cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of moisture-convection feedbacks in simulating the Madden-Julian oscillation

AbstractThe sensitivity of a simulated Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) was investigated in the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model 3.1 with the relaxed Arakawa–Schubert convection scheme by analyzing the model’s response to varying the strength of two moisture sensitivity parameters. A higher value of either the minimum entrainment rate or rain evaporation fraction results in increased intraseasonal variability, a more coherent MJO, and enhanced moisture–convection feedbacks in the model. Changes to the mean state are inconsistent between the two methods. Increasing the minimum entrainment leads to a cooler and drier troposphere, whereas increasing the rain evaporation fraction causes warming and moistening. These results suggest that no straightforward correspondence exists between the MJO and the mean humidity, contrary to previous studies.Analysis of the mean column-integrated and normalized moist static energy (MSE) budget reveals a substantial reduction of gross moist stability (GMS) for increased minimu...
AlGaAs/GaAs pnp heterojunction bipolar transistor with carbon-doped collector and emitter grown by atomic layer epitaxy

The first AlGaAs/GaAs pnp heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) grown entirely by atomic layer epitaxy (ALE) is reported. Carbon was used as the p-type dopant in the emitter and collector. The use of carbon, with its low diffusivity and the potential for very heavy doping, will lead to reduced emitter and collector resistances in a pnp structure. For the devices reported here, a common emitter current gain over 100 was obtained, with good I/V characteristics. >
Achievement or Arrest? The Influence of the Collegiate Religious and Spiritual Climate on Students’ Worldview Commitment

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the col- legiate religious, spiritual, and ideological climate and worldview commitment. As part of this process, 1,071 students responded to the Collegiate Religious and Spiritual Climate Survey, an empirically validated and reliable measure designed to assess dimensions of a campus' religious, spiritual, and ideological climate. Results indicated that aspects of the psychological and behavioral climate were related to worldview commitment and these relationships were often conditioned upon students' self-identified religious worldview. Implications for scholars and practitioners are discussed.
Retrieval from iconic memory with shape as the selection criterion

Selection of items from iconic memory on the basis of shape was studied by means of the Sperling (1960) partial report procedure. The results indicated that partial report by shape was superior to whole report, that partial report by location was superior to partial report by shape, and that the accuracy of report as a function of delay of indicator declined at the same rate for selection by shape and selection by location. The results were discussed in the framework of the flow of visual information within S.
Inhibition of the mevalonate pathway: Benefits beyond cholesterol reduction?

Abstract 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (HMG-CoA RIs) reduce plasma total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. 1 Clinical studies with HMG-CoA RIs have shown a reduction in severity of arterial lesions and frequency of cardiovascular disease events. 2,3 It is usually assumed that the beneficial effects of HMG-CoA RIs result from competitive inhibition of cholesterol synthesis.4 However, cholesterol is only one among many products of mevalonate, the product of HMG-CoA reductase. Mevalonate metabolism yields a series of isoprenoid compounds, including farnesyl, geranylgeranyl, and dolichol.4 Isoprenoids are necessary for cell proliferation and other important cell funtions.4 We hypothesise that reduction of isoprenoids may explain some of the beneficial effects of HMG-CoA RIs.
FRET-Labeled siRNA Probes for Tracking Assembly and Disassembly of siRNA-Nanocomplexes

The assembly, stability, and timely disassembly of short interfering RNA (siRNA) nanocomplexes have the potential to affect the efficiency of siRNA delivery and gene silencing. As such, the design of new probes that can measure these properties without significantly perturbing the nanocomplexes or their environment may facilitate the study and further development of new siRNA nanocomplexes. Herein, we study Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET)-labeled siRNA probes that can track the assembly, stability, and disassembly of siRNA nanocomplexes in different environments. The probe is composed of two identical siRNAs, each labeled with a fluorophore. Upon nanocomplex formation, the siRNA-bound fluorophores become locally aggregated within the nanocomplex and undergo FRET. A key advantage of this technique is that the delivery vehicle (DV) need not be labeled, thus enabling the characterization of a large variety of nanocarriers, some of which may be difficult or even impossible to label. We demonstrate pr...
275. Immunostimulatory Antigen Loaded Microparticles as Cancer Vaccines

Top of pageAbstract The incidence rate for melanoma since 1973 has more than doubled from 5.7 to 14.31 per 100,000. A significant portion of these patients were not cured by chemotherapy or radiation treatment following resection. Immunotherapeutic treatments that utilize ligands for Toll like receptors (TLRs) has significant potential to treat melanoma. We have demonstrated that we can prepare degradable polymer particles with TLR ligands such as cytosine-phosphorothioate- guanine oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN) motifs entrapped within them and provide functional delivery. We have shown that these microparticles are effeciently taken up by antigen presenting cells (APCs) such as dendritic cells (DCs). We have also shown that the CpG ODN ligands which bind to intracellular TLR9 produce significantly stronger CD8+ responses when they are delivered in biodegradable microparticles in comparison to delivery of CpG ODN in solution. Delivery of the CpG ODN ligands in our microparticle vaccine did not upregulate immunosuppressive molecules and acted as a strong immunotherapeutic treatment in a murine melanoma model.
Optical properties of selectively absorbing Ni/Al2O3 composite films

