cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Highway freight transportation disruptions under an extreme environmental event: the case of Hurricane Katrina

A safe, resilient, and sustainable transportation system for efficient freight flow is critically important to a nation’s economy. A major disruption to the transportation system due to extreme natural or human disasters can significantly affect the freight movement in the system. The purpose of this research was to develop a general framework to study disruptions to freight flows under an extreme event and apply the framework to retro-analyze the impact of 2005 Hurricane Katrina to the freight movement on the US highway network using a geographical information system, assignment models, and performance measures. Freight movement dynamics prior to and after the disaster are analyzed using aggregated measures such as vehicle mile traveled and vehicle time traveled for different types of roads in urban and rural areas in the USA. This research shows that when a disaster occurs to a part of the highway transportation network, the freight flow changes are not only local, but also regional and national, indicating that applying solely distance-based methods to modeling flow disruption effects may not capture the whole picture. The research provides some insights for pre‐ and post‐disaster decision makings that help lead to a resilient freight highway transportation system.
Shock Wave Initiation of Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate Single Crystals: Mechanism of Anisotropic Sensitivity

A chemical mechanism to explain the observed anisotropy in the shock wave initiation of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN) single crystals is proposed on the basis of semiempirical quantum chemica...
Field Assessment of the Effects of Nutrient Removal on Phytoplankton Productivity and Biomass

ABSTRACT Nutrient dilution or selective removal of phosphate or ammonium in 10 L containers was employed to assess phytoplankton response to lowered levels of inorganic nutrients in a eutrophic pond. Ammonium addition, with or without phosphate addition, stimulated algal biomass and productivity compared to controls within several days. Phosphate addition alone had no effect. Serial dilution (10% per day over 5 days for a total dilution of 41%) did not lower biomass or productivity compared to controls. A significant (P < 0.05) decrease in productivity, relative to the pond, was seen in all addition mesocosms except in those with ammonium enrichments. The data suggest that nutrient removal in this pond would not lower productivity, presumably because loading of nutrients from groundwater in sediments is sufficient for algal growth.
DNA repair and survival in lung cancer--the two faces of Janus.

Dr. Adi Gazdar discusses why overexpression of the same two proteins RRM1 and ERCC1 can be both a marker for improved survival in untreated early-stage non–small-cell lung cancer and a marker for chemoresistance and poor survival in patients with advanced cancers.
Evaluation of quench correction in liquid scintillation counting by internal, automatic external, and channels' ratio standardization methods.

Abstract The methods of internal standardization, channels' ratio, and automatic external standardization have been compared using a series of samples of tritiated water and varying amounts of a quenching agent. The careful addition of internal standard is shown to give the highest accuracy in determination of the efficiency of liquid scintillation counting. The technique of channels' ratio is equally accurate, when used with samples that are moderately quenched and have a high counting rate, but is time-consuming for samples with a low counting rate, and less accurate for highly quenched samples. Automatic external standardization is considerably less accurate than either of the other techniques.
Effect of metal–support interactions in Ni/Al2O3 catalysts with low metal loading for methane dry reforming

Abstract Nickel catalysts prepared by a variety of different methods are commonly used for reforming reactions such as methane dry reforming. Two preparation methods, controlled adsorption and dry impregnation, are implemented to explore the effect of preparation method on the formation of active sites on alumina supported nickel catalysts. By varying only the preparation method, comparison of catalysts that differ primarily in metal–support interactions, strong metal–support interaction (controlled adsorption) and weak metal–support interactions (dry impregnation), are obtained. For controlled adsorption, optimal synthesis conditions are identified using point of zero charge measurements, pH-precipitation experiments, and adsorption isotherms. Using these conditions, a catalyst with a higher dispersion and strong metal–support interactions is prepared. Physicochemical characterization by N2 physisorption, H2 chemisorption, temperature programmed reduction (TPR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and environmental TEM (ETEM) shows that the types of nickel sites formed strongly depend on the synthesis method. Methane dry reforming reactivity studies show stable catalytic performance for at least 9 h and provide additional insight into the types of active centers present. After reductive pretreatment, the nickel catalyst prepared by dry impregnation is found to primarily have nickel present as a surface NiAl2O4. In contrast, the active centers for the nickel catalyst prepared by controlled adsorption consist of nickel particles that are encapsulated by a nickel aluminate layer with 1–2 nm in thickness. Combustion analysis and XPS of spent catalysts reveal different amounts and nature of carbonaceous deposits as a function of the synthesis method.
Directional handling qualities requirements for nap-of-the-earth tasks

