose, can be adapted to serve the second.
A chicken carcass inspection system using visible/near-infrared reflectance : In-plant trials

On-line trials of an industrial prototype visible/near-infrared spectrophotometer system developed by the Instrumentation and Sensing Laboratory for inspecting poultry for diseased and defective carcasses were conducted during an 8-day period in a slaughter plant in New Holland, Pennsylvania. Spectra (470-960 nm) of 1174 normal and 576 abnormal (diseased and/or defective) chicken carcasses were measured. The instrument measured the spectra of veterinarian-selected carcasses as they passed on a processing line at a speed of 70 birds per minute. Classification models using principal component analysis as a data pretreatment for input into neural networks were able to classify the carcasses from the spectral data with a success rate of 95%. Data from 3 days can predict the subsequent two days' chickens with high accuracy. This accuracy was consistent with the results obtained previously in off-line studies. Thus, the method shows promise for separation of diseased and defective carcasses from wholesome carcasses in a partially automated inspection system. Details of the models using various training regimens are discussed.
DUAL-USE OF MODULATION RECOGNITION TECHNIQUES FOR DIGITAL COMMUNICATION SIGNALS

Automatic modulation recognition is not only an important military subject but also an emerging topic for next generation software-defined radios. This paper reviews the concept of blind modulation classification algorithms, discusses the similarity and diversity of various approaches, indicates difference for military and commercial applications, and analyzes the automatic modulation recognition methods based on software-defined radios.
Adaptive Doppler filtering applied to modern air traffic control radars

This paper presents an analysis of the Doppler processing technology currently in use in the USA's terminal airport surveillance radars, and examines possibilities for performance improvement, particularly in the presence of moving clutter. The research focuses on five- and eight-pulse waveform methodologies and their respective detection capabilities given clearly defined rain clutter scenarios. Performance with fixed coefficient filters similar to those used in the existing radars is calculated, followed by performance using an adaptive Doppler filtering technique. Performance is quantified in terms of signal-to-interference ratio at the output of the Doppler filters and resultant probability of detection given a specified probability of false alarm. The results show that a substantial improvement in detection in the vicinity of rain clutter is realized for both the five- and eight-pulse waveforms when using the adaptive coefficient Doppler filters as compared to the performance observed with the fixed coefficient filters. For constant filter weights, the eight-pulse Doppler filters give significantly better performance in most diverse rain clutter than the five-pulse Doppler filters.
On the complexity of categoricity in computable structures

We investigate the computational complexity the class of Γ-categorical computable structures. We show that hyperarithmetic categoricity is Π11-complete, while computable categoricity is Π04-hard. (© 2003 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on Pulmonary Alveolar-Capillary Barrier Function in Humans

Aims: Alcohol abuse is associated with the development of the acute respiratory distress syndrome, a disorder characterized by abnormal alveolar-capillary permeability. We hypothesized that individuals with a history of alcohol abuse would have clinical evidence of abnormal alveolar-capillary permeability even in the absence of symptoms. This could contribute to their propensity for the development of this disorder. Methods: Thirty-three subjects with a history of alcohol abuse, but no other medical problems, and 13 age- and smoking-matched controls inhaled 99mTc–DTPA (technetium-labeled diethylenetriamine penta-acetate; an isotope used to measure lung permeability) for a 3-min period, and washout of this isotope was measured for a 90-min period. The rate at which it was cleared from the lungs was assessed and compared between subjects and controls. Results: The half-life of 99mTc–DTPA in the lungs of subjects with alcohol abuse was significantly shorter than that observed in matched controls, even when correcting for the effects of concomitant tobacco use. When the half-life of the isotope for smoking alcohol-abusing subjects and smoking controls were compared separately, there was a trend for the alcohol-abusing subjects to have a shorter half-life of the isotope present in the lungs. This was also true when non-smokers were compared. Conclusions: These observations provide further evidence that alcohol abuse affects the normal permeability of the alveolar-capillary barrier and thereby may contribute to the development of the acute respiratory distress syndrome in individuals with alcohol abuse.
Visible and x-ray spectroscopy studies of defects in CdTe

We have used electroluminescence (EL), photoluminesence (PL), and synchrotron x-ray fluorescence (XRF) to study some of the properties of defects related to Cu and Na in polycrystalline thin films of CdTe. Some samples were prepared by ion implantation of CdTe single crystals followed by thermal anneal to remove the damage. Others were prepared by magnetron sputtering on quartz or borosilicate glass followed by vapor CdCl/sub 2/ heat treatment. EL was studied from sputtered CdS/CdTe solar cell structures. We find that EL is very sensitive to defects induced by light soaking; ion implantation-induced damage can be annealed at 400 C to yield good PL; and synchrotron XRF shows the presence of substantial copper in films sputtered from nominally pure CdTe.
Closeness Counts in Canada: Voter Participation in the 1993 and 1997 Federal Elections

Theory suggests that eligible voters should be more likely to cast ballots when election margins are close. Empirical evidence, however, is mixed. Operational definitions of key concepts such as turn-out and election closeness are often inconsistent and limited in application to two-party systems. This paper provides a more generalized test of the turnout-competition link in electoral districts. Data are 1993 and 1997 constituency-level election results for the Canadian House of Commons. Canada provides an excellent case for comparison because it has single-member districts, plurality elections, both national and regional parties, and multiparty competition throughout the nation. Several alternative measures for "turnout" and "closeness" are evaluated in the context of multi-party elections. A new index of competitiveness is developed. Multicandidate measures of closeness are related to higher levels of voter participation in Canadian federal elections.
Data performance in an integrated packet voice/data system using voice congestion control

Examines data performance in integrated packet switched voice and data systems in which voice control is applied. The analysis is based on a fluid flow approximation, and results are validated by computer simulation. Three types of systems with different queueing disciplines and control schemes are considered: (i) voice and data are served FIFO (first in first out) using an infinite buffer; (ii) voice has priority over data, with infinite buffers for both voice and data; and (iii) voice has priority over data with no buffering for voice. In each case congestion control is effected by voice packet discard. An example illustrates the improvement of data performance under voice control and shows a tradeoff between data delay and voice blocking probability. It is also shown that data performance is very sensitive to voice control, especially for the case where voice has priority. >