Composite films of Ni particles embedded in an Al2O3 matrix have been produced by controlled coevaporation. The optical properties of the Ni/Al2O3 composites measured over the range of the solar spectrum are in good accord with the predictions of Maxwell‐Garnett theory provided the Ni volume fraction is ≲0.2. The composite films have excellent spectral selectivity for the absorption of solar radiation, with a solar absorptivity of 0.94 obtained for a film produced with a composition gradient. Low‐temperature emissivities of ∼0.1 have been obtained with composite films evaporated on highly reflecting metal substrates.
Alternative haematotoxicological testing

Standard haematological procedures in preclinical subchronic and chronic toxicity studies are carried out on dogs, rats and other mammals. In vitro clonic assays CFU-GM, BFU-E, CFU-E, CFU-Mgkr and pluripotent stem cells are used in screening candidate compounds to predict acute cytopenias, but they are not able to reveal the risk of suppression which can develop after repeated administration. No in silico studies have yet been published in haematotoxicology. More recent haematotoxicological in vivo models represent invertebrates: they can be used in both ecotoxicology and in the screening of myelotoxicity.
Observation of the J-band in the crystal spectra of pseudoisocyanine (PIC)

Abstract The specular reflection spectra of crystalline PIC iodide measured at 11 K yield structure essentially identical with the aggregate J-band of PIC. This establishes the aggregate's proposed brickwork pattern. The bandwidth of the crystal J-band shows a rapid decrease from 70 to 40 K. Vibrational structure is associated with the band in the crystal.
Cardiac Sarcoidosis Presenting as Mitral Regurgitation

Cardiac sarcoidosis is most often clinically silent. When symptomatic, it commonly involves the conduction system. This inflammatory and infiltrative process may be manifest as conduction delays and/or important ventricular ectopy. More diffuse myocardial infiltration may result in congestive heart failure (CHF). This case report illustrates how a more focal infiltrative process in sarcoidosis may cause severe CHF with involvement of the papillary muscle, resulting in worsening of mitral regurgitation. After a cardiac workup that revealed evidence of sarcoidosis, a gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging series showed focal infiltration of the left ventricular wall over the region of the posterior papillary muscle, giving a pathophysiologic explanation for the patient's severe mitral regurgitation. This case report depicts sarcoidosis-associated CHF arising in an unusual fashion, resulting not from widespread myocardial infiltration, but rather from focal papillary muscle involvement and, consequently, mitral valve dysfunction. This example suggests that cardiac sarcoidosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mitral regurgitation leading to progressive CHF. We briefly review the diagnostic approach to cardiac sarcoidosis, with representative images from this case.
Sign language and the brain: Apes, apraxia, and aphasia

The study of signed languages has inspired scientific' speculation regarding foundations of human language. Relationships between the acquisition of sign language in apes and man are discounted on logical grounds. Evidence from the differential hreakdown of sign language and manual pantomime places limits on the degree of overlap between language and nonlanguage motor systems. Evidence from functional magnetic resonance imaging reveals neural areas of convergence and divergence underlying signed and spoken languages.
Optimal linear iterations for distributed agreement

A new optimal distributed linear averaging (ODLA) problem is presented in this paper. This problem is motivated from the distributed averaging problem which arises in the context of distributed algorithms in computer science and coordination of groups of autonomous agents in engineering. The aim of the ODLA problem is to compute the average of the initial values at nodes of a graph through an optimal distributed algorithm in which the nodes in the graph can only communicate with their neighbors. Optimality is given by a minimization problem of a quadratic cost functional under infinite horizon. We show that this problem has a very close relationship with the notion of semistability. By developing new necessary and sufficient conditions for semistability of linear discrete-time systems, we convert the original ODLA problem into two equivalent optimization problems. These two problems are convex optimization problems and can be solved by using some numerical techniques.
Hierarchical overlapped tiling

This paper introduces hierarchical overlapped tiling, a transformation that applies loop tiling and fusion to conventional loops. Overlapped tiling is a useful transformation to reduce communication overhead, but it may also generate a significant amount of redundant computation. Hierarchical overlapped tiling performs overlapped tiling hierarchically to balance communication overhead and redundant computation, and thus has the potential to provide better performance.In this paper, we describe the hierarchical overlapped tiling optimization and its implementation in an OpenCL compiler. We also evaluate the effectiveness of this optimization using 8 programs that implement different forms of stencil computation. Our results show that hierarchical overlapped tiling achieves an average 37% speedup over traditional tiling on a 32-core workstation.
New coefficient interrelations of RLC one-port driving functions