A piloted similator experiment designed to investigate directional axis handling qualities requirements for low-speed and hover tasks conducted by a scout/attack helicopter is described. Included were the directional characteristics of various candidate light helicopter family (LHX) configurations. The test also focused on conventional single main/tail rotor configurations where the first-order effects that contribute to the loss of tail rotor control experienced by the OH-58 series aircraft were modeled. Two types of yaw stability and control augmentation systems were implemented: washed-out yaw rate feedback and shaped control input, and a yaw rate command, heading-hold system. The results of the experiment indicate that rotorcraft configurations with high directional gust sensitivity require more yaw damping to maintain satisfactory handling qualities during nap-of-the-earth (NOE) flying tasks. It was also determined that both yaw damping and control response are critical handling qualities parameters in performing the air-to-air target acquisition and tracking task. The lack of substantial yaw damping and larger values of gust sensitivity increased the possibility of loss of directional control at low airspeeds for the tail rotor configurations.
Computational Assessment of Brittle Fracture in Glass-to-Metal Seals

Glass-to-metal seals are widely used in engineering applications, but are often plagued by cracking and loss of hermeticity despite design efforts to avoid these problems. Standard computational approaches typically rely on under-refined meshes and rule-of-thumb approaches that are not always effective. This paper investigates improvements to current practice in glass-to-metal seal design. First, material models with more extensive temperature dependence are used to enhance the accuracy of residual stress prediction. Second, a Weibull-statistics approach is adopted for the prediction of the likelihood of failure. These approaches are then applied to a simplified seal geometry. The paper demonstrates that the application of these methods, especially the Weibull-statistics approach, have difficulties that need to be addressed before this proposed set of approaches can be effectively used for seal design. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.© 2010 ASME
Association of fiber orientation and dissection properties of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms with aortic valve morphology

Type A aortic dissection (AoD) of an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) is a life-threatening cardiovascular emergency with a high potential for death. Despite improved surgical techniques, the morbidity risk for emergent surgery remains 24% worldwide according to data from the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection [1].Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Tumor stratification by a novel graph-regularized bi-clique finding algorithm

Due to involved disease mechanisms, many complex diseases such as cancer, demonstrate significant heterogeneity with varying behaviors, including different survival time, treatment responses, and recurrence rates. The aim of tumor stratification is to identify disease subtypes, which is an important first step towards precision medicine. Recent advances in profiling a large number of molecular variables such as in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), have enabled researchers to implement computational methods, including traditional clustering and bi-clustering algorithms, to systematically analyze high-throughput molecular measurements to identify tumor subtypes as well as their corresponding associated biomarkers.In this study we discuss critical issues and challenges in existing computational approaches for tumor stratification. We show that the problem can be formulated as finding densely connected sub-graphs (bi-cliques) in a bipartite graph representation of genomic data. We propose a novel algorithm that takes advantage of prior biology knowledge through a gene-gene interaction network to find such sub-graphs, which helps simultaneously identify both tumor subtypes and their corresponding genetic markers. Our experimental results show that our proposed method outperforms current state-of-the-art methods for tumor stratification.
Visual metaphors to model metacognitive strategies that support memory during the process of refinding information

This paper reports on a study that models the metacognitive thinking of users in relation to memory and refinding information. Twenty-seven participants, in five separate groups ranging in age from 13 to early 30's, sketched visual metaphors representing strategies and interventions that the participants thought would remind them to remember before information was lost, in order to better relocate information. Nine themes emerged: embeddedness, fear and anxiety, interruptions, messiness and discomfort, locked doors and barriers, proximity and adjacency, signs and tattoos, scripts, and finally, the voice. This study started from the premise that design should begin with the user's metaphor as a way to describe the user's mind and ways of thinking and end with the designer mapping the metaphor to the artifact. The long term goal of this work is to move from ideation to implementation, using the users' metaphors of the mind as a basis for the design of information environments that scaffold metacognition during the search process.
Applications of Computational Methods for Dynamic Stability and Control Derivatives

Initial steps in the application o f a low-order panel method computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code to the calculation of aircraft dynamic stability and control (S&C) derivatives are documented. Several capabilities, unique to CFD but not unique to this particular demonstration, are identified and demonstrated in this paper. These unique capabilities complement conventional S&C techniques and they include the ability to: 1) perform maneuvers without the flow-kinematic restrictions and support interference commonly associated with experimental S&C facilities, 2) easily simulate advanced S&C testing techniques, 3) compute exact S&C derivatives with uncertainty propagation bounds, and 4) alter the flow physics associated with a particular testing technique from those observed in a wind or water tunnel test in order to isolate effects. Also presented are discussions about some computational issues associated with the simulation of S&C tests and selected results from numerous surface grid resolution studies performed during the course of the study.
The Optical and Electronic Characteristics of Photonic Crystal Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers

Near- and far-field radiation patterns, optical spectrum measurements, and light/ voltage versus current plots are used to characterize photonic crystal vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers. The experimental apparatus is validated and measurements are reported.
Transport properties of water and pentane in Langmuir–Blodgett films

The transport of water and pentane vapor in Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films of arachidic acid is investigated. A quartz crystal microbalance is used to monitor the mass increases of the films upon exposure to the vapor as a function of the pressure. By examining films of different thicknesses, it is shown that it is possible to measure both surface adsorption and solubility. Diffusivity is calculated from the rate of uptake. Water and pentane have Fickian diffusion coefficients of 4 × 10−12 cm2·s−1 and 1 × 10−12 cm2·s−1, respectively. The effect of both aging and annealing of the LB films on the vapor uptake is studied and it is shown that the uptake is sensitive to the state of the film.
Interferon-γ is required for lupus nephritis in mice treated with the hydrocarbon oil pristane