Abstract Some new interrelations between the coefficients of the numerator and denominator polynomials of RLC one-port driving functions are established. These relationships are obtained from derived formulas for the coefficients of a polynomial in terms of the zeros of the polynomial and the assumption of specific pole-zero location patterns in the s-plane. The results are presented in three tables which correspond respectively to the case where the driving point function has a zero at the origin, a pole at the origin and neither a zero or pole at the origin of the s-plane.
STATIC ELECTRICITY (SE) IN NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT (NICU) ENVIRONMENT

The presence of SE and its potential hazard to infants in NICU is not well recognized. We therefore quantified the SE generated on equipment, patients and personnel in our NICU. A specially designed isolated plate monitor was used consisting of a 6″ square steel plate whose potential is monitored by an electrostatic field meter probe. (SIMCO CORP IIATFIELD, Pa). The monitor is chopper stabilized to provide drift free readings. 45 sets of SE measurements taken on different days in our NICU are shown in Kilovolts (KV). x ± SD). Relative humidity ranged from 40 to 62% during study. Wiping isolettes, monitors, tubing, saran wrap, etc, increased SE many folds. Static changes of upto 14 KV were recorded from isolettes and saran wraps wiped with dry cloth. We further studied effects of discharge of SE from surface charged up to IKV on skin of 3 premature baboons under continuous monitoring of central BP, CVP and EKG. No recordable changes were produced in these. A study into effects of sudden discharge of larger amounts of SE in the vicinity of indwelling catheters in sick premature baboons is now in progress. We conclude that large amounts of SE exist in the NICU. Besides having the potential for causing injury to sick newborns, SE promotes collection of dust particles in close proximity to the newborn, thus increasing the risk of nosocomial infections. Precautions should be taken to decrease SE in NICU.
Integrated output power detection for AlGaAs laser array

A linear array of closely spaced AlGaAs lasers is mounted on an Si heat sink. Schottky diode detectors formed on the same Si chip provide optical sensing and electrical feedback signals for output power stabilization of the individual laser elements. The performance of a typical pair of adjacent devices is tested showing that electrical and optical crosstalk between lasers is virtually eliminated.
Anesthetic management for small bowel transplantation

Small bowel transplantation is quickly becoming the therapy of choice for short-gut syndrome. Improvements in surgical techniques, immunosuppressants, and anesthetic management of patients have allowed this procedure to become the standard of care for patients with irreversible intestinal failure who are unable to continue total parenteral nutrition therapy. This article discusses the evaluation process for candidate selection, including work-up for vascular access and hypercoagulability, intraoperative management of patients (including appropriate monitoring, hemodynamic changes, fluid management, surgical techniques, and effects of immunosuppressants), and patient survival and outcome.
A new method of noise parameter calculation using direct matrix analysis

A generalized matrix approach to noise analysis of multiport networks with arbitrary topology is presented. The network may be composed of any number of passive components and active two-port devices. The method is direct and easy to follow and has been implemented in a computer program. The program is based on admittance matrix formulation and noise current sources of each device and their correlations. For MESFET devices, one can supply the noise parameters of each device or its physical and geometrical parameters for evaluation of the noise sources and their correlations. >
Tolerance to Ischemia—an Increasingly Complex Biology

In this review, we identify and discuss some of the genomics studies of preconditioning and the ischemic tolerance phenomenon. Such studies have been attempted in multiple species, using different array technologies and with different preconditioning and tolerance models. In addition, studies are starting to reveal epigenetic mechanisms and modifiers of tolerance and preconditioning. Together these studies are starting to reveal some of the immense complexity of the ischemic tolerance phenomenon, yet further studies await to be performed.
Nature and location of excited charge-transfer states in the porphine-magnesium porphine dimer

Abstract The ground and excited states of a cofacial porphine-magnesium porphine dimer with a ring separation of 5.35 A are investigated by ab initio configuration interaction calculations, using a floating gaussian basis. A pair of charge-transfer states are found ≈23000 cm −1 above the ground state, but are lowered by ≈7400 cm −1 upon coordination of the Mg atom with chloride ion.
Implementing Welfare Reform in Kansas: Moving, But Not Racing

Will welfare reform lead some states to race to the bottom? At leastfor Kansas, the answer appears to be a resounding no. Data gathered as part of the State Capacity Study's analysis of welfare reform suggest that in Kansas, elected officials and the bureaucracy have responded in afashion consistent with the state's political and administrative culture: cautiously and incrementally. First, Kansas' welfarereform policy has been driven primarily by bureaucratic decisions. Welfare administrators, supported by the governor, have minimized legislative resistance to their policy objectives. Second, from the perspective of welfare generosity, Kansas has not deviated significantly from its typical "middle" position relative to other states' policies. Third, Kansas' administration of reform embraces three primary strategies: decentralized management authority; new links with other agencies to tackle specific welfare problems; and a newly integrated approach tofrontline welfare case-management.
Collocation Methods for Distillation Design. 1. Model Description and Testing

Fast and accurate distillation design requires a model that significantly reduces the problem size while accurately approximating a full-order distillation column model. This collocation model builds on the concepts of past collocation models for design of complex real-world separation systems. Two variable transformations make this method unique. Polynomials cannot accurately fit trajectories which flatten out. In columns, flat sections occur in the middle of large column sections or where concentrations go to 0 or 1. With an exponential transformation of the tray number which maps zero to an infinite number of trays onto the range 0−1, four collocation trays can accurately simulate a large column section. With a hyperbolic tangent transformation of the mole fractions, the model can simulate columns which reach high purities. Furthermore, this model uses multiple collocation elements for a column section, which is more accurate than a single high-order collocation section.
Optimization of Ag isotope-ratio precision with a 128-Channel array detector coupled to a Mattauch-Herzog mass spectrograph

Isotope-ratio measurements are necessary in a wide range of applications. The precision of these measurements is of utmost importance because it governs the ability to distinguish differences between samples. Often, simultaneous isotope detection is necessary to reach the precision values needed for an analysis to be conclusive. Furthermore, the more isotope ratios that can be precisely determined at once, the better the chances of distinguishing between samples. Therefore, detector arrays, able to simultaneously monitor a broad range of isotopes, are attractive. Such an array detector, termed the focal plane camera (FPC), has been shown to be capable of achieving impressive precision values (0.02% RSD) within relatively short integration times (200 s). However, because the channels of the FPC array detector are inherently discrete, optimization of peak integration methods is important. This paper compares isotope-ratio precision values based on different peak integration methods of raw and zero-filled interpolated data. Also, problems associated with peak drift are explored and the use of flat-topped peak shapes for improved isotope-ratio precision levels are investigated.
6-(2,6-Dimethyl-phen-yl)pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-7-amine.

In the title compound, C15H14N4, the pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine system is almost ideally planar (r.m.s. deviation 0.028 A) with its mean plane almost orthogonal to the 2,6-dimethyl­phenyl plane. The dihedral angle formed by these planes [87.3 (2)°] is close to the predicted value (89.7°) obtained by mol­ecular-mechanics force-field calculations. Only one of the two active amine H atoms participates in hydrogen bonding, which links mol­ecules into centrosymmetric dimers.
Constructing a covariance matrix that yields a specified minimizer and a specified minimum discrepancy function value

A method is presented for constructing a covariance matrix Σ*0 that is the sum of a matrix Σ(γ0) that satisfies a specified model and a perturbation matrix,E, such that Σ*0=Σ(γ0) +E. The perturbation matrix is chosen in such a manner that a class of discrepancy functionsF(Σ*0, Σ(γ0)), which includes normal theory maximum likelihood as a special case, has the prespecified parameter value γ0 as minimizer and a prespecified minimum δ A matrix constructed in this way seems particularly valuable for Monte Carlo experiments as the covariance matrix for a population in which the model does not hold exactly. This may be a more realistic conceptualization in many instances. An example is presented in which this procedure is employed to generate a covariance matrix among nonnormal, ordered categorical variables which is then used to study the performance of a factor analysis estimator.
Molecular weight of virus-induced tortoise interferon in cell cultures.

Das Molekulargewicht des Interferons, durch Selmiki Forest Virus in Zellkulturen von Schildkrotenniere induziert, wurde mittel Gelchromatographie mit Sephadex G-100 bestimmt und es ergab sich ein Wert von 33,500.
Modal approach to Casimir forces in periodic structures

We present a modal approach to calculate finite-temperature Casimir interactions between two periodically modulated surfaces. The scattering formula is used and the reflection matrices of the patterned surfaces are calculated by decomposing the electromagnetic field into the natural modes of the structures. The Casimir force gradient from a deeply etched silicon grating is evaluated using the modal approach and compared to experiment for validation. The Casimir force involving a two-dimensional periodic structure is computed and deviations from the proximity force approximation are examined.
The Impact of Reputation on the Informativeness of Earnings and Accounting Choices

The article hypothesizes that the level of reputation affects both the informativeness of earnings and the magnitude of discretionary accounting accrual adjustments. The hypothesis exploits the following: the positive relationship between reputation and firms' risk‐return profiles, and managers' incentives in using discretionary accounting accrual adjustments. Results show that reputation is positively associated with earnings' explanatory power for returns, and related to the magnitude of accounting accrual adjustments.
F-electron localization/delocalization phenomena in PrBa2Cu3O7 and CmBa2Cu3O7

Inelastic neutron scattering has been employed in the study of the electronic properties of Pr3+ in PrBa2Cu3O7 (a semiconductor). The absence of any sharp, well-defined crystal field excitations at energies less than 150 meV is contrasted with data obtained for NdBa2Cu3O7 (a 92 K superconductor) and PrScO3 (an insulating perovskite). The absence of sharp crystal field transitions for PrBa2Cu3O7 is attributed to a broadening of these levels via an f-electron-CuO (planar)- electron interaction. It is suggested that this interaction is responsible for the absence of superconductivity in PrBa2Cu3O7. The absence of a superconducting transition in CmBa2Cu3O7 is used as supporting evidence for this hypothesis.
Treatment Sequencing for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer: Influence of Early Metastases and Surgical Complications on Multimodality Therapy Completion and Survival