Interferon-γ is required for lupus nephritis in mice treated with the hydrocarbon oil pristane. Background Although the precise mechanisms leading to lupus nephritis remain obscure, both T H 1 and T H 2 cytokines have been implicated. The present study examined the roles of interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in a novel inducible form of lupus that develops in non-autoimmune mice treated with the hydrocarbon oil pristane. Methods BALB/c IL-4 or IFN-γ deficient mice (IL-4 -/-, IFNγ -/-) and wild type controls (+/+) received either pristane or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) IP. Serial sera were analyzed for anti-DNA/chromatin, anti-RNP/Sm, and total immunoglobulin levels. Proteinuria was measured and kidneys were examined by direct immunofluorescence and light microscopy. Results Renal disease did not develop in pristane-treated IFN-γ -/- mice, as assessed by the absence of capillary immune deposits, glomerular pathology and proteinuria whereas IL-4 -/- mice developed renal disease similar to +/+ mice. Production of IgG anti-single stranded DNA and anti-chromatin antibodies was abrogated in IFN-γ -/- mice. In contrast, these autoantibodies were produced at similar or higher frequencies and levels by IL-4 -/- versus wild-type mice. The frequency of anti-nRNP/Sm was markedly reduced in IFN-γ -/- mice. IL-4 deficiency had little effect on the production of anti-DNA/chromatin and anti-nRNP/Sm. Conclusions IFN-γ is essential for the induction of nephritis and anti-DNA/chromatin following pristane exposure in BALB/c mice, suggesting that genetic or environmental factors influencing T H 1-T H 2 balance could be an important determinant of renal disease in lupus.
Light-front dynamics of the covariant harmonic oscillator.

Following Leutwyler and Stern, the two-particle covariant harmonic-oscillator model of Feynman, Kislinger, and Ravndal is reformulated within the framework of light-front dynamics. The light-front dynamics of the oscillator is obtained by constraining the manifestly covariant formulation to the null plane, ct+z=0. An inner product for the null-plane wave functions is developed, and it is shown that the light-front mass operator M and spin operator scrJ are Hermitian with respect to this inner product. Interaction dependent, nonlocal relative position and momentum operators Q and P, are introduced, and the mass and spin operators are expressed in terms of them. It is found that the part of ${\mathit{M}}^{2}$ that contains the dynamics is proportional to a nonrelativistic harmonic-oscillator Hamiltonian in P and Q, and that the spin operator scrJ=Q\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}P. The eigenstates of Q and P are determined, and are used to construct position and momentum representations for the null-plane oscillator. In these representations the light-front dynamics takes on the appearance of nonrelativistic quantum mechanics. In particular, the nonlocal inner product for the null-plane wave functions goes over to the local nonrelativistic form. The obvious relevance of these results to the quark model of the hadrons is briefly discussed.
Planar Channeling of 0.9 MeV Protons in Fluorite-Type Crystals

By means of 873 keV protons and of the 873 keV gamma resonance in the 19 F(p, αγ) 16 O reaction, channeling parameters of half-angles and minimum yields have been measured for the mixed [{100}, {112}, and {113}] and separate [{100} and {111}] planar directions of CaF 2 and BaF 2 . The experimental results for the half-angle agree with the estimation from the Gemmell model for the polyatomic case, except for the {111} anion plane of BaF 2 . The experimental minimum yields are considerably larger than the predicted values. The angular dependence of gamma rays for the {111} direction of BaF 2 has double yield peaks around the aligned direction; this is fairly different from he gamma-ray angular dependences for the other directions.
Comparison of the effects of x-radiation on the elevation of thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthetase during liver regeneration.

Investigations were made to determine if exposure to x radiation between 14 and 17.5 hr after surgery might prevent the onset of DNA synthesis in regenerating liver by interfering with the accumulation of thymidylate synthetase. Male albino rats were partially hepatectomized, fasted, and exposed to x radiation. One group was exposed 6 to 7 hr after partial hepatectomy and another group at 15 to 16 hr. The rats were sacrificed and a 60,000 xg liver supernatant fraction was prepared in isotonic KCl. Each supernatant fraction was assayed for thymidine kinase, as well as thymidylate (TMP) synthetase. Kinase activity in the livers of rats irradiated 6 to 7 hr postoperatively was less than 3% of the kinase activity in the livers of unirradiated controls. In the livers of rats exposed to x radiation 15 to 16 hr postoperatively, kinase activity approached 15% of that of unirradiated controls. The activity of TMP synthetase in livers of irradiated rats averaged 75% of that in livers of unirradiated controls, and the effect of early irradiation appeared to be somewhat less than the effect of late irradiation. The failure of early or late x-radiation doses to prevent the elevation of TMP synthetase ruled out themore » possibility that prevention of the initiation of DNA synthesis by prior irradiation could be attributed to interference with the activity of TMP synthetase. (M.C.G.)« less
Diurnal patterns of photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and PRI to evaluate water stress in the invasive species, Elaeagnus umbellata Thunb.

Photosynthesis, chlorophyll fluorescence, and hyperspectral reflectance were used to evaluate diurnal changes of Elaeagnus umbellata to quantify physiological responses of the invasive species during times of stress. Field measurements showed that E. umbellata is able to maintain higher levels of photosynthesis relative to nearby Quercus alba plants, with less water loss. Plants subjected to progressive drought were able to recover photosynthesis one day following re-watering. Laboratory and field measurements revealed decreasing ΔF/F′m values in response to drought stress, with little corresponding decrease in photochemical reflectance index values. This research supports the view that xanthophyll cycle dissipation is not the photoprotective mechanism at work for Elaeagnus species under water stress. Elaeagnus umbellata maintains photosynthetic carbon assimilation even under drought conditions, in part, due to chemical dissipation of excess light, and in part because of morphological features that limit excess radiation while maximizing photosynthetic carbon gain. These characteristics may contribute to the invasive success of E. umbellata.
On a multi-channel queue with state dependent input flow and interruptions

This paper deals with a multi-channel queueing system with a finite waiting room but without losses. The latter is achieved by a temporary interruption of the input flow activity until the waiting room is ready to place a new customer. In addition, the input flow on its busy period is non-recurrent: It is state dependent and may be controlled over relevant times of decision making. A similar model without interruptions (i.e. with losses) was earlier studied by the author, where in particular, major probability characteristics of the queueing process in equilibrium were obtained. Now the author derives a simple explicit relation between the two models allowing the given queue to inherit the results previously obtained. New techniques for semi-regenerative processes are used.
The Effects of γ-irradiation on Solutions of Catalase, Apocatalase and Haematin

SummaryDilute aqueous solutions of catalase, apocatalase and haematin were irradiated; the hydroxyl radical was the major inactivating species. The initial destruction of the haem group in the enzyme was related to the loss of catalytic activity. Cysteyl, histidyl and tyrosyl residues were destroyed during the radiolysis of the apocatalase and catalase and protection of the haematin was afforded by the apoenzyme.
Multi-level steering in distributed laboratories

HPC end users in distributed computational laboratories interact via visual displays to solve problems collaboratively by manipulation of local, remote, and shared computational tools. In such settings, there may be substantial differences in the resources available to users, as exemplified by their use of high end visualization environments like CAVES to low end environments more suitable for homes like browserbased visualizations. This poster depicts a concept called ‘multi-level steering’, where shared abstractions are used to integrate application-level steering by direct manipulation of program data with performance steering of system components. Research topics in multi-level steering include: l policies for steering at specific levels, such as the dynamic adaptation of communication protocol stacks, runtime changes to shared objects like application pages or files, and changes to application-level objects, s light-weight online steering, monitoring, and decision mechanisms offering explicit support for the construction and efficient execution of steering policies, within and across levels, including the filtering of online event data based on temporal conditions and the construction of time-based steering policies cognizant of policy interactions across levels.
Traumatic cervical Brown-Sequard and Brown-Sequard-plus syndromes: the spectrum of presentations and outcomes.

Brown-Sequard syndrome (BSS) and Brown-Sequard-plus syndrome (BSPS) are characterised by asymmetrical paresis with hypalgesia more marked on the less paretic side. This study examined the clinical features of 38 patients (30 males and 8 females; mean age=32 years) with traumatic cervical BSS or BSPS who underwent comprehensive in-patient rehabilitation. Twenty two injuries were caused by road traffic accidents, 8 by penetrating injuries, 5 by diving injuries, and 3 by other causes. After an average of 35 days in acute care and 79 days in rehabilitation, 37 patients had increased muscle strength, all 38 patients improved functional abilities, 29 patients walked independently, 34 had spontaneous bladder emptying, 36 were discharged home, and 14 were employed. Statistically significant increases (p<0.001) were made in modified Barthel index functional scores between admission and discharge. Patients with BSPS had a better prognosis than did those with 'pure' BSS. Patients with predominant upper limb weakness had more favourable outcomes than did those with predominant lower limb weakness. Few other potentially predictive demographic, injury, or neurological factors were associated with functional outcome. Patients with BSS or BSPS generally have a good prognosis for neurological and functional improvement.
Model exospheres of the ringed planets

The theory of rotating ion exospheres in dipolar magnetic field geometries is used to predict certain effects of the rings on the inner plasmaspheres of the ringed planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. The analysis here assumes a purely ionospheric source. It is found that if rings affect only the trapped plasma, the cold plasma density at Saturn will be either reduced or increased by a factor of approximately 2 at L = 1.65, depending on whether the ring populates or empties the trapped trajectories. It is found that if all cold plasma particles on trapped orbits are absorbed and the rings are not a source of plasma, this simple exospheric theory can explain the ionospheric density profile inferred from the Pioneer 11 Saturn radio occultation experiment, in which a localized peak in the profile was observed on field lines threading the Guerin division between the C and D rings.
Synthesis and crystal structures of lithium salts of new iminophosphide/phosphinoamide anions