Barriers to multimodality therapy (MMT) completion among patients with resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma include early cancer progression and postoperative major complications (PMC). We sought to evaluate the influence of these factors on MMT completion rates of patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy (NT) and surgery-first (SF) approaches. We evaluated all operable patients treated for clinically resectable pancreatic head adenocarcinoma at our institution from 2002 to 2007. Rates of MMT completion, 90-day PMC, and overall survival (OS) were evaluated. Ninety-five of 115 (83 %) NT and 29/50 (58 %) SF patients completed MMT. Patients who completed MMT lived longer than those who did not (36 vs. 11 months, p < 0.001). The most common reason that NT (11 %) and SF (26 %) patients failed to complete MMT was early disease progression. The rates of PMC among NT and SF patients were similar. Among SF patients, 69 % with no PMC completed MMT versus 29 % after PMC (p = 0.040). PMC were associated with decreased OS in SF patients but not in NT patients. The impact of early cancer progression and PMC upon completion of MMT is reduced by delivery of nonoperative therapies prior to pancreaticoduodenectomy. NT sequencing is a practical treatment strategy, particularly for patients at high biological or perioperative risk.
Reduced activation of superior temporal gyrus during auditory comprehension in young offspring of patients with schizophrenia.

Abstract Background Smaller Superior Temporal Gyrus (STG) and reduced activation with language tasks have been found in schizophrenia emphasizing the involvement of parts of language network. Recently, we reported smaller STG in individuals at risk for psychosis. In this study, we examined the brain activation for auditory comprehension using fMRI in a group of young offspring of schizophrenia patients (HR) with a hypothesis that HR subjects will not activate STG as well as comparison subjects. Methods Fifteen HR (7 M, 8 F, mean age 15.9 ± 3.1) and 17 comparison subjects (9 M and 8 F, mean age 14.5 ± 3.5) participated. BOLD fMRI images were obtained using a 4Tesla scanner with a multi echo-planar imaging sequence. The participants were asked to listen to 30 sec blocks of a story alternated with blocks of the same reading played backwards. The data were analyzed using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM5) and a BOLD activation exceeding a threshold of T > 2.58 (p Results The HR showed significantly lower BOLD activation at the STG bilaterally compared to normal controls (left STG; x = − 64, y = − 48, z = 12, Z = 2.95, right STG; x = 62, y = − 50, z = − 16, Z = 2.77). The effect was more pronounced in males and on left STG. Conclusions These data suggest that adolescents at risk for schizophrenia show reduced activation of the STG compared to control subjects during a language related task (listening). This finding adds support to the idea that abnormal development of the language related cortex is a marker of increased susceptibility to schizophrenia and that such deviant development may be mediated by familial/genetic factors.
Automatic mapping of valley networks on Mars

Martian valley networks bear some resemblance to terrestrial drainage systems, but their precise origin remains an active research topic. A limited number of valley networks have been manually mapped from images, but the vast majority remains unmapped because standard drainage mapping algorithms are inapplicable to valleys that are poorly organized and lack spatial integration. In this paper, we present a novel drainage delineation algorithm specially designed for mapping the valley networks from digital elevation data. It first identifies landforms characterized by convex tangential curvature, and then uses a series of image processing operations to separate valleys from other features having a convex form. The final map is produced by reconnecting all valley segments along drainage directions. Eight test sites on Mars are selected and manually mapped for valley networks. The algorithm is applied to the test sites and delineated networks are compared to mapped networks using a series of quantitative quality factors. We have found a good agreement between delineated and mapped networks. In the process of comparing manual and delineated networks some shortcomings of manual mapping became apparent. We argue that delineated networks are indeed of better quality than the networks manually mapped from images. Although the algorithm has been developed to study Martian surface, it may also be relevant to terrestrial geomorphology.
Infections in critically ill pediatric burn patients

Abstract Refinement of the surgical approaches to large wounds and improvements in critical care have extended our ability to support children with increasingly severe burns through the physiological trial of staged wound closure. However, as early burn excision and closure decreases the incidence of burn wound infection, the occurrence of other infections has increased. Sepsis remains the single largest killer of children in the burn unit. Knowledge of those infections likely to occur in burned children will facilitate early intervention and decrease mortality. Copyright © 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company
Large-Eddy Simulation of a Swirl-Stabilized, Lean Direct Injection Spray Combustor