Aminodiphenylphosphines are deprotonated by alkyllithium reagents to give the corresponding iminophosphide/phosphinoamide ions: lithium (neopentyl)(diphenylphosphino)amide (3), lithium (isopropyl)(diphenylphosphino)amide (4), and lithium (2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)(diphenylphosphino)amide (5). Derivative 3 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/c with Z = 4, a = 17.717(2) A, b = 11.167(2) A, c = 22.151(1) A, β = 104.35(1)°, R1 = 0.064, and wR2 = 0.184 at −73 °C. Derivative 4 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pna21 with Z = 4, a = 20.557(4) A, b = 10.475(2) A, c = 17.982(4) A, R1 = 0.044, and wR2 = 0.089 at −70 °C. Derivative 5 crystallizes in the monoclinic space group C2/c with Z = 8, a = 47.256(6) A, b = 9.126(2) A, c = 18.246(2) A, β = 104.67(1)°, R1 = 0.064, and wR2 = 0.165 at −73 °C. The solid-state structures of compounds 3 and 4 consist of approximately centrosymmetric dimers containing a Li2N2 rhombus with each lithium ion bound by both anions through their nitrogen atoms and ...
Finite element analysis for a nonlinear diffusion model in image processing

Abstract The optimal error estimate O(hk+1) for a popular nonlinear diffusion model widely used in image processing is proved for the standard kth-order (k ≥ 1) conforming tensor-product finite elements in the L2-norm. The optimal L2-estimate is obtained by the integral identity technique [1–3] without using the classic Nitsche duality argument [4].
Separation of fluorescence and elastic scattering from algae in seawater using polarization discrimination

A technique is described in which the polarization properties of elastically scattered light and the unpolarized nature of excited fluorescence are utilized to extract the fluorescence component from the reflectance spectra of algae in the sea water excited by white light, including sunlight. The efficacy of the technique is demonstrated by the spectral shape of fluorescence extracted, which shows an excellent match with laser induced fluorescence of the same species. The technique remains applicable in the presence of high concentrations of suspended particles as additional scatterers. Simulations based on a Mie scattering support the validity of the approach, which is found to be particularly effective when applied to algae.
Analysis of an engineered plasma kallikrein inhibitor and its effect on contact activation

Engineering of protein-protein interactions is used to enhance the affinity or specificity of proteins, such as antibodies or protease inhibitors, for their targets. However, fully diversifying all residues in a protein-protein interface is often unfeasible. Therefore, we limited our phage library for the serine protease inhibitor ecotin by restricting it to only tetranomial diversity and then targeted all 20 amino acid residues involved in protein recognition. This resulted in a high-affinity and highly specific plasma kallikrein inhibitor, ecotin-Pkal. To validate this approach we dissected the energetic contributions of each wild type (wt) or mutated surface loop to the binding of either plasma kallikrein (PKal) or membrane-type serine protease 1. The analysis demonstrated that a mutation in one loop has opposing effects depending on the sequence of surrounding loops. This finding stresses the cooperative nature of loop-loop interactions and justifies targeting multiple loops with a limited diversity. In contrast to ecotin wt, the specific loop combination of ecotin-Pkal discriminates the subtle structural differences between the active enzymes, PKal and Factor XIIa, and their respective zymogen forms. We used ecotin-Pkal to specifically inhibit contact activation of human plasma at the level mediated by plasma kallikrein.
Deprotecting Thioacetyl-Terminated Terphenyldithiol for Assembly on Gallium Arsenide

We characterize the assembly of terphenyldithiol (TPDT) on gallium arsenide (GaAs) from ethanol (EtOH) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) as a function of ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) concentration. NH4OH facilitates the conversion of thioacetyl end groups of the TPDT precursor to thiolates in the assembly solution. The final structure of TPDT assembled on GaAs is sensitive not only to the assembly solvent but also to NH4OH concentration. In the presence of low concentrations of NH4OH (1 mM), TPDT assemblies from EtOH are oriented upright. The same assemblies are less upright when adsorption is carried out at higher NH4OH concentrations. In THF, TPDT does not adsorb significantly on GaAs at low NH4OH concentrations. The surface coverage and structural organization of these assemblies improve with increasing NH4OH concentrations, although these assemblies are never as organized as those from EtOH. The difference in the final structure of TPDT assemblies is attributed to differences in the thiolate fraction in the ass...
An evaluation of measurable characteristics within Army laboratories