Large-eddy simulation (LES) of a lean-direct injection (LDI) combustor is reported in this paper. The full combustor and all the six swirl vanes are resolved and both cold and reacting flow simulations are performed. Cold flow predictions with LES indicate the presence of a broad central recirculation zone due to vortex breakdown phenomenon near the dump plane and two corner recirculation zones at the top and bottom corner of the combustor. These predicted features compare well with the experimental non-reacting data. Reacting case simulated a liquid Jet-A fuel spray using a Lagrangian approach. A three-step kinetics model that included CO and NO is used for the chemistry. Comparison of mean velocity field predicted in the reacting LES with experiments shows reasonable agreement. Comparison with the non-reacting case shows that the centerline recirculation bubble is shorter but more intense in the reacting case.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Insulin-induced Adipocyte Differentiation ACTIVATION OF CREB RESCUES ADIPOGENESIS FROM THE ARREST CAUSED BY INHIBITION OF PRENYLATION

Insulin is a potent adipogenic hormone that triggers an induction of a series of transcription factors governing differentiation of pre-adipocytes into mature adipocytes. However, the exact link between the insulin signaling cascade and the intrinsic cascade of adipogenesis remains incompletely understood. Herein we demonstrate that inhibition of prenylation of p21ras and Rho-A arrests insulin-stimulated adipogenesis. Inhibition of farnesylation of p21ras also blocked the ability of insulin to activate mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and cyclic AMP response element-binding (CREB) protein. Expression of two structurally different inducible constitutively active CREB constructs rescued insulin-stimulated adipocyte differentiation from the inhibitory influence of prenylation inhibitors. Constitutively active CREB constructs induced expression of PPARγ2, fatty acid synthase, GLUT-4, and leptin both in control and prenylation inhibitors-treated cells. It appears that insulin-stimulated prenylation of the Ras family GTPases assures normal phosphorylation and activation of CREB that, in turn, triggers the intrinsic cascade of adipogenesis.
Noninvasive Electrocardiographic Imaging

Background:Cardiac arrhythmias continue to be a leading cause of death and disability. Despite this alarming fact, a noninvasive imaging modality for cardiac electrophysiology (EP) has not been developed. Standard electrocardiographic techniques attempt to infer electrophysiological processes in the heart from a limited number of recordings on the body surface. This traditional approach is limited in its ability to provide information on regional electrocardiac activity and to localize electrophysiological events in the heart (e.g., arrhythmogenic foci; regions of elevated dispersion of myocardial repolarization). This article reviews the development of a novel imaging modality (electrocardiographic imaging [ECGI]) for the reconstruction of cardiac electrical activity from potentials measured away from the heart (i.e., on the torso surface). The results presented demonstrate that ECGI can noninvasively reconstruct epicardial potentials, electrograms, and isochrones with good accuracy and resolution. Results:The locations of ectopic pacing sites are reconstructed within 10 mm of their actual positions. Dual epicardial pacing sites separated by 52 mm, 35 mm, and 17 mm can be resolved. The depth of intramural ectopic activity can be estimated and the direction of intramural activation spread can be determined from the reconstructed epicardial potential pattern and its evolution in time. Results from infarcted hearts demonstrate that ECGI can detect and reconstruct the abnormal electrophysiological substrate associated with the infarct. The figure-of-eight pattern of reentrant activation in the epicardial border zone during ventricular tachycardia is also reconstructed by ECGI noninvasively. Conclusions:These results demonstrate the potential of ECGI as a clinical noninvasive imaging modality for identifying patients at risk of cardiac arrhythmias and for guiding and evaluating antiarrhythmic interventions in such patients. A.N.E. 1999;4(3):340–359
Further studies on the radiosensitive stages in hemolysin formation.

Severe total body irradiation with hard X rays has been found to affect antibody formation in three more or less distinct ways depending upon the time of irradiation in relation to the injection of antigen: (1) marked and at times complete suppression of antibody formation which only occurs when animals are irradiated before receiving antigen (Benjamin and Sluka, 1908; review in W. H. and L. G. Taliaferro, 1951; Kohn, 1951; Dixon et al, 1952; Taliaferro et al, 1952; and others), (2) a general retardation of the immune process with no lessening of the amount of antibody formed when animals are irradiated
Estimation of Discard Mortality Rates for Pacific Halibut Bycatch in Groundfish Longline Fisheries

Abstract Mandatory release to the sea of Pacific halibut Hippoglossus stenolepis incidentally harvested in Alaskan and Canadian groundfish fisheries has the potential to close fisheries or to close fishing to individual fishermen or vessels that reach Pacific halibut bycatch mortality limits. Tagging experiments of Pacific halibut from longline gear demonstrated that Pacific halibut with similar types of injuries experienced lower mortality following release from small (13/0) circle or autoline hooks than from large (16/0) circle hooks. As a result, the current viability criteria for individual Pacific halibut overestimate discard mortality rates. Proposed, simplified four-category viability criteria based on injury codes increased accuracy of bycatch mortality calculations over the present three-category criteria. The new criteria may reduce calculated discard mortality of Pacific halibut released from longlines by 20%. Use of the new criteria would result in more accurate estimates, which in turn could ...
Criminal justice education: Where have we been? And where are we heading?