The problem of this study was to develop information that might help management of a laboratory complex. Fifteen measurable characteristics from 15 Army laboratories were studied in an attempt to find some that were strategic to the management of Army laboratories. Measurable characteristics were evaluated using two standards: 1) number of papers and invention disclosures, and 2) laboratory performance. Measurable characteristics that were evaluated included R&D experience, age, civilian salary, and in-house R&D obligations. The study results when using two independent standards were similar. That is, a number of measurable characteristics were required in both evaluations in order to achieve a meaningful relationship between characteristics and standard. Furthermore, the characteristics that could improve performance were the same as those that could also increase the number of papers and invention disclosures. Results indicate that it is possible to predict laboratory performance with greater confidence than to predict the number of papers and invention disclosures. It was concluded that measurable characteristics were of importance to management of the Army laboratory complex. Large amounts of R&D in-house funds are necessary in order to achieve small increases in laboratory performance. An increase in R&D experience on the part of military R&D personnel would be a better alternative than funding.
Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for the Unique Solvability of a Nonlinear Reaction-Diffusion Model☆

It has been known for some time that a nonlinear reaction-diffusion model, with Dirichlet boundary conditions, is uniquely solvable if the reaction term satisfies an appropriate Lipschitz condition. However, as recently shown for an absorption model, such a condition is not necessary. We establish a uniqueness result which, in the case of reaction and diffusion governed by power laws, is in fact both necessary and sufficient for the unique solvability of the model. The improvement that is needed on the above-mentioned Lipschitz condition occurs in the so-called fast diffusion model.
Household-Level Welfare Effects of Organic Milk Introduction

Using household scanner data and a discrete choice modeling approach, we estimate demand for milk products at the micro-level and compute the distribution of welfare effects from introducing organic milk across households with different characteristics within the partial equilibrium framework. The price effects of introducing organic milk are larger for low-income households than for high-income households, and the differences in the variety effects of introducing organic milk to groups with various levels of education are larger than the differences in the variety effects among groups with different income levels. Policy implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright 2013, Oxford University Press.
Analysis of bisphenol A, nonylphenol, and natural estrogens in vegetables and fruits using gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP), and steroidal estrogens in vegetables and fruits were analyzed using gas chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS). Isotope dilution standards were spiked before the extraction to account for extraction inefficiency and loss of analytes during sample workup. Recoveries were >90% for all of the compounds in each matrix. The limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.03 to 0.3 μg kg(-1), whereas the limit of quantitation (LOQ) ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 μg kg(-1). All analytes can be monitored in a single GC-MS/MS run with a run time of 20 min. Occurrence of these endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in vegetables and fruits from local markets was observed using the established analytical method. BPA was detected in all vegetable and fruit samples, ranging from 0.2 ± 0.1 to 9.0 ± 4.9 μg kg(-1), indicating significant exposure potential for humans. NP was detected in pumpkin, sweet potato, citrus, and apple samples. The concentration of 4-n-NP ranged from 5.3 ± 2.4 to 18.9 ± 8.0 μg kg(-1), whereas that of 4-NP ranged from 5.1 ± 2.6 to 12.2 ± 3.6 μg kg(-1). Concentrations of 17-β-estradiol in vegetables and fruits ranged from 1.3 ± 0.4 to 2.2 ± 1.0 μg kg(-1) except those in tomato and strawberry, in which no 17-β-estradiol was detected. The estimated daily intake of 17-β-estradiol was beyond the recommended acceptable daily intake (ADI) for children as recommended by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA).
Comparative metabolism of 137Cs by adult, suckling and prenatal rats

Abstract 1. 1. The placenta was found to present a substantial barrier to the free passage of 137 Cs from the dam to the fetus in the rat as evidenced by the accretion of 137 Cs in the placenta and by the substantially lower concentration in the fetus relative to the dam. Several aspects of 137 Cs metabolism were found to differ according to the age of the animal at the time of administration. 2. 2. The rate of loss of 137 Cs was initially lower in the early neonate than in the adult, but subsequently increased to a value much larger than for the adult. 3. 3. The relative distribution of the radiocesium among various tissues changed with time after administration and differed significantly between the neonate and mature animal.
Evaluation of a local designated driver and responsible server program to prevent drinking and driving

Point of purchase interventions by beverage alcohol servers provide one promising approach to preventing drinking and driving and many communities now support such programs. To evaluate the impact of a designated driver and responsible server program in Houston, we assessed server training courses, observed and interviewed servers and patrons at five establishments participating in the program, and reviewed the distribution of vouchers awarded for a safe ride home by taxi. The training course for alcoholic beverage servers produced significant improvements in the participants' perceptions about their role in preventing drunk driving. In five participating establishments 15.6 percent of servers wore buttons announcing the establishment's participation in the program; immediately after retraining 26.6 percent wore the buttons. Of the eligible patrons in these establishments 6.6 percent actually participated in the designated driver program. The program provided an average of 0.7 safe ride home vouchers per establishment per month. In one additional establishment an experiment was conducted in which servers always announced the designated driver program to patrons, but no increase in the prevalence of designated drivers occurred.
Different Functional Properties of Troponin T Mutants That Cause Dilated Cardiomyopathy

The effects of Troponin T (TnT) mutants R141W and DeltaK210, the only two currently known mutations in TnT that cause dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) independent of familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (FHC), and TnT-K273E, a mutation that leads to a progression from FHC to DCM, were investigated. Studies on the Ca2+ sensitivity of force development in porcine cardiac fibers demonstrated that TnT-DeltaK210 caused a significant decrease in Ca2+ sensitivity, whereas the TnT-R141W did not result in any change in Ca2+ sensitivity when compared with human cardiac wild-type TnT (HCWTnT). TnT-DeltaK210 also caused a decrease in maximal force when compared with HCWTnT and TnT-R141W. In addition, the TnT-DeltaK210 mutant decreased maximal ATPase activity in the presence of Ca2+. However, the TnT-K273E mutation caused a significant increase in Ca2+ sensitivity but behaved similarly to HCWTnT in actomyosin activation assays. Inhibition of ATPase activity in reconstituted actin-activated myosin ATPase assays was similar for all three TnT mutants and HCWTnT. Additionally, circular dichroism studies suggest that the secondary structure of all three TnT mutants was similar to that of the HCWTnT. These results suggest that a rightward shift in Ca2+ sensitivity is not the only determinant for the phenotype of DCM.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Elastic Deformation of Nanometer Diameter Metal Clusters

Indentation using the AFM is a powerful method for determining elastic properties of small supported clusters. However, a theoretical framework has yet to be developed to interpret such measurements. The elastic deformation of nanometer sized gold clusters are modeled using the Embedded Atom Method (EAM) potential of Foiles et al. [1]. Force versus deformation curves are obtained for a series of truncated octahedral clusters having FCC symmetry (N=38, 201, 586, 1289, 2406). It is found that the MD results both for static compression and for harmonic vibration can be analytically estimated by using an elastic constant for the clusters analogous to the elastic modulus of a bulk material. However MD predictions for static compression are not in agreement with the deformation results of Schaefer et al. [2].
History of mirrors dating back 8000 years.

Purpose. The purpose of this study is to consider the ancient history and early development of mirrors, because mirrors played a key role in refraction and magnification for an extended period of time before the invention of spectacles, including broad use in Roman times. Findings. The earliest known manufactured mirrors (approximately 8000 years old) have been found in Anatolia (south central modern-day Turkey). These were made from obsidian (volcanic glass), had a convex surface and remarkably good optical quality. Mirrors from more recent periods have been found both in Egypt and Mesopotamia and still later in China and in the New World. In each of these areas, mirrors were in use by approximately 2000 BC or 4000 years ago. (Optom Vis Sci 2006;83:775–781)
Human liver thermolabile phenol sulfotransferase: Cdna cloning, expression and characterization

Abstract The sulfate conjugation of phenolic biogenic amines in humans is catalyzed by the thermolabile (TL) form of phenol sulfotransferase (PSI). As a first step toward cloning a cDNA for TL PST, the enzyme was purified from jejunal mucosa, the human tissue with the highest known specific activity, and purified TL PST was subjected to limited proteolysis and amino acid sequencing. The PCR was then performed with human liver cDNA as template and primers designed on the basis of an 18 amino acid stretch of TL PST sequence to obtain a probe for screening cDNA libraries. When cDNA library screening proved unsuccessful, PCR primers were designed based on the nucleotide sequence of a functionally uncharacterized human brain cDNA that had been speculated to represent an aryl sulfotransferase. This brain cDNA encoded the 18 amino acid sequence that we had determined in TL PST. With human liver cDNA as template, these primers amplified a PCR product that contained an 885 nucleotide open reading frame that encoded 295 amino acids -- including the 18 amino acids of TL PST sequence. In vitro transcription and translation of this human liver cDNA resulted in the synthesis of a 35.5 kDa protein. The human liver cDNA was also expressed in COS-1 cells, and the biochemical and physical characteristics of the encoded enzyme were identical with those of human liver TL PST. The cloning of a cDNA for human liver TL PST represents an important step toward understanding the molecular basis for the regulation of this enzyme in humans.
Beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor binding and functional response in right and left atria of rat heart.

The properties ofβ 1- andβ 2-adrenoceptors in right and left atria of rat heart, and their roles in mediating chronotropic and inotropic responses toβ-adrenoceptor agonists were examined. [125I](-)-pindolol (125IPIN) bound saturably and specifically to a single class of high affinity sites in homogenates of both right and left atria. Thek 1's for association in right and left atria were 6.5×109 l/mol-min and 2.3×109 l/mol-min respectively, while thek −1's for dissociation were 0.20 min−1 and 0.17 min−1. The kinetically determinedK D's were 75 pmol/l in right and 30 pmol/l in left atria and were similar to the equilibriumK D's determined from Scatchard analysis of saturation isotherms of specific125IPIN binding. Inhibition of125IPIN binding byβ-adrenoceptor antagonists was stereoselective and the order of potency was timolol > 1-propranolol > d-propranolol > sotalol. Inhibition byβ 1- andβ 2-adrenoceptor subtype selective antagonists yielded flat displacement curves with low Hill coefficients. Nonlinear regression analysis of displacement byβ 1-selective (practolol, atenolol and metoprolol) andβ 2-selective (ICI 118,551) antagonists gave estimates of the proportion ofβ 1- andβ 2-adrenoceptors present in rat atria. Right atria contained 67±4.2%β 2-adrenoceptors and 33±4.2%β 2-adrenoceptor, while left atria contained 67±2.8%β 1- and 33±2.8%β 2-adrenoceptors. Increases in the rate of spontaneously beating right atria and the force of electrically driven left atria caused byβ-adrenoceptor agonists were also measured. pA2 values for non-subtype selectiveβ-adrenoceptor antagonists in inhibiting isoprenaline-induced increases in rate and force were highly correlated withK D values determined for specific125IPIN binding. pA2 values forβ 1- andβ 2-selective antagonists in inhibiting isoprenaline-induced increases in rate and force correlated well with the pK D values of these drugs in binding toβ 1-adrenoceptors, but not with the pK D values in binding toβ 2-adrenoceptors. Dose-response curves for stimulation of both rate and force by theβ 2-selective agonists procaterol and zinterol were shifted to a much greater extent by selective blockade ofβ 1-adrenoceptors with metoprolol than by selective blockade ofβ 2-adrenoceptors with ICI 118,551, suggesting that these compounds caused their effects by activatingβ 1-adrenoceptors. These results suggest thatβ 1- andβ 2-adrenoceptors coexist in both left and right atria of rat heart in approximately a 2∶1 ratio, however onlyβ 1-adrenoceptors mediate the chronotropic and inotropic effects ofβ-adrenoceptor agonists.
Identification of an endochitinase cDNA clone from barley aleurone cells

A barley aleurone cDNA library was screened using 32P-labeled cDNA prepared by reverse transcription of mRNA from aleurone layers treated in the presence or absence of gibberellic acid (GA). Besides α-amylase cDNA clones, another set of clones representing an abundant mRNA in aleurone cells was identified. Messenger RNA hybrid-selected by a prototype clone of this group (clone 10) was translated in vitro to yield a 36 kDa protein. Analysis of the DNA sequence and the predicted amino acid sequence of the protein product of this clone indicates that this gene codes for a protein with homology to endochitinases from tobacco and bean. In addition, the predicted amino acid sequence includes a stretch that is closely related to a cyanogen bromide cleavage fragment from an endochitinase isolated from barley endosperm. The structural genes for endochitinase are present as multiple copies on barley chromosome 1. mRNA detectable by this clone increases in abundance in barley aleurone cells incubated in the absence and in the presence of GA. Western blot analysis of proteins from aleurone and endosperm tissues indicates the presence of multiple endochitinases differing in molecular size. Possible mechanisms for the occurrence of multiple forms of endochitinases and their biological significance are discussed.
Molecular weight of bovine milk casein micelles from diffusion and viscosity measurements.

Abstract We have measured the average molecular weight of casein micelles in skimmilk by combining diffusion and intrinsic viscosity results. The diffusion coefficients and hydrodynamic radius were measured by inelastic laser light scattering spectroscopy. The results in simulated milk ultrafiltrate buffer at 25C were diffusion coefficient D=2.18×10 -8 cm 2 /sec, hydrodynamic radius R h = 941 A, intrinsic viscosity [ђ] = .1011 100 ml/g, and molecular weight M=5.20×10 8 . This value for the molecular weight, obtained entirely by measurements in solution and not depending on assumptions about the voluminosity of the micelles, is about half that obtained by Nitschmann from electron microscopy. The average micelle molecular weight by these measurements is approximately weight average.
Computational assessment of an approach for implementing crevice containment in rapid compression machines

Abstract In Rapid compression machines (RCMs), creviced pistons are often employed to suppress the formation of the roll-up vortex. The use of a creviced piston, however, can enhance other multi-dimensional effects especially during the first-stage of the two-stage ignition. Such multi-dimensional effects can be avoided by using ‘crevice containment’ in which the crevice zone is separated from the main reaction chamber at the end of compression. In this work, an approach for the implementation of ‘crevice containment’ in RCMs is assessed through reactive and nonreactive CFD simulations for a stepped combustion chamber geometry in which ‘crevice containment’ is achieved by using a seal between the mating taper surfaces of the piston and the reaction chamber at the end of compression. The results with the optimized chamber geometry show that the roll-up vortex is largely suppressed with ‘crevice containment’. The reactive CFD simulations of the optimized geometry are done for ignition of n -heptane/oxidizer mixtures to assess the validity of zero-dimensional modeling. The CFD results are in excellent agreement with the zero-dimensional modeling in terms of predicting the first-stage and total ignition delays. The agreement suggests absence of detrimental chemical kinetic coupling due to boundary layer and vortex during two-stage ignition. The approach developed here is expected to be easy for implementation in existing RCMs and will also yield significant quantitative improvement in the data obtained from the species sampling experiments.