Criminal justice education has steadfastly become the education of choice for many aspiring and current practitioners in the criminal justice enterprise. Many colleges and universities offer degrees in criminal justice and the curricula is quite varying in nature among universities. Some criminal justice departments offer curriculum that is more practice (vocational) focused while others are more academic/theoretically focused. We argue in order to effectively prepare criminal justice practitioners that curriculum should be a multi-disciplined approach, which includes a balanced theoretical grounding. We present the notion that theory and critical thinking skills are important in the holistic development of criminal justice practitioners. We conclude the paper with a three-pronged recommendation for criminal justice education.
Spin relaxation at sputtered metallic interfaces

We review published experimental information about spin relaxation at sputtered metal/metal interfaces, considering separately interfaces between two non-magnetic (N) metals and ones involving one or two ferromagnetic (F) metals. Such spin relaxation is described by a parameter δ, where the probability of spin relaxation in crossing an interface is P=(1−exp(−δ)). $\delta_{\mathrm{N1/N2}}$ for interfaces between two different N metals varies substantially from one metal pair to another. Assuming spin–orbit scattering to dominate, one might expect $\delta_{\mathrm{N1/N2}}$ to correlate with the difference in atomic numbers between the two metals, but any such correlation is not clear. $\delta_{\mathrm{F/N}}$ and $\delta_{\mathrm{F1/F2}}$ between F and N metals, or between two different F metals, seem to vary less for the pairs so far studied. Understanding of δ in any of these cases is still lacking.
Optimization of multilayer integrated optics waveguides

A numerical method is described that provides the means for optimizing any objective function representing a general multilayer integrated optics waveguide. In this way, the physical parameters of the multilayer structure can be set so that the performance of the device is optimized. The method uses any standard numerical minimization algorithm in conjunction with the argument principle method. The method has been successfully applied for the optimization of a multilayer immunosensor and a TE-mode polarizer. The advantages of the method are its generality, its efficiency, its accuracy, and its applicability to a wide range of planar integrated optics devices. >
Multiple Ca2+-Dependent Mechanisms Regulate L-Type Ca2+ Current in Retinal Amacrine Cells

Understanding the regulation of L-type voltage-gated Ca2+ current is an important component of elucidating the signaling capabilities of retinal amacrine cells. Here we ask how the cytosolic Ca2+ e...
Public Money for Private Higher Education

Public money for private higher education is a major policy issue for governments, the general public, and of course private institutions—all the more so as the private sector has risen to roughly 30 percent of total global enrollment and is continuing to grow. Yet, a key baseline is the fact that public funding of private higher education is the exception, not the rule. This reality is often obscured by contrary examples that lead to the absurd notion that source of income does not seriously distinguish the two sectors of higher education. In fact, just as public higher education is overwhelmingly sustained by public money, private higher education is just as overwhelmingly sustained by private money. This generalization is particularly strong in the developing world and the postcommunist world—the two greatest sites of private higher education expansion. Nonetheless, examples of public money for private higher education are significant and increasing.
DAMON: a distributed architecture for monitoring multi-hop mobile networks

With the advent of small form-factor devices, protocol standardization, and robust protocol implementations, multi-hop mobile networks are witnessing widespread deployment. The monitoring of such networks is crucial for their robust operation. To this end, this paper presents DAMON, a distributed system for monitoring multi-hop mobile networks. DAMON uses agents within the network to monitor network behavior and send collected measurements to data repositories. DAMON's generic architecture supports the monitoring of a wide range of protocol, device, and network parameters. Other key features of DAMON include seamless support for multiple repositories, auto-discovery of sinks by the agents, and resiliency of agents to repository failures. We have implemented DAMON agents that collect statistics on data traffic and the ad hoc on-demand distance vector (AODV) routing protocol. We have used our implementation to monitor an ad hoc network at the 58th Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) meeting held November 2003 in Minneapolis, MN. In this paper, we describe the architecture of DAMON and report on the performance of the IETF network using monitoring information collected by DAMON. Our network monitoring system is available online for use by other researchers.
What to do about educational research's credibility gaps?

Abstract Educational research is continually being thrashed for its poor quality. Several recent efforts to define better research standards have sputtered. Acknowledging others' arguments that the nature of educational research is applied (directed at problems of schooling), heterogeneous (multidisciplinary), and complex (multidimensional). we nonetheless advocate more widespread implementation of scientifically based research methodologies. Our central thesis focuses on the concept of credible evidence. We suggest that most educational research approaches that are in vogue today are incapable of yielding empirical evidence that is convincing from either a scientific or a prescriptive standpoint. After offering a refresher on the logic underlying carefully controlled scientific investigations and then contrasting current educational research inquiry with inquiry characteristic of medical research, we present an educational research model in which what we refer to as “randomized classroom trials” studies are accorded a position of prominence. We provide examples of candidate topics for such studies and discuss the challenging issues that must be resolved so that educational practice will be better informed by educational research evidence that is credible.
An LPV Design Approach for Voltage Control of an Electrostatic MEMS Actuator

This paper examines the stabilization and deflection control of an electrostatic microelectromechanical-system (MEMS) actuator using linear parameter-varying (LPV) control methodology. As a case study, a 1-DOF model of an electrostatic MEMS actuator is considered, and its static and dynamic characteristics are discussed. The presented model captures the significant characteristics of the actuator such as the pull-in effect and bifurcation instability. Designed and compared in this paper are control strategies for set-point tracking of the MEMS device deflection, namely: 1) an LPV output-feedback H∞ controller; 2) an LPV state-feedback H∞ controller integrated with an observer; and 3) a time-invariant H∞ controller. To design the LPV controllers, the system dynamics is first reformulated in a quasi-LPV form, considering the actuation charge as the scheduling parameter. We subsequently provide a reduced-order parameter-dependent proportional-integral (PI) controller from the full-order LPV controller for ease of practical implementation. The time-invariant H∞ controller is provided for comparison purposes. The design of the dynamic output-feedback controllers uses a mixed-sensitivity loop shaping, where the weighting selection is discussed. Step reference tracking results are presented and compared for the three control-design approaches. The simulation results illustrate the following: 1) the asymptotic stability and desired performance satisfaction for the controllers against the pull-in effect and random vibration disturbances and 2) the improved performance achieved using the output-feedback LPV controller in terms of the transient tracking response, tracking bandwidth, and control effort over the full range of the device operation.
A chemiluminescence assay specific for the microsomal metabolite, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol☆

The presence of trans-7,8dihydroxy7,8-dihydrobenzo(a)-pyrene (BP-7,8-dihydrodiol) in complex metabolite mixtures produced during microsomal metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) may be determined. Only the BP-7,8-dihydrodiol metabolite will produce significant chemiluminescence (CL) in the NaOCl-H/sub 2/O/sub 2/ singlet oxygen-generating system. The limiting CL sensitivity is 30 pmol in a 1-ml CL reaction mixture. CL assays for BP-7,8-dihydrodiol in microsomal reaction solutions produced results identical with those determined by calibrated high-performance liquid chromatography. 10 references, 2 figures, 1 table.
Dynamical characteristics of Phobos and Deimos

The orbital properties of the two small Martian satellites, Phobos and Deimos, are discussed, as well as those dynamical constants of Mars that can be determined from the satellite orbits. The secular acceleration of the mean motion of Phobos is shown to be very small. Of mechanisms that could cause any such acceleration, only tidal friction appears to be important. From the orbital evolution of the Martian satellites under tidal forces, Phobos and Deimos seem to have originated in nearly circular orbits of low inclination fairly close to the distance at which a satellite's orbital period is the planet's rotation period. It is proposed that the Martian satellites were born at the same time as Mars from equatorial dust clouds. The satellites are predicted to be locked in synchronous rotation, with their axes of minimum moment of inertia pointing on the average toward Mars, whereas their maximum axes are approximately normal to their orbit planes.
The New and Improved Clint Eastwood: Change and Persistence in Promise Keepers Self-Help Literature

Like other expressions of Christian conservatism, the Promise Keepers (PK) often enact complex and strained relationships between social change and social persistence. These strains are evident in the official PK literature, which employs techniques not unlike those used by mainstream pop psychology. These include the use of "scientific"-like classifications of information, authors presented as "experts" on the topic at hand, and the use of exercises to be enacted individually or in small PK discussion groups. Collectively, these strategies suggest that conservative Christians deal with many of the same complex role demands as non-conservatives. In particular, the PK stance on gender roles, though promoted as unambiguously "traditional" in favoring male leadership and female submission, in actuality often reflects acknowledgment and perhaps acceptance of some of the more egalitarian changes in gender role norms. Sociological implications and directions for future research are discussed.
Dynamic Field Map Estimation Using a Spiral-In/ Spiral-Out Acquisition

The long readout times of single-shot acquisitions and the high field strengths desired for functional MRI (fMRI) using blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast make functional scans sensitive to magnetic field inhomogeneity. If it is not corrected during image reconstruction, field inhomogeneity can cause geometric distortions in the images when Cartesian k-space trajectories are used or blurring with spiral acquisitions. Many traditional methods to correct for field inhomogeneity distortions rely on a static field map measured with the use of images that are themselves distorted. In this work, we employ a regularized least-squares approach to jointly estimate both the undistorted image and field map at each acquisition using a spiral-in/spiral-out pulse sequence. Simulation and phantom studies show that this method is accurate and stable over a time series. Human functional studies show that the jointly estimated field map may be more accurate than standard field map estimates in the presence of respiration-induced phase oscillations, leading to better detection of functional activation. The proposed method measures a dynamic field map that accurately tracks magnetic field drift and respiration-induced phase oscillations during the course of a functional